How Overuse of Technology in Daycares and Preschool Affects Children Part 1 – OwnADayCare – 24 Nov 2010

Many daycare providers ask the question: How does access to technology (television, video games, computers, etc.) affect young children in my daycare? What are acceptable limits per day with regard to access to technology? We picked the brain of Cris Rowan, pediatric occupational therapist and sensory specialist with expertise on the impact of technology overuse on child health and academic performance, and CEO of Zone’in Programs Inc. In our interview with Cris Rowen, Rowen describes how technology impacts child development and solutions to its impact.

OwnADaycare: What is the impact of technology on child development?

Cris Rowan: Every minute spent in front of technology is detrimental to child health and academic performance. “Growing” a child is like building a house, it’s all about the foundation.  If the foundation isn’t constructed properly, the house will have life-long problems, it might even fall down.  If children don’t engage in critical activities during development, their growth and success at school will be impaired.

To optimize development, children need stimulation to their sensory, motor and attachment systems.  Children need to move a lot, touch and be touched, and connect in meaningful ways with other human beings.

OwnADaycare: What areas of development might be affected by technology overuse?

Cris Rowan: There are four main areas of child development affected by technology overuse:

Physical – technology is a form of restraint, and is replacing play!
30% of children entering the school system are developmentally delayed
20% of children are obese
75% of children have TV’s in their bedrooms causing sleep deprivation

Mental – we are medicating child technology addictions!
14.3% of children have a diagnosed mental illness; anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive, bipolar, addictions to name a few – MANY on poorly researched psychotropic medication
8% have ADHD and 1 in 100 children have Autism
Stress related disorders on the rise due to chronic high adrenalin states

Social – all shooters are gamers!
US has categorized media violence as a Public Health Risk due to causal relationship to child aggression
Parental fears regarding safe outdoor play, have contributed to isolation causing depression and poor social skill development

Academic – technology is entertainment, not educational!
Literacy and academic performance is declining due to the following MYTHS:

§                     Teachers no longer need to teach children to print

§                     Screen reading is the same as book reading; screen reading results in poorer memory, comprehension and ability to think critically

§                     Children can sit still and learn; sedentary lifestyle and obesity prevents learning

Wired for high speed, the new age brain is being reprogrammed to not access frontal lobe, known for executive function, seeing the “big picture”, and impulse control.   How can we teach children when they can’t process information, are unable to envision goals, and have no self regulation or control?

Moving to Learn – Playground most essential component for learning!
Improved cognition: exercise enhances memory and learning through improved neurogenesis in hippocampus and frontal cortex
Decreases ADHD: increases dopamine transmitter, which improves focus and attention.
Increases attention:  releases nerve growth factor to inhibit impulsivity, promoting focus.
Exercise Decreases Impulsivity and Increases Attention!
Impulsivity control is located in the frontal lobes.
Overuse of technology “short circuits” access to frontal lobes.
Exercise increases blood flow to frontal lobes, thereby decreasing damage caused by technology overuse.

Source: http://www.ownadaycare.com/blog/how-overuse-of-technology-in-daycares-and-preschools-affects-children-part-1