Talking with other children in the early years helps prepare for future academic success. The easiest and most effective way for children to learn is to talk, and studies have shown a link between the number and variety of words a child hears and later academic achievement.
According to a survey conducted by the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) on a group of parents, a child at the average age of eight and under in the United States of America uses more than 3 personal technology devices such as a tablet computer, smart devices or video game devices at home. With younger children interacting with this technology recently, it has become important to manage the time allotted for its use, so that it does not affect the child’s activity and interaction with other children.
We offer you a set of tips for parents on how to manage children’s use of technology at their disposal:
1- Allocate specific times away from technology: There should be at least one or two opportunities during the day – at dinner, for example – for everyone to stop contacting technology. Meal times are a prime opportunity for conversation, you can get everyone to leave their devices at the kitchen door.
2- Resist over-reliance on smart devices to treat boredom: The best opportunities to talk and learn are often found in situations that are perceived as boring, such as performing daily tasks or on a long car trip, especially for younger children (0-3 years) you must resist The desire to immediately resort to these devices as a means of entertainment, despite the fact that it is tempting!
3- Make technology a group activity: While technology is often used individually, the use of technology may turn into a group activity, while playing a game on the Internet, for example, everyone can talk about what they are doing and promote participation.
4- Think about whether kids really need their own devices: It has become more and more natural for kids to have their own tablets, and there are things that are specifically designed for kids, so that the child spends more time alone with technology during the day. On the other hand, devices made for children often offer additional features that appeal to parents, such as limited (kid-friendly) content and additional security options.
5- Set daily time limits: You can always turn off smart devices and the Internet at a specific time, but it is better to make the child aware of the allowed time limit, and work to monitor and control himself.
6- Commit to applying the standards set by the family for the use of technology: A survey conducted by the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) indicated that the majority of parents set limits for their children’s use of smart devices and technology in general, but they often do not correspond to the actual use of those devices, noting that commitment often weakens at the age of Seven or eight though the rules.
