While parents look at the available opportunities for outdoor play or the learning records of former pupils, when it comes to choosing a nursery or preschool for their child many are neglecting to look at how prolific technology is in their options. Due to the nature of tech, it can be too easy to dismiss its role at nursery level, yet more and more places are integrating tools that teach IT skills at a formative age. Whether you’re tech-savvy or a determined non-user, there is little doubt regarding the importance of even basic computer skills, and introducing technology into the classroom at an early age can be a huge benefit to a child’s development and to their future. While technology should never replace other activities, by using it alongside other learning experiences, children are given an early understanding of the digital landscape.
Safety concerns
The news can paint the internet in a poor light, but that shouldn’t put you off the idea of introducing them to technology at an early age, and should, in fact, be considered a positive. Teaching children to use digital tools gives them an early start in the comprehension of what technology should be used and how it can be managed safely. Nurseries that allow the use of tablets, digital cameras, and even phones, are able to offer core skill-learning that acts as a complement to their other activities, and can enforce lessons learned on class trips or even role-play games.
With parents integrating tech into their own lives, children will be already familiar with the basics of even the latest technologies, and as the world becomes more digital, children can only benefit from the integration of IT skills in the classroom. The early years of a child’s education can be crucial, so by safely integrating technology into the classroom, you’re, in fact, improving their chances of being more functional in the world. Technology can help a child develop commutation and language skills, improve their understanding of the world and even help with a child’s sense of personal and emotional development. Schools such as North Bridge House have a Nursery in Hampstead which ensures their students are mentally stimulated and abide to the correct safety when working with technology.
Arguments against
Some people feel that allowing children to stare at screens when they should be outside playing games is counter-productive. However, for those worried about their child’s relationship with technology, often they forget the massive potential of the screens. From alphabet learning to drawing, technology is seemingly limitless in the resources that it provides access to, and allowing your children to engage with technology can dramatically improve their participation levels. As well as that, having tech in the classroom means that those children who don’t have access in the home environment aren’t missing out on learning key IT skills that may leave them starting from behind when they move up to Primary School.
Complement not replace
Of course, there’s nothing better than picking up a book and reading out loud to the class, or improving hand-eye coordination with a real-world coloring pencil and page. The point of introducing technology at any age is not to replace more traditional forms of teaching practice, but rather to provide alternative options that can be used alongside them. With today’s youth growing up in a world where everyone has a mobile phone and a connection to the wider world, they’re going to want to use the same tools, and by teaching them the necessary skills, nurseries that introduce technology are going to produce children that are more aware of the digital world.
We all have our fears when it comes to technology and child development, but in an increasingly connected society, it’s more important than ever that you take notice of how your nursery choice is utilizing even the most basic of tech skills.
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