Today’s Wall Street Journal
(and other publications) are running a story by Ben Worthen about the effects
of the iPad on young children (ages 2 to 4).
I noted with interest that,
although the iPad has only been on the market a year or so, more than half of
American children have access to one.
Talk about market penetration!
Having two grandchildren with
iPad access, and owning one myself, I feel connected to the idea that this can
be a good learning tool. I also have a
long history of opposing letting young persons watching television. I took my TV out for 15 years when my
children were growing up. They watched plenty at other people’s homes, and at
their grandparents (under very close supervision) , but at home, it was family
time and creative time.
I also believe that young
children learn as much with their hands as their heads at early ages, so
feeling and touching toys (but better yet – real things) is much better for
them than lectures on topics they know nothing about. At least with the iPad they can touch, and connect
action with reaction. And be
interactive. But, as the article states,
too much of anything, even the iPad, can be a bad thing for “certain children”. The article stops well short of condemning
iPad use, but puts up a warning to watch for “over use” and zoning out while using the iPad. Or over-use to avoid bedtime and so
forth.
I have enjoyed the good
designs of some iPad Apps for children, they seem to be updated versions of old
games I used to play as a child. And
they provide some positive reinforcement that we used to provide for ourselves
(pride in doing something, just for the sake of doing it). Which is better?
The article mentions an App I
had not heard of “Martha Speaks”, and
says that simple testing has shown that 5 year old's made a 27% gain on vocabulary tests after playing with this App.
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