1. THE DYNAMICS OF HURRYING: LAPWARE, BRAIN RESEARCH, AND THE INTERNET CHAPTER 5

2. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS How do you think technology has impacted childhood? Can you list pros and cons of technology in childhood? How do you think we can reverse the negative effect that technology has had on childhood? Do you think parents are to blame for the impact technology has had on their child’s life?

3. COMPUTER PROGRAMS FOR INFANTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN Infants and young children are being pressured into using computers at a young age. Being exposed to such high tech equipment, they are forced to deal with complex symbols. Children of six and seven years of age might be able to grasp these concepts, but not infants nor young children. Dr. Elkind thinks that parents should resist exposing their children to such technology at an early stage because at the end of the day, computers are complex machines that can be hard to manipulate by adults.

4. LAPWARE FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS “Earlier is better” In the 1990’s, programs such as “Jumpstart Baby” and “BABYWOW” had been developed for children 9 months to 3 years old. They would allow children to discover geometric shapes, colors, letters, numbers, and body parts. It is best when children learn with real objects like puzzles and bears. It would require reinforcement from parent. For example, if game showed the teddy bear getting dressed, then the parent would have to go along and show the child where pants would go and so on. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxL0yNVmDf4

5. Tactile and social experiences are crucial to early development. For example, it is better to learn through actually touching and exploring rather than learning through a computer. It is better to actually experience something rather than learn about it through a computer. The research behind computer programs for children is questioned. The products have only been on the market for a few years, so their long-term effectiveness is hardly demonstrated. “Artificial pressures from a super-enriched environment-particularly when anxious parents are standing by, can be detrimental.”

6. CONTROVERSY ON EFFECTS OF LAPWARE Some agree that children shouldn’t spend too much time on computer. Interaction between parent and child while using programs is crucial because it helps a child see their parent doing something, so by doing the same action, they feel as if they are “being like mommy”. Others say that nothing can every replace real life learning. Dr. Elkind explains that being exposed to the real world, the children will be able to feel comfortable doing things. They will understand that the world is a safe place, that their needs will be met, and that they will be cared for and protected.

7. DO THESE PROGRAMS ”WORK”? The belief that the younger a child is exposed to these programs that will teach them quickly is false. There are so many skills that aren’t gained until later years of age, such as five or six. For example, the ability of associating letters and words with sounds and spoken words. The things taught are either a skill that the child already knows or is way beyond the child’s skill level. The parents are targeted by advertisements.

8. ARE THERE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF THESE PROGRAMS? It is suggested that child not be exposed to television until the age of two. This is due to the child’s visual system not fully developing until they are 2 to 3 years old. Being forced to focus on one source can cause them to neglect information from other senses. The development of the other senses can be delayed due to the early development of the visual system. Apart from development strains, there can also be a harmful effect on the child’s bond with their parent. When using these games, a parents might respond negatively to a wrong response from their baby. This might lead to impairment in sense of trust and security. This can ultimately lead to lack of confidence when the baby is ready to explore the world.

9. THE AUTHORITY OF THE BRAIN In the brain, there are connections between brain cells called synapses. A child has far fewer synapses at birth than it does when it is an adult. It is during the first few years that a child develops much more synapses than they need. Then they undergo a period of eliminating those they don’t need. The pattern in which these connections are in are essential rather than the number, which is what makes the adult brain much more capable. The human brain has remarkable capacity to change, but timing is crucial. Being that much of the brain is still being discovered, there is not much research on childhood other than the effect of nurturing and abusing children.

10. UNDERSTANDING RESEARCH AS A PARENT “Give babies as much freedom to explore as safety permits. Just reaching for an object helps the brain develop hand-eye coordination. As soon as children are ready for them, activities like drawing and playing the violin and piano encourages the development of fine motor skills.” A quote like this one can be extremely misguiding for parents being that it is so broad. This can cause parental anxiety because they can extract whatever meaning they find. It will lead to misinterpretation.

11. THE INTERNET Apart from educational programs that are available on the internet, there are many hazards. There is an astonishing number of adult sites. Without monitoring, children can be exposed to this content with little effort. There are hate groups, cults, instructions on how to build bombs, filthy language, child predators, and much more. A parent should monitor the site their children watch, limit their time, and set rules. Filters can be applied to block sites that contain key words like nudity, sex, erotic, bomb, etc. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jMhMVEjEQg

12. CONCLUSION What would you do as a parent? How would you avoid falling into societal pressures? What alternatives would you turn to instead of technology?