Other Types of Technology And Children

Computer, smart phones and the internet all offer in interactive media through a varied range of learning, entertainment and communication. When a parent is considering technology and the use their children have of it, it's necessary to consider the use of computers since it's one of the most popular media that children use to interact with each day. Computers have become more common in children's lives over the past decade and it's important for parents to know what their children are doing on the computer. As soon as children can read and write they begin to use a computer for word processing. This helps children write freely and experiment with different letters and words without erasing or crossing out what they don't like. As children get older they use the computer to do homework, research projects, and papers. Children can encounter racial slurs, pornography and cyber bullying when using a computer. When parent's don't know what their children are doing online they can get into chat rooms and have relationships with people which can cause a child to be sexually abused particularly if they meet the person face to face without the parents knowing which is often the case. This is why it's important for parents to know what children are doing while on the computer and to set up blocks on certain sites.

A disadvantage to smart phones and other technology is that they cause distractions in face to face interactions and are making it easier for children to not develop or use communication skills that are important to have when they get to the age of their first job. Video games can be filled with aggression and gender stereotyping . This is a reason video games are now rated.  Exposure to violent video games can make children  more aggressive  and less caring. The discovery that this occurs with exposure to video games is consistent and doesn't  differ with age, gender or cultural  upbringing. Video games don't give children the opportunity for independent thought or creativity and can cause  children to confuse reality with fantasy. There are positive aspects to video games such as enhancing spatial thinking skills, improve problem solving and the use of fine motor skills.

Regardless of the types of media and technology parents have in their homes it's important for parents to know and be informed of what their children are doing with technology and what forms of media they are watching.