Technology Child Development

The Effects of Technology on Child Development In this digital age, technology is becoming more and more integrated into children’s daily lives. Millennial children in this generation receive smart phones and have a vast knowledge of the internet all before the age of ten. Little do these children know, technology is shaping the way they think and perceive the world. Scientists are finding that technology has substantial effects on children’s cognitive processes and developmental skills. It can be both beneficial and harmful to a child’s development, depending on how the technology is utilized. The use of technology can greatly influence a child’s intellectual, physical, social, and psychological development. Excessive use can cause detrimental

Excessive computer use has been shown to cause negative social effects including social isolation and impairment. Technology has created the ability for children to enter virtual worlds via video games and the internet. In these virtual, fantasy worlds, children can talk online to other users in the game. This allows for children to come into contact with predators, who pretend to be players in the game. In addition, much concern has been shown for children who create “electronic friends” over the internet. These children often spend more time on the computer, talking with their electronic friends in chatrooms, virtual games, and forums, rather than socializing with their family and peers. The decline in social involvement causes social impairment, loneliness and an increased risk of depression. “By the age of about seven years, a child's interactions with family, peers, school, community networks, and media all play an important role in the development of interpersonal skills and social competence” (Shields). Children learn social skills through the involvement of human interaction. Excessive computer use and “electronic” friends hinder the development of these interpersonal

Video games often depict violent scenes and promote negative themes such as the killing of people and animals, the use of alcohol, guns, and drugs, sexual exploitation of women, and foul language and obscenities. Although each video game is rated and posted on the packaging to warn against this content, Shields explains, “the amount of aggression and violence has increased in each generation of computer games, and parents are often unaware of the extent of the violence” (Shields). Despite ratings, mature video games, labelled “for adults only,” are often marketed to children under the age of seventeen. Parents should select appropriate games for their children and ensure they are aware of all content and imagery present before allowing their child to