In today’s world, technology is an unavoidable part of daily lives – even for the youngest members of society. Parents often grapple with questions about how much technology is appropriate for children and how to balance screen time with other important developmental activities.
Meet Lucy McGoron, Ph.D
Lucy McGoron has a Ph.D. in applied developmental psychology and primarily focuses on creating and evaluating programs for parents, particularly parents of children (ages 2-5). She is committed to finding practical ways to connect parents with research-based parenting strategies to promote positive development for young children and reduce parenting stress.
Dr. Lucy is also interested in understanding variations in parenting practices, particularly regarding adversity and parents’ mental health and well-being. Her work is informed by her experiences in child welfare, early childhood education, mental health services, and developmental psychopathology research. Using technology to deliver parenting content is a primary focus of her work program.
About the episode
Dr. Lucy emphasizes that we can’t simply label technology use for young children as good or bad. There’s significant variation in how technology can impact child development, depending on factors like:
- Content quality
- Parent involvement
- Amount of use
- Child’s age and developmental stage
For example, while excessive screen time can potentially have adverse effects, moderate and mindful use of high-quality digital content can, in fact, provide educational benefits—especially when balanced with other activities.
One common challenge many parents face is getting children to stop using devices when it’s time to switch to other tasks. As a result, battles over turning off the TV or putting down the tablet can create stress for the whole family.
Moreover, parents often worry about keeping up with fast-changing technology that their “digital native” children seem to master effortlessly. Meanwhile, adults may face a significant learning curve when trying to understand new apps, devices, and trends that kids quickly adopt.
When it comes to evaluating children’s technology use, the quality and type of content they engage with matter significantly. In this context, Dr. Lucy suggests that well-designed educational TV programs may actually be one of the better forms of screen time for young children. Many of these shows are created by child development experts and go through strict review processes.
In contrast, online videos and social media content tend to be more unpredictable in quality and age-appropriateness. Therefore, parents should be especially cautious with platforms that include autoplay features, as children can quickly be exposed to inappropriate content.
Rather than banning technology altogether, Dr. Lucy recommends focusing on helping children enjoy full, balanced days that include:
- Outdoor play
- Reading books
- Imaginative play with toys
- Social interactions with peers and family
- Physical activity
- Creative pursuits like art and music
Technology can be part of this balanced mix of activities. Problems arise when screen time begins to dominate a child’s day at the expense of other meaningful developmental experiences.
Dr. Lucy highlighted Lexia, an adaptive reading program for preschool through middle school, as an example of well-designed educational technology. However, there are many quality options available across different subject areas.
While educational apps and e-books can support early literacy, it’s vital to ensure children also have access to physical books. Dr. Lucy is passionate about initiatives like Little Free Libraries that help get books into the hands of children from all backgrounds.
Exposure to diverse books with characters that reflect various cultures and experiences is significant for helping all children develop a love of reading.
In conclusion
Parents can help children develop digital literacy skills by taking a thoughtful, balanced approach while prioritizing hands-on play, social interaction, and other crucial developmental experiences. The goal is to raise kids who can confidently navigate our tech-centric world while maintaining rich, entire lives beyond their screens.
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