A woman I did not know came up to me in Target and told me I shouldn’t let my daughter walk around with a cell phone since she is just a little child.
This woman’s first mistake was assuming that my 7-year-old sister was my daughter.
This woman assumed that I had given my “daughter” a cell phone before she was of the age that society deems acceptable for children to have their own technology.
I’m not sure why it’s shameful for children to have technology.
My sister has learned how to problem solve with the use of technology. One day she could not figure out how to draw a realistic horse, so, without asking for help, she got on the computer, went to YouTube and looked up tutorials to learn. She taught herself how to do something without anyone else assisting her. She draws amazing horses now.
Technology aids in teaching children, especially regarding reading comprehension, according to a study by Massey University’s Institute of Education. My 3-year-old brother plays on my parents’ phones all the time. He is better at Temple Run than I am but, he also plays educational games. He plays games that involve shapes, counting money, colors, the alphabet, and many others that teach him things he will need to know when he goes to Pre-K next year. While our family can still teach him with flashcards, technology has pushed his education along.
It also provides safety. One of the first things my sister was taught was how to call 911 in an emergency, or our parents if she was home alone after school. Few families still have home phones, so for children in school, lowering the age in which parents give them technology makes sense.
The reality is we are already in an age where technology is ruling everything. I don’t see any problems with allowing children to use technology in moderation. My siblings have learned a lot and continue to learn everyday.
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