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A Newscore article was released today stating a psychologist's opinion that children shouldn't be allowed to use a computer until age 9. His reasons were because it affected attention spans and was harmful to their under-developed brains.
Psychologist says children should be banned from computers until the age of nine
NewsCore, June 14, 2010
"A PROMINENT psychologist has urged schools to ban children under the age of nine from using computers because the technology is damaging their brains.
Speaking at a conference of childcare specialists in the UK, psychologist and author Dr Aric Sigman said technology affected children's attentions spans and was harmful to their under-developed brains.
Dr Sigman said rules introduced in the UK in 2008 which recommend toddlers be introduced to computers as early as 22 months of age were "subverting the development of children's cognitive skills".
"There is evidence to show that introducing information and communication technology (ICT) in the early years actually subverts the very skills that government ministers said they want children to develop, such as the ability to pay attention for sustained periods," Dr Sigman said.
"The big problems we are seeing now with children who do not read, or who find it difficult to pay attention to the teacher, or to communicate, are down to attention damage that we are finding in all age groups."
The Early Years Foundation Stage or "nappy curriculum" suggests computers should be introduced from 22 months and that from 40 months children should be able to "perform simple ICT functions, such as select a channel on the TV remote control and use a mouse and keyboard to use age-appropriate software".
Primary schoolchildren in the UK have at least one ICT lesson a week and computer use is widespread.
Debate about the benefits of introducing children to technology at a young age is mixed.
Research evidence shows that technology can help children's learning, social development and health. A number of studies in the US show that age-appropriate software can help language development.
Dr Sigman said that even though screen technology can assist learning, children should be introduced at a later stage.
"It must be introduced and used judiciously at much later ages — ideally at least age nine — or it can subvert the development of the cognitive skills and curiosity it was intended to foster and enhance," he said.
Dr Sigman has previously spoken against social networking sites and TV as potentially damaging technologies. He is the author of two books, Remotely Controlled: How Television is Damaging Our Lives and The Spoilt Generation."
Click here to go to the actual article.
Have your say underneath on what you believe are the dangers of technology for children.
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