Technology's Affects on Children's Cognitive Abilities
Technology's Affects on Children's Cognitive Abilities
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What are cognitive abilities?
What are cognitive abilities?
Cognitive abilities are the skills that occur, grow, and develop in the brain. Some people believe that cognitive skills and social skills are the same thing, but they are different. Cognition is more about our thinking, reasoning, and the understanding of the things/people around us. Cognition takes care of how we process certain things within our brain.
Example of Cognitive Abilities/Skills
Example of Cognitive Abilities/Skills
Perception: Ways that we interpret and understand
Attention
Memory
Language
Visual and spatial processing: Being able to see and process where an object will be
Executive Functions: There are many executive functions but some of them include problem solving, decision making, and emotional self regulation
Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development
Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development
Jean Piaget was a Swiss psychologist. He came up with a theory of how children go through stages to reach their full human intelligence. You can watch this video and compare his thoughts and ideas to how technology/media could have an affect on each stage. Piaget's thoughts were just a theory and may or may not be correct, but it is interesting to hear about Piaget's process.
Technologies affects on cognition
Technologies affects on cognition
Technology has become a vital part of parenting as advancements in technology continue to occur. Companies are finding various ways to advertise technology as the next teacher for this new generation. However, this phenomenon is still fairly new and we still only know a little bit about the effect that technology can have on children's cognition. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (2016), children aged 2 to 5 years old should not be spending more than 1 hour a day engaging with screen-based media (Helm and McDermott 2022). More specifically, mobile devices like tablets and smartphones have become especially popular as they are portable and easily accessible. Mobile devices provide interactivity, which may have benefits over passive viewing (for example, watching tv) for young children's learning and self-regulation (Lawrence and Choe 2021). However, Lawrence and Choe (2021) also highlighted that studies of naturalistic use suggest increased use of mobile devices is associated with poorer language and self-regulation. Self-regulation is a very important factor in cognition for children. This is the ability to first identify and be able to manage one's behaviors and reactions based upon their feelings. Therefore, if children are or aren’t obtaining this cognitive skill efficiently then this will begin to affect the child. As we look at how technology can affect children's cognitive abilities there isn’t a clear side of pros and cons presented. There has been research done for both sides (positive and negative). Therefore, researchers have started to consider the educational classification of content being presented (educational vs. non-educational), the level of engagement required (interactive game vs passive video), and the duration of screen time (Helm and McDermott 2022). All of the things listed above are all things that can, in some way, affect the cognition of a child. The American Academy of Pediatrics (2016) dives head first into this idea of technology and cognition by speaking about age differences, possible health issues, and some parental guidelines and tips. The American Academy of Pediatrics (2016) highlights that children under 2 years of age need hands-on explorations and social interaction to develop their cognitive abilities. However, well-designed programs can improve cognition for children 3 to 5 years of age (The American Academy of Pediatrics 2016). With this being said, there are only a few television programs that not only create an environment for children, but also for parents. Unfortunately, most apps that parents find under the “educational” category have no evidence of efficacy, and most apps are not designed for a dual audience (both parent and child) (The American Academy of Pediatrics 2016). The American Academy of Pediatrics (2016) came to the conclusion that there needs to be time restraints on technology use for children 2-5 years of age. Specifically, they would recommend that children of these ages spend no more than 1 hour a day using any form of technology.
Technology has become a vital part of parenting as advancements in technology continue to occur. Companies are finding various ways to advertise technology as the next teacher for this new generation. However, this phenomenon is still fairly new and we still only know a little bit about the effect that technology can have on children's cognition. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (2016), children aged 2 to 5 years old should not be spending more than 1 hour a day engaging with screen-based media (Helm and McDermott 2022). More specifically, mobile devices like tablets and smartphones have become especially popular as they are portable and easily accessible. Mobile devices provide interactivity, which may have benefits over passive viewing (for example, watching tv) for young children's learning and self-regulation (Lawrence and Choe 2021). However, Lawrence and Choe (2021) also highlighted that studies of naturalistic use suggest increased use of mobile devices is associated with poorer language and self-regulation. Self-regulation is a very important factor in cognition for children. This is the ability to first identify and be able to manage one's behaviors and reactions based upon their feelings. Therefore, if children are or aren’t obtaining this cognitive skill efficiently then this will begin to affect the child. As we look at how technology can affect children's cognitive abilities there isn’t a clear side of pros and cons presented. There has been research done for both sides (positive and negative). Therefore, researchers have started to consider the educational classification of content being presented (educational vs. non-educational), the level of engagement required (interactive game vs passive video), and the duration of screen time (Helm and McDermott 2022). All of the things listed above are all things that can, in some way, affect the cognition of a child. The American Academy of Pediatrics (2016) dives head first into this idea of technology and cognition by speaking about age differences, possible health issues, and some parental guidelines and tips. The American Academy of Pediatrics (2016) highlights that children under 2 years of age need hands-on explorations and social interaction to develop their cognitive abilities. However, well-designed programs can improve cognition for children 3 to 5 years of age (The American Academy of Pediatrics 2016). With this being said, there are only a few television programs that not only create an environment for children, but also for parents. Unfortunately, most apps that parents find under the “educational” category have no evidence of efficacy, and most apps are not designed for a dual audience (both parent and child) (The American Academy of Pediatrics 2016). The American Academy of Pediatrics (2016) came to the conclusion that there needs to be time restraints on technology use for children 2-5 years of age. Specifically, they would recommend that children of these ages spend no more than 1 hour a day using any form of technology.
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