Keep In Mind

Benefit of Technology for Early Literacy

Technology can also help in developing literacy skills of young children provided it is appropriately utilized with pertinent learning resources. The digital learning environment provided by e-books and literacy applications assists the children in practicing reading skills and learning new vocabulary and being involved in the storytelling process that promotes language development. “Nevertheless, previous research showed that young children’s early interactions with desktop computers through educational software, games, and e-books positively influenced their language development.” (Liu et al., 2024, p. 2).

Caution About Technology Use

Although technology may aid in the learning process, it may affect the children negatively through excessive exposure to technology. Exposure to the screen at an early age and in excess amounts has been found to result in behavior problems and lack of access to health-related quality of life in the young children, and balancing between use of technology and other developmental activities is extremely critical. “A growing body of evidence suggests that excessive screen time and early screen exposure have detrimental impacts on children [5–9]. For example, a multi-country cohort study has revealed a link between excessive screen time and an increased risk of overweight or obesity in children aged between 2 and 11 years [5].” (Xiang et al., 2022, p. 2). In addition, spending much of their time on the screens also implies that children will be deprived of a chance to engage in face-to-face communication with their carers, which is the most basic in terms of language development.