What the Research Says About Technology
Technology as a Daily Resource
“Technology is the application of scientific knowledge to solve a practical problem” (JAH, para. 3, 2021). Technology is much more simple than we often think, and even the simplest of daily functions require some form of technology. Think about your morning routine for example. If you brushed your teeth, turned on the tap, took something out of the refrigerator, or even just turned on a light - all of these tasks required technology in some form. Aside from our daily functions, technology is also playing a vital role in education and influencing children, thus making it essential for parents to guide the technology being used by and exposed to children.
Before smart phones allowed us to have anything and everything we want in the palm of our hands, parents and children had to rely on other means to gather information and experience the world around them - including physically attending school and work. Now, as young children become students, they can learn any skill they desire through google, youtube, and online courses - the classroom is merely a click away (JAH, 2021). Despite being able to learn from home, it is extremely important for parents to ensure that children are learning accurate and safe information for their age. One of the biggest faults of technology is the fact that nearly anything can be shared and manipulated online. Although our access to technology often makes our life more enjoyable, easier and convenient, it's essential that parents closely monitor their children's involvement online to protect them and make them aware of the safe ways to use technology to avoid the many dangers that are out there.
As we are aware, there are many forms of technology, traditional and not. Regardless of the type of technology being used, overuse of technology for both adults and children has been linked to a decline in mental health and an increase in social division and concerns with privacy (Turner, 2022). Overexposure at a younger age can have a more detrimental and long term impact on children's development - further supporting that parental guidance with technology use can be a positive asset in children’s overall growth and development. In addition, parental guidance in children’s use of technology does not have to be a negative thing. Parents can use this as an opportunity to educate their children of safe ways to use these resources.Technology is perceived to have made us lazy, and often takes jobs in place of people, but there are also so many positive aspects. It creates more access to information and schooling and also works to save energy. Therefore, technology can be extremely positive when guided and used for its intended purposes and in an appropriate manner.