Technology's Relationship to Children's Development

“No matter how helpful they are as tools (and, of course, they can be very helpful tools), computers don’t begin to compare in significance to the teacher-child relationship which is human and mutual. A computer can help you to learn to spell H-U-G, but it can never know the risk or the joy of actually giving or receiving one.” --Fred Rogers

There has been multiple debates about how new technology has an impact on children's development and learning. In an article from The Fred Rogers Center, The Role of Relationships in Children's Use of Technology, it discusses how media and technology can strengthen three main relationships in a child's life. These relationships are integral in early childhood that can influence the future well-being of the child. The three relationships include; the child's relationship to self, to others, and to the larger world. The child's relationship to self focuses on their developing competence and confidence (Boyle, 2017). The way that media helps children connect with others, learn to collaborate and build a relationship with family and friends from near or abroad. What Boyle means by children's relationship to the larger world, they mean that children have gaining access to information globally. Therefore begin to empathise with others as they have more understanding of their world, which allows them to have an appreciation to it (Boyle, 2017). Media and technology are key influences of the three relationships in a child's life, this means that family members and educators have a role in their children's experiences with media and technology; either positive or negative.

As Ellen Degeneres explained, in the future with the rapid advances in new technology, children may not have to know what credit cards or identification cards are because everything sort of information about a person can be found in their smartphone. It is becoming more prevalent today that technology is being used more than simply a tool; it is now becoming a necessity in order to live in a modern world. The adults in children's life influence how children should interact with technology, as a result, parents, educators and caregivers must be mindful of their own relationship with technology and media.

An example of how out of touch Millennial children are with the original designs of new technology in the video below.