Children and Today's Technology

Children and Today's Technology
COM/156
May 5, 2013
Melissa McIsaac

Children and Today's Technology
Whether it is the alarm clock on the night stand that wakes people up, the computer that is used at school or work, or the television that is watched in the evening, technology pervades every aspect of everyday life.   It is no small wonder then that so many individuals are worried about the harmful effects of technology on today’s youth.   Children have access to cellular phones, computers with internet access, televisions, and video games on a regular basis.   The natural fear is that these are all harmful for a child’s young mind, but are they really?   Though some researchers disagree, technology helps a child’s motor development, relationships, and behavior.  
Though previously believed that technology is harmful for children, it is now believed that technology can help a child’s motor development.   One popular use of technology that encourages motor development is playing video games.   Video games can be played on the computer, with hand-held game systems, or with the television and a game console. All three methods of playing video games help children learn to perform multiple functions at one time (Hayes & Silberman, 2007).  There are several video games, on different game systems, which require the use of both hands at the same time.   This helps and encourages children to learn to use both sides of the brain.   Playing video games increases children’s response time and teaches them to move quickly.   In addition, certain video games require physical activity and the use of several body parts (Hayes & Silberman, 2007).  Game systems such as the Wii and the Xbox 360 Kinect have sports games that include tennis, bowling, basketball, volleyball, and ping pong which all require moving the whole body as well as just specific limbs. This helps children learn a whole range of movements, thus contributing to the children’s motor development.   Learning how...