Researchers, psychologists,
librarians, and parents all seem to agree that it is never too early to start
reading to your child. Even in utero reading could have benefits in building aural
connections between the child and the parents’ voices. All agree, the earlier
we start, the better.
But is there a time when it is too
early to utilize technology in reading?
……..
I am always interested in the
possibilities and challenges that technology offers to the modern library. Technology
and media has already drastically transformed our adult and teen library
spaces. I wonder how/if technology can benefit early literacy programs in the
library. Obviously we can utilize library web pages to offer resources for parents
and to market our programs, but are there advantages or disadvantages to
introducing technological tools into storytelling and early childhood programs?
Do these tools inhibit the shared reading environment?
Studies have found a significant
correlation between when shared reading begins for a child and language scores
at the age of four and that 9 out of 10 of those children who begin schooling
as poor readers in 1st grade will still be a poor reader in 4th
grade. We also know that children aged
4-6 living in a high-TV household, are far less capable of reading (34% vs
56%).[1] But at the same time, all I ever hear from
parents is how the iPad is the most important new learning tool for young
children, replete with a wealth of educational applications. Now I don’t mean
to imply that television and an educational iPad application are the same
experience. The iPad inherently demands a more shared experience than
television does, but I don’t believe an iPad demands the level of sharing that
book-reading, or group storytime can offer.
Furthermore, having shared reading
time between child and caregiver is essential, but as Every Child Ready to Read
emphasizes, it is also important how you
read with a child to emphasize early literary skills. For young children sensory
experience is so important to how they learn. Whether that’s tactile, aural,
visible, or even oral, these are all experiences that young children can have with
a physical book, and with the physical space of children’s libraries. And young
children also improve memory retention when they are emotionally involved,
something that can be hard to replicate through technology. Ultimately, if we
can use technology while maintaining the social, loving, dialogic, parent-child
relationship that lies at the core of shared reading they can be a benefit, but
these elements can NOT get lost in the sweep of this digital era.
That said, don’t we also have a
responsibility to prepare our children for that digital world? Such goals are
becoming essential to curricular goals as children grow older. What age or
level of development do you think is right to introduce such tools? How are you
using today's tech tools--computers, electronic games, tablet devices—in your
early literacy program, if at all? I am very curious about the role of
technology in early childhood development and would love to hear some of your
experiences!
[1] Statistics
cited in Saroj Nadkarni Ghoting and Pamela Martin-Díaz, Early Literacy
Storytimes @ Your Library: Partnering with Caregivers for Success p6-10; Also see Maryanne Wolf, and Catherine
J. Stoodley. Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading
Brain. Ch. 4, pp. 81-107
