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Ruhi Patel
Malcolm Campbell
UWRIT 1103
2 November 2016
Toddlers and Technology: Is our new generation suffering or succeeding?
A two-year-old child, barely able to speak and still stumbling when she tries to walk, is
able to efficiently navigate an iPad by swiftly moving her tiny, uncoordinated fingers across the
smooth glass surface of the backlight screen. The lights flash and the bright colors pop, enslaving
her senses and captivating her easily impressionable mind. She is completely absorbed in the
device laying across her lap, way too big to be used by someone so delicate and small . This is a
scene we see far too often today. Parents use these electronic devices to pacify their screaming
child, who comes to love the connection he or she has built with this object so much that they no
longer desire human interaction. Children go to the park and yet are still seen glued to
technology even under the bright blue sky. They are surrounded by others their age and people
who love them, and yet they have grown to neglect the human touch and only desire the instant
gratification that technology can provide.
At the same time, we also see these children learning to read and write at a much younger
age than developmental experts had previously imagined possible. They have mastered the
knowledge of navigating technology long before they could ride a bike and are continuously
developing and expanding that knowledge base with every ounce of exposure they receive . From
a parental perspective, its so easy to give a screaming child an iPad and instantly be blessed with
peace and silence; however, this is also positively reinforcing negative behavior . So the question

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then is what is the right thing to do? Is it alright to expose young children to the technological
world or should we wait until they grow and their minds are less sensitive to any undesired
detrimental effects?
To see the effects technology can have, it is important to first identify the proper
milestones for development. During the first year of a childs life, nurture is the best thing a
parent can provide for a child. An article posted by the American Psychological Association
(APA) says that meeting a babys needs quickly and warmly encourages the infant to trust their
environment more and explore their surroundings. Parental involvement is important because it
helps build the foundation for social, emotional, and cognitive development throughout the
childs life. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), by the age of
one, a child should be able to use simple gestures to communicate and mimic words and actions
performed by adults. By the age of two, a child should begin to show more independence by
being more defiant and throwing temper tantrums. They start playing make-believe games,
which continues until they are about 5 years old . Children rely heavily on their creativity and
imagination during their early childhood to fight boredom on their own. The CDC also places a
lot of emphasis on motor development, including the transition from sitting up to crawling to
walking and finally to running.
With the addition of technology in early childhood, children are less inclined to
participate in some of these activities that are beneficial to their development . For example,
when a child throws a temper tantrum, it is so much easier for a parent to give them an iPad or
phone than allow the child to continue throwing a fit and eventually solve their own problems . In

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this instance, the iPad is providing positive reinforcement for their negative behavior . Along the
same lines, giving a child a phone every time they get bored takes away an opportunity to use
their imagination and play a make-believe game or draw a picture . They become more reliant on
these devices for entertainment and less on their own creativity and imagination.
It is no secret that todays youth are growing up a lot differently than we did . A
Huffington Post article published in 2013 takes a look at how imaginative playtime has
disappeared and has instead been replaced by technology, leading to increased physical,
psychological, and behavioral disorders. Some of these disorders include autism, developmental
delays, unintelligible speech, anxiety, sleep disorders, and depression . Child obesity and diabetes
have also risen at alarming rates, although it is difficult to say if technology is a strong
contributing factor to this observation. A study conducted by the CDC also shows a significant
increase in ADHD from the early 1990s till now . These suggest technology has the potential to
affect us and our future generation on a deeper level than we previously thought.
Juju Chang, an ABC News reporter, performed a study on the Klause family in New
Jersey and asked the parents to keep their daughters off of electronic devices for one month and
record their observations. The girls found they had a lot more time to pursue other hobbies
without the distraction of technology. They also had to resort to their imagination for
entertainment when playing with analog toys . If all of this is possible by staying away from
technology for one month, what would be the effects long term? To answer that question, we first
have to look at the negative behaviors technology can promote.

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The National Library of Medicine published a journal written by three doctors- Daphne
Bavelier, C. Shawn Green, and Matthew W. G. Dye- all of whom are specialists in
developmental and cognitive psychology. Their studies showed strong correlations with violence
in entertainment media and violence in children . This is because children began to accept these
violent actions as a social norm. Violence in media also has been found to promote antisocial
tendencies, such as hostility, deceitfulness, impulsivity, irritability, and aggression (Antisocial
Personality Disorder). Exposing the impressionable minds of children to violent media can
possibly result in drug abuse and substance dependence at a young age . This is because children
see it all the time in movies and TV shows; they began to accept it as a part of life.
The same study also showed an increase in internet addiction, claiming that 10-20% of
youth either have or are at-risk internet addicts. People, young and old, use video games and the
internet as a method of escapism where they become invested in these virtual worlds so they can
avoid dealing with problems they face in real life. While the American Medical Association does
not recognize internet addiction as a disorder, there is an abundance of scientific evidence that
claims internet-use has the potential to become pathological . This means that normal functioning
is reduced because these individuals invest a significant amount of time using technology and
have difficulty returning to reality. Unfortunately, it is difficult to see how such pathological use
develops, so it is not yet possible to see if technology has a direct impact on this problem.
Dr. Tovah Klien, a pediatric social and emotional development specialist, conducted a
study at the Barnard University Toddler Center in 2014 to see the distractibility in toddlers when
performing certain activities. The test was an observational study where toddlers were given

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traditional toys and iPads to play with . When they were playing with the iPads, almost all of the
children were completely absorbed in their devices and oblivious to their surroundings . There
was no communication between them and they were unresponsive to the questions and
comments from their supervisor. When the children were given the traditional toys, they became
verbal, social, and creative again. It was also observed that their vocabulary significantly
increased when they played with the analog toys . Another study published by the National
Library of Medicine in 2010 showed extensive exposure to technology and multitasking between
devices leads to attentional deficiencies. This is because individuals are less able to filter out
distracting information from the environment and had difficulty paying attention to one task. As
a result, visual memory, imagination, and sleep decreased.
Dr. Jan-Marino Ramirez, a professor of neurosurgery, performed a study at the Center for
Integrative Brain Research at Seattle Childrens Hospital to see the effects of heavy screen time
on young brains. The study involved exposing mice to sound and light for six hours a day .
Eventually, their brains become more desensitized to sensory stimulation . The mice began to act
like they had ADD, showed signs of learning problems, and were prone to risky behavior . These
results prompted Dr. Ramirez to question if human brains have evolved to handle so much
stimulation. In nature, the chances of meeting a lion were very slim, maybe once in a lifetime .
Todays video games allow you to experience the equivalent of encountering a lion once every
few second (Hamilton).
However, the mice mentioned in the earlier study were able to stay calm in stressful
environments. Dr. Leah Krubitzer, an evolutionary neurobiologist, looks at these results from a

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different perspective. She interpreted them to mean a less sensitive brain would thrive in a world
where overstimulation is a problem. It would allow these individuals to stay calm and block out
some of the distractions. Krubitzer argues that we live in a world that is increasingly fast-paced .
Technology is everywhere, providing constant stimulation . Running away from this will only
hurt your performance when you are exposed to it . Todays children cant be raised the same
way they would have in the 70s because the environment they live in is completely different . A
little bit of desensitization is necessary to stay focused in todays technologically savvy world
(Hamilton).
There are many other specialists who would agree with Krubitzer . While the evidence for
the negative effects can seem overwhelming, there have been just as many studies that show
positive effects. One of the main effects developmental psychologists and pediatricians look at
are educational and learning enhancements. Todays children have more access to information
than any generation before them. Free programs like TED talks and Khan Academy provide
thought-provoking lectures and tutoring. A childs brain also has higher plasticity and is more
susceptible to adapting and learning. Studies have proven that children exposed to educational
media at a young age have higher language literacy and develop basic mathematical skills
earlier. This media, however, must engage and elicit active participation (Bavelier, Green,
Matthew). For example, Dr. Deborah Linebarger and Dr. Dale Walker, both of whom are applied
and behavioral psychologists, conducted a study to see the difference between watching Dora
the Explorer and Teletubbies in two-year-old children . The study showed an association with
an increase in vocabulary and expressive language skills while watching Dora the Explorer

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whereas watching Teletubbies was associated with a decrease in both areas (Linebarger,
Walker). The primary difference between these two programs is the amount of active
participation they both promote. Teletubbies is primarily mindless entertainment while Dora
the Explorer encourages verbal responses throughout the duration of the show.
It has been proven that technology can help develop strong interpersonal communication
skills. One NPR reporter spoke to Dr. Georgene Troseth, a cognitive development specialist at
Vanderbilt University. Dr. Troseth has conducted a study about how Skype and video chat can
impact a baby. Her results showed that Skype can help babies learn to communicate because it
mimics live interactions with people. It isnt like TV because it requires participation, which is
key to learning. Therefore, media can be educational and beneficial if it relies on the childs
response or participation.
Some of the studies that prove the positive effects of technology completely contradict
the studies that proved the consequences. For example, Dr. Patricia Greenfield, a developmental
psychologist at the UCLA, published a journal article that said mindless action video games can
result in an improvement of attention to detail, motor, and visual skills . Another study performed
by Dr. Jay Giedd, a child psychiatrist at UCSD, said violent video games actually reduce
violence in youth because while it does desensitize their minds to violence, it allows them to
release their aggression without actually harming anyone. These studies show that results are
subjective and can be conducted to show either result.
Despite the conflicting studies, it can be concluded that anything can be good when used
in moderation. The studies that proved the negative effects took advantage of extensive and

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unlimited exposure to technology while the positive effects relied on closely monitored and
limited exposure. The official AAP recommendations say children under the age of two should
not be exposed to technology, but there is no evidence that can firmly prove electronic devices
are bad when used in moderation. Parental discretion is the most important aspect in determining
how technology will affect a child. Gina Turrigiano, a brain specialist, says its important for
parents to be aware of the positive and negative effects of technology, but they should also
realize that each kid will respond differently to the same kinds of environments (Hamilton).
In the end, a clear conclusion cant be drawn because the evidence is limited . Technology
hasnt been around long enough to create one solid statement about the long-term effects . To
ensure the best environment for the development of a child, it is very important to take a break
from electronic devices every now and then and nurture creativity . Playing hide-and-seek, make
believe games, board games, solving puzzles, reading books, and drawing pictures are all
examples of hands-on activities that are entertaining and enriching. They require parents to get
personally involved and interact with children, promoting development without technology . At
the same time, using apps that teach how to write letters, read, tell time are all great for when it
isnt possible to do any of the technology-free activities . Parents should be aware of both aspects
of the argument and find a balance to ensure they are providing the best environment for their
child.

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Works Cited
Antisocial Personality Disorder. Symptoms and Causes. Mayo Clinic, 02 Apr. 2016. Accessed
08 Nov. 2016
Bavelier, Daphne, C. Shawn Green, and Matthew W. G. Dye. Children, Wired- for Better and
for Worse. Neuron. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 09 Sept. 2010. Web. Accessed
15 Oct. 2016.
Child Development. PBS Parents. PBS. Accessed 07 Nov. 2016.
Developmental Milestones. CDC. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 18 Aug. 2016.
Accessed 07, Nov. 2016
Generation iPad: Could It Hurt Toddlers' Development? ABC News Productions, 20 Nov.
2014. Web. 17 Oct. 2016.
Giedd, Jay N. The Digital Revolution and Adolescent Brain Evolution. The Journal of
Adolescent Health: Official Publication of the Society of Adolescent Medicine. U. S.
National Library of Medicine, Aug 2012. Accessed 12 Oct. 2016
Greenfield, Patricia. Technology and Informal Education: What Is Taught, What Is Learned.
National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2
Jan. 2009. Accessed 08 Nov. 2016
Hamilton, Jon. Heavy Screen Time Rewires Young Brains, For Better And Worse. NPR. NPR,
19 Nov. 2016. Accessed 21 Nov. 2016
Linebarger, Deborah L., and Dale Walker. Infants and Toddlers Television Viewing and
Language Outcomes. American Behavioral Scientist. Sage Publications, 01 Jan. 2005.
Accessed 1 Nov. 2016
Parents and Caregivers Are Essential to a Childs Healthy Development. APA. American
Psychological Association, 2016. Accessed 07 Nov. 2016

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Rowan, Cris. The Impact of Technology on the Developing Child. The Huffington Post.
TheHuffingtonPost.com, 29 May 2013. Accessed 05 Oct. 2016
Swing, Edward L., Douglas A. Gentile, Craig A. Anderson, and David. A. Walsh. Television
and Video Game Exposure and the Development of Attention Problems. National
Center for Biotechnology Information. U. S. National Library of Medicine, 5 July 2010.
Accessed 08 Nov. 2016