Description:

We’re sure you’ve noticed how many young children are engrossed in their smartphones, tablets and computers, and the pandemic has only increased screen time. Technology is now deeply engrained in our everyday lives—there’s no avoiding it. But these are murky waters: some children are successfully using technology to independently learn valuable skills at home through educational apps and online resources while their parents are busy working. However, with many schools and daycares now closed, the temptation can also be high for caretakers to simply plop their child down in front of the TV for hours so they can get a moment to themselves. So it’s our job to find the most beneficial ways for little ones to interact with technology.

What does the research show us about how technology influences children? How can we best harness the power of technology to have a positive impact on kids’ behavior and education? How can we use technology to bridge the generational divide between children and adults in both the classroom and the home?

Whether you’re devising an online curriculum, managing your child’s remote learning experience or testing the waters of homeschooling, join us for this informative dialog on the rise of children’s media and tech.

Young Children and Tech: Forces at Play will feature our keynote speaker Ed Greene, an expert in early childhood development and media environments whose experience includes the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the HighScope Educational Research Foundation, the American Camp Association, the Sesame Workshop, Cito and digital media initiatives. Commentary will be provided by LaToye Adams, a media researcher, education consultant and president of WonderWhy Consulting LLC. She has conducted user experience research on classroom management, educational virtual reality field trips, and 3D modeling software. Deb Tamez, the director of The Eagle’s Nest Play to Learn Center, will also provide commentary.