Growing up with Technology: Young Children Learning in a Digital World

I am continually amazed by young children's knowledge and love of technology, and was interested to see what this book had to offer.

Its findings and suggestions are firmly rooted in research; the authors visited a wide range of settings and evaluated a large number of academic studies. Pre-school children are regularly exposed to an enormous range of technologies, including digital cameras, music devices, mobile phones, websites, games consoles and "educational" hardware.

However, contrary to speculative theories regarding "toxic childhoods", the authors demonstrate that children of this age are not defined by technologies: they need, and enjoy, a balance of activities and their interests and preferences change rapidly. Pre-school children's attitudes are also influenced significantly by the cultural beliefs, experiences and practices of their families. The authors' research identifies that being able to offer children similar experiences in homes and nurseries is challenging. However, accomplished practitioners already integrate technologies into nursery settings and provide purposeful, authentic tasks within the free-play ethos.