iPads and Job Security for OT’s

After reading an article that some kindergarten classes in Maine, will be getting close to 300 iPads, I began to think about how this will effect the fine motor skill development of young children. And, how younger children’s use of technology may provide an unfortunate sort of job security for pediatric occupational therapists. The rate of children receiving pediatric occupational therapy seems to rise year after year along with the amount of screen time for children. Check out these numbers:
1. Preschool children spend 32 hours per week with screen time (television and computer use) (1)
2. Forty percent of 3 month olds are regular viewers of screen time (1)
3. Nineteen percent of one year old’s have a television in the bedroom (1)
4. Screen time for a toddler is associated with lower school achievement and decreased physical activity later in childhood (1)
5. Thanks to their parents, the average age a child gets a digital footprint is 6 months old (2)

A recent study from AVG indicated that more children are learning technology skills before life skills. Check out these numbers from a study of 2200 mothers of 2-5 year old children:
1. More kids can play with a smart phone than tie shoelaces (3)
2. More children can play a video game than ride a bicycle (3)
3. More children can open a web browser than swim unassisted (3)

What will this do to children with regards to the acquisition of motor skills and motor programs? If used in moderation, I am sure that the latest technology offers many learning opportunities for children. The key word is moderation. Considering the latest screen time statistics referenced above, moderation is obviously lacking already. Therefore, children’s achievement of functional skills will most likely be delayed and some skills possibly eliminated all together. The arches of the hand can not develop properly by never picking up objects or manipulating items besides a computer mouse. Body awareness and motor planning are learned through movement. The tiny movement involed in the clicking of a mouse with the index finger does not offer any sort of motor practice or proprioceptive input. With the lack of three dimensions of computer technology, how will stereognosis develop? How will visual perceptual skills be effected? How will children develop the skills to button, zip, tie shoelaces and ride a bike? Unfortunately there’s NOT an app for that! Correction there is an app for that…a referral for pediatric occupational therapy.

References:

1. Fact Sheet Kids and Screen. Commercial Free Childhood. Retrived on the web on 4/16/2011 from http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/factsheets/screentime.pdf

2. AVG. Would You Want a Digitial Footprint Since Birth? Retrieved on the web on 4/16/2011 from http://jrsmith.blog.avg.com/2010/10/would-you-want-a-digital-footprint-from-birth.html

3. AVG. Forget Swimming and Riding a Bike – Young Children Today More Likely To Have Mastereed Computer Games. Retrieved from the web on 4/16/2011 from http://free.avg.com/ww-en/news.ndi-106