Gadgets could be GOOD for five-year-olds

They boost literacy skills (but only if they’re used sparingly)

WORRIES about young children being glued to gadgets may be misplaced, a study suggests.

In fact, five-year-olds who use digital devices such as smartphones and tablets score significantly higher in ‘emergent literacy’ than children who never use them. Emergent skills refer to the crucial phase of learning that takes place before children learn to read, write or use numbers. However, the study indicates a degree of parental rationing of technology is still required. This is because youngsters who had access to technology more than once a month – but less than every week – performed best in literacy overall, with about five months’ worth of development over their peers who never or hardly used it. The same group of children had about three months of development in hand over those who used digital devices every week, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report says. Emergent number skills were unaffected by whether or not children used digital devices. More than 3,000 children were involved in the study. In parts of the UK, 85 per cent of five-year-olds use a device such as a phone, computer or tablet every week, and 39 per cent do so every day, the OECD found. ‘The regular use of electronic devices was not associated with stronger or poorer skills across most measured outcomes’, the report says.

‘There were, however, positive correlations with children’s ability to recall short visual sequences (working memory) and their emergent literacy.’

The working memory of children who used technology at least once a week was also significantly higher than that of children who never or hardly ever used it.

Caroline Sharp, of the National Foundation for Educational Research, which carried out the research, said: ‘The findings suggest that moderate use of computers, tablets and smartphones is appropriate for five-year-olds, providing it does not get in the way of other valuable activities between a parent and their child, such as having a conversation and reading them bedtime stories.

‘If parents are looking for a guide, then moderate use of around one to three times a month was associated with the highest levels of emergent literacy.’ Other factors that boost children’s learning abilities include regular roleplaying with their parents, going to activities outside the home, and having regular conversations with their parents about how they feel.

Children’s Minister Vicky Ford said: ‘Our dedicated early years professionals are making sure children’s learning begins before they arrive at school

‘This report adds to the evidence about the important benefits of early education on a child’s development.’