Psychology

Childhood development
How technology impacts child development

How does new technology impact toddlers’ development?

What are the long-term effects when toddlers engage with newer technologies?
 Specifying what the “effects” are
o Brain, emotion, intellect, communication etc…
 Technologies
o iPads or learning technologies
 When parents interact with these technologies around the child
o Attachment
 Benefits and drawbacks

http://eds.b.ebscohost.com/eds/detail/detail?vid=5&sid=5780920c-d4e0-4821-ab6f-
ad0adb3f6ccb@pdc-v-
sessmgr04&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ==#AN=2019-44425-
001&db=pdh
http://eds.b.ebscohost.com/eds/detail/detail?vid=10&sid=5780920c-d4e0-4821-ab6f-
ad0adb3f6ccb%40pdc-v-
sessmgr04&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#AN=2018-
59973-001&db=pdh

Introduction:
In this project I will discuss the certain effects that technology has on a young child's brain, and
dive into the certain health risks, benefits, and drawbacks. Along with studying child's
attachment to their parents and how they interact with these technologies around the child.
Technology is used worldwide by all different ages. Americans spend an estimated nine and a
half hours daily consuming media. Studies have found that forty percent of children under the
age of six have televisions in their rooms. Children under the age of eight spend around two to
seven hours viewing screens, and twenty seven percent of five and six year olds have at least one
hour of screen time. Technology plays a big role in the development of a young child's brain
having both positive and negative effects. It also affects interactions among parents with their
child and sense of attachment.

Research Methods and Sources:

The research methods I will use during this paper are particularly Psych databases along with
Therapists journals. I use the key words

Courtney, Janet A., and Eva Nowakowski-Sims. “Technology’s Impact on the Parent-Infant

Attachment Relationship: Intervening through FirstPlay® Therapy.” International

 Journal of Play Therapy, vol. 28, no. 2, Apr. 2019, pp. 57–68. EBSCOhost,

doi:10.1037/pla0000090.

This academic journal is published by the Educational Publishing Foundation and Assn

for Play Therapy. This article examines the impact that technology has on the parent-

child attachment relationship. Here researchers are looking into how technology affects

infants and children both mentally and physically and studying how it can alter the

child’s attachment.

Gavin, Sandra, et al. “Play Therapists’ Attitudes toward Using Technology in the

Playroom.” International Journal of Play Therapy, Aug. 2019. EBSCOhost,

doi:10.1037/pla0000104.

This academic journal is published by the Educational publishing Foundation along with

Assn for Play Therapy. This journal explains the negative and somewhat positive effects

that technology has on young children’s developing brains. Also, she uses examples of

how therapists utilized technology in the playroom. The use of technology has been

incorporated into treatment of children for issues related to anxiety disorders, phobias,

depression, schizophrenia, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and eating and body

dysmorphic disorders.

Haas, Rebecca. “Psychologist's Book Focuses on Technology's Effects On Children.” Wisconsin

Public Radio, 18 Apr. 2019, www.wpr.org/psychologists-book-focuses-technologys-

effects-children.

This article was published by Rebecca Haas on Wisconsin Public Radio. The article

focuses on Westendorfs book that talk’s about technology’s effect on children and how

these devices are destroying our brains. She uses many references from her book and
 talks about how kids who even spend up to three hours on technology may have effects

on their brain structures. Westendorf states that technology has helped us in many ways,

but all need to be careful about the downside.

Hiscott, Rebecca. “8 Ways Tech Has Completely Rewired Our Brains.” Mashable, Mashable, 14

Mar. 2014, mashable.com/2014/03/14/tech-brains-neuroplasticity/.

This article is by Rebecca Hiscott and was published in Mashable. She talks about the

eight ways technology has completely rewired our brains. She talks about how it has

altered human physiology. It effects our memory, attention spans, and sleep cycles. This

is all thanks to a neuroplasticity.

Taylor, Jim. “How Technology Is Changing the Way Children Think and Focus.” Psychology

Today, Sussex Publishers, 4 Dec. 2012, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-power-

prime/201212/how-technology-is-changing-the-way-children-think-and-focus.

This article was published by Jim Taylor PhD. in Psychology Today. He talks about how

technology can be both beneficial along with harmful if used improperly. Taylor explains

that it is not only affecting the way children think but their brains. This is because he

explains that children’s brains and still forming and the frequent exposure can actually

rewire them.