Kidnology is a reference to children and technology. The children of the 21st century are learning more, faster and sooner than the children of yesteryear. The early exposure to technology has only led to a fast learning generation who needs more stimuli to stay focused. Kidnology involves benefits, risks and consequences. Children start school age and advance much sooner than children of twenty years ago. They are taught to read earlier and do more complicated math sooner than earlier generations. This may be due to the constant need to learn and the fast paced world of technology. Because students have so many technologies available and presented in so many methods, youth often learn faster. On the flip side since so much is available this often results in loss of communication or interactive skills. In the past, a benefit of sending children to school was to learn social skills, today this is not the case.

First, technology in classrooms do result in improvements of a child’s learning experience. Technology can improve literacy skills, can assist in research, having the intranet at your fingertips and also encourages learning as some children may be confused and not ask questions. Technology applications are developed today to assist children through guided tasks so they can learn more on their own. In addition children with special needs can also learn through interactive devices and applications. In a study Washington University found children who are autistic prefer to watch videos rather than involve themselves with social encounters or media. Technology for children as young as three can help with communication skills where they may not have been learned for years without technology. Today’s youth, often referred to as iGeneration or Generation Z, are faced with rapid learning, technology in schools and at home, and with that comes much exposure and consequences. The majority of youth in the western hemisphere have some sort of technological device to communicate. Introducing technology to our children starts as early as preschool, when they are provided with play laptops or pretend cell phones, introducing those items as everyday household items. Children expect to be present in a social way to their friends wherever they are. How does that affect our children socially when it used to be writing on bathroom walls is now writing on social media walls. Youth are uploading photos or having photos uploaded that may affect their reputation and future unfortunately children may be advanced enough to handle technology but not the mental concerns that come along with it.

One big risk for kids and technology is opening up their lives for predators to invade. Children are naive and are fooled by adults who may want to do harm. With the soaring use of online gaming, social media, smart phones and webcams potential offenders have much more opportunity to communicate. The predators have learned how to approach children with the right things to say, consoling them on their problems and ensuring them, ‘no one else understands’. In addition many social media applications allow users to ‘check in’ upon arrival to a location, that is easily giving access to children if they are connected via technology. What is most worrisome is most children will not inform parents of any close calls or encounters for fear of losing their technology.

Lastly we should address consequences of technology. Besides the looming knowledge that every friend or friend of a friend has an insight into your life there are also consequences to each thing that is texted, sexted or posted. A child has to live through these consequences which may be too much to handle. Children may overreact to the feeling of hopelessness when your social life is exposed. Many teens put their thoughts and feelings on social media only to have it used against them or it provides ammunition for bullying. Jealousy or losing friends over banter back and forth on social media or even texting through phones often pushes youth to a point where they feel no way out or they cannot make things better. Bullies and those being bullied need to be aware of the consequences of posting that video, texting that photo or commenting on a wall. Responsibility of your actions is more important when each of us is an open book and can be uploaded to the intranet at any time.

Technology is rapidly encompassing every waking hour of each child in the western hemisphere. It is inevitable that they will have access to some type of technology or media and have an opportunity to learn. As society it is important to teach the benefits as well as risks and consequences so parents and children are informed enough to make sound decisions. A real cell phone for a preschooler sounds absurd in 2012, but our children are so much smarter than earlier generations it may be a need in the future. Keep safety in mind with any introduction to technology, teach youth to be responsible.

1. Acohido, Byron (2011)"Sex predators target children using social media" http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2011-02-28-online-pedophiles_N.htm
2. Cantor, Matt (2012) “New York Bullying Victim Kills Herself” Newser. Retrieved 13 Feb 2012 http://www.newser.com/story/136716/staten-island-bullying-victim-amanda-cummings-commits-suicide.html Retrieved 26 Feb 2012
3. Jayson, Sharon (2010) “ Tech-savvy 'iGeneration' kids multi-task, connect” http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-02-10-igeneration10_CV_N.htm USA Today. Retrieved 13 Feb 2012
4. NY Teachers Blog (2009) http://nyteachers.wordpress.com/2009/05/04/does-the-use-of-technology-improve-a-childs-learning-experience-in-the-classroom-by-tara-agnesini-celena-ragkaswar-and-jamie-bunsis/ Retrieved 01 Feb 2012
5. Priceless teaching Strategies http://www.priceless-teaching-strategies.com/computers-in-the-classroom.html Retrieved 26 Feb 2012
6. Tapscott, Don (2008)"How Digital Technology Has Changed the Brain" http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/nov2008/tc2008117_034517.htm Retrieved 13 Feb 2012