The other day my son told me how he enjoyed playing games on the ipad during circle time in his kindergarten class. Of course I tried to “stay curious” but inside I was like are you serious? is it me or am I being “that mom?” I gently asked so is it everyday you use the iPads over circle time? “Yeah – sometimes,” as he run off doing some karate kicks in the air. Of course by this point he was done with the conversation and on to something else. Maybe I am 19th century mum living in a 21st century society. Maybe I am too old-school. Maybe I am getting in way over my head. Maybe its just nothing. But I cant help that nagging feeling that maybe Ed-tech really bamboozled the school system into believing they it was the next best thing since sliced bread.
Circle time from what I remember in the early kindergarten/ elementary years was that time kids just literally sat in a circle ; listened to the teachers read stories, sung songs, made farts – because lets face it kids are kids – they gotta go they gotta go . This was the time as a teacher it was easy to observe kids temperament in a group, their social skills, abilities to hold their attention as they listened to a story, or lack thereof as noted by those who “have the wiggles” and need to get up and move etc. So now when we stick ad iPad in front of them – whether it is a shared iPad or otherwise, of course the playdough does not seem as interesting. It is easy for each child to get pulled into that “digital vortex
EduTech as a whole was this big and shiny object that lured educational systems into believing more tech will make kids smarter, think quick on their feet and yet study after study has proved this is actually not the case. Take for example the Hatch Early Learning. They provide a wide array of tech base programs for the pre schoolers and early learning – Ranging from each child with an iPAD etc. The intent is there – increase learning opportunities for all but is it necessarily the right delivery? I do not think so.
Circle time has so many benefits – social skills, communication, increase love for learning etc..There is no need to water it down with the isolating effect that devices have. What I am learning though in this work is that to make any change you have to act locally. Start small – raise up your hand at the next PTA. Ask the questions that many parents want to ask but no one wants to be “that mom.” If you are feeling “stuck” there are great letters from Screens in Schools, a work group from the Children Screen time Action Network. These letters are designed for parents to present to school admin to exempt a child from “non-educational” tech use. You can find the link here https://screentimenetwork.org/resource/screens-schools-action-kit
“Grocery stores and Restaurants make accommodations for gluten free clients, schools & organizations need to start making accommodations for our screen-free & screen lite families – Penny
#savecircletime