Is Technology Integral to Toddlers Learning?

This past week’s Dispatches: How Safe Is Your Child’s Nursery that ran on Channel 4 prompted me to go check out Ofsted’s website for rating nurseries.  Obviously, I went to check out the nursery my son goes to.  The Ofsted website is in fact as terrible as the Dispatches report relayed.  Using the reports search page with the criteria of nurseries within five miles of my post code yielded nurseries in London on the first page (I live near Manchester).  But a general site search helped me find the nursery.  However, the usability of the Ofsted website isn't the point of this post.  Or perhaps in a way, it should be.

I went and read the report posted by Ofsted back in 2011… really, had it been two years since the nursery was last reviewed?  It gave the marks that I pretty well had anticipated for the nursery that I selected for my son.  When I went looking for a nursery, I wanted one that was very close to home.  I wanted a Montessori style atmosphere where children are encouraged to learn by play and learning is done at the child’s pace with the child’s lead.  I wanted my son to be exposed to a great variety of toys and play styles; to have social interaction with children of all ages; to have an experience with some structure not too far unlike what he will later experience in preschool.  I wanted a nursery that worked in frequent partnership with parents in identifying and encouraging their individual child’s development at home.  And I specifically wanted to see no televisions and a caring staff that actively and continuously engaged the children under their care.  The nursery my son goes to gets high marks for all of these.

So in reading the Ofsted report, I saw a lot of praise for those virtues I found in his nursery.  But then I found criticism in the areas that I didn't care for at all in my son’s early education—accessibility to technology.  The report cited that there was a computer that children had access to and that many children demonstrated that they knew how to use a mouse.  But then it criticized the nursery for not having cameras and mobile phones available for the children to play with.

Recently in the Wigan area, a nursery near Swinley was burgled.  Some £800 cash was stolen.  And the article bemoaned how the evil burglars also made off with the nursery’s Playstations, Xboxes, and Wii’s and how a fundraiser was being put together to replace this equipment.  I don’t think I should have to apologize for ‘not being with it’… but really… what are Playstations, Xboxes, and Wii's doing at a preschool nursery?  Had I seen those technologies at the nursery my son is enrolled in, I would have considered switching schools.  We have an Xbox at home.  Maybe I shouldn't send him to nursery at all.

I do realize my perspective comes from a place where I am afraid for children whose caretakers depend on gaming consoles to ‘babysit’ their kids.  I can see maybe with using motion sensor technology in concert with games that encourage movement as a part of learning and problem solving… perhaps.  I can even see technology being used to help preschool children who have learning difficulties or other conditions where a touchscreen is a very useful device for learning.  But for your average, normal bish-bash-bang toddler, is this technology really essential to their early learning?  Especially since many of these gadgets are so readily accessible at home?  Even in this on-going double dip (or more) recession, families are still managing to pony up for the latest iPad.

I’m not certain that for the average toddler, exposure to the latest technology at nursery is a good thing.  As demonstrated by my own toddler, he is a push button maniac.  Who could blame him when the hottest kids’ toys are electronic?  V-Tech, Leap Frog, Bruin, even Fisher Price offer their greatest variety of baby and toddler toys as electronic devices that instantly reward cause-and-effect oriented learning with flashing color lights and whimsical songs at the press of a button.  These devices have specific and limited functions however, that doesn't leave much room for imaginative use.  That is part of what concerns me.



My infant daughter has a Fisher Price bouncer with a toy bar with dangles just outside of her normal reach.  The center dangle is the highest one and is attached to a music box.  When my baby pulls on that dangle, she’s rewarded with a jaunty tune (Polly Wolly Doodle).  My son has been looking for the button on that device for three months now and still hasn't found it.  Both my husband and I have spent a great deal of time showing him how to pull the dangle to get the song that he wants to dance to.

Our son insists that there must be a button he has to push.  For now to him, the world doesn't work any other way.  I’d rather him have better knowledge of mechanical toys.  I’d rather him understand that things work in ways other than by the press of a button.  And I’d rather him have the opportunity to use his imagination more—he seems to be doing pretty well at this with stuffed animals and toy figures.

But back to the subject at hand—is having the latest technology really that useful to nursery school learning?  Maybe I have it all wrong?  Maybe there are activities and games I don’t have knowledge of that warrant the use of a digital camera by a two year old?  Maybe Ofsted has to use the same criteria to rate its nursery schools as it does its secondary schools?  Am I missing something here?

Have your say!

Aquanatal and Operation: Popeye

Aquanatal is simply wonderful.  I went to my second class last night.  The regular instructor-midwife was out last week because her sister was in labor, but she was back this week and worked us a bit harder than her substitute.  Plus, the regular instructor-midwife's accent was softer and easier for me to understand, so I was able to keep up with the routine and conversation better.

Even though I'm not the slimmest mum in the class, I seem to be the most fit.  I attribute this to keeping up after my son.  For the arm strength exercises, I wasn't having any issues while my exercise partners were wincing.  My years in competitive swimming has also been showing through in exercises that require just arm strokes or leg cycles, or in relaxation floating.  A bit of a compliment too-- the instructor was asking if I'd still be swimming competitively if I wasn't pregnant.  "Oh hell no... I haven't swum competitively for years and years, but it just sticks with you.  I hope all my babies are water babies."

And then my age showed when we were asked who were first time mums and who were already mums.  Most of the class raised their hands to first time mums.  "Who has one or more?"  Only mine and one other hand was up.  "Who has two or more?" That question left only my hand up.  "Boy or girl?  How old are they?"  I grinned nervously and answered that one's a girl and she's off to college (its usually quicker and easier to just say that since we're supposed to disclose all completed pregnancies to midwives)... the next is a boy and he's 16 months old.  And this next one is a girl.  The stares from the other mums are all shock: what an age gap!

The class is very enjoyable-- I'm getting a lot out of it and feeling good about myself.  I'm meeting other mums and sharing stories.  I think once both kids are at nursery, I'll look into a water aerobics class-- it's just been that good.  And its just a great break from having Arthur to myself for the full day, at the end of it.  If I have any frustration from our day, I can work it off then and come back home feeling refreshed mentally and physically.

The biggest frustration lately:  I'm embroiled in that age old parent versus child war on veggies.  Arthur used to be great with vegetables.  I was so proud when he got excited and even grunted for his broccoli.  Since he had that stomach bug weeks ago, however, and I gave him whatever he could keep down, he's decided he doesn't want his veg anymore and its been difficult to even get him excited about fruit now.  Its been bread.  Bread. Bread. Bread.  Crackers, breadsticks, toast, muffins... that's about all he'll take with the same enthusiastic gusto that he used to have for fruit and veg.  It breaks my heart and sometimes I can't even bear to watch him eat all that 'junk' while dumping all the 'good stuff' onto the floor.

Meanwhile, hubby says, "He's just being a typical toddlers.  He's still thriving.  He's still slender and active.  He'll outgrow it.  Just relax."  Well, maybe.  But I still have this overwhelming urge to ensure that Arthur's getting the most nutritious diet possible.  There is so much conflicting information out there on the subject.

A lot of parents have resorted to offering nothing but vegetables, or else sending their kids to bed hungry.  I just can't bring myself to do that.  I think its cruel and there are too many kids in the world who doesn't have a choice in going to bed hungry.  What a terrible luxury it is to have that as an option!  Most wouldn't do that to an adult, why do it to a child?

I wrote an article about Picky Toddler Eaters a while back, but it seems like the rules have changed.  I've research and referenced Dr. Sear's Feeding the Picky Eater: 17 Tips.  It is reassuring to read about toddler food binges.  We've tried the nibbler tray, but again, Arthur's reaching for only breaded items from the tray.  I've tried dips, but so far they just make Arthur gag.  Spreading and topping have similar results.  So, I'm giving 'Drink it' a go.  Today, I've added a new tool to my arsenal.  I now own a hand blender.

Besides bread, I can get Arthur to take drinkable yogurt in his sippy cups.  So, I have devised a plan for hiding veg in his eats... we're making smoothies and I'm adding spinach to them.  Plus, if I'm serving food with a sauce, that sauce gets treated as well.  I got three sippy cups ready to go.

Here's the quick recipe, if there's any interest...

• 1 small cup of yogurt
• 1 small banana
• 2 tablespoon scoops of blueberries (wonderful superfood)
• Eyeballed equal portion of fresh spinach leaves with their stems removed
• Splash of milk to consistency

And blend it with the hand blender.  Quick clean up.  Small footprint for storage and counter space too.  If I had known about this hand blender before getting the food processor-- because it does come with attachments for chopping-- I wouldn't have bothered with the food processor.  Since its smaller, its just perfect for preparing quick, fresh, single sized children meals.  It's going to get a lot of use after Victoria starts on solids.


Hopefully, I'll have some good news to report on Operation: Popeye.

Where in the heck have I been?

Who taught my son how to share?

I've been sick and still sorta sick.  I got a touch of that stomach virus that my son had, that he also shared with his grandmother.  It was like morning sickness all over again, complete with broken blood vessels in my face.  Then it turned towards my throat and now chest.  It has also been alternating days when it strikes.  For example, last Monday I felt sick.  Tuesday, I was fine and did catch up.  Wednesday, I was sick as a dog again and so on.  Today and tomorrow, I have Arthur in nursery for some much needed rest and couch camping.

I kept things pretty busy last week though.

I cooked a couple of outstanding meals and sent food off to the grandparents' house.  I did a simple beef stew with some of the vegetables I had left over from the homemade chicken soup that I made for grandma when she was sick the week before.  Then I did a crock pot lasagna over the weekend.  It turned out exceptionally good.  That recipe is a keeper!

Over the weekend, I did some household DIY... I did some research on indoor house plants provided by my friend Jared Bentley a few months ago when he posted this website on his Facebook:  Types of Houseplants That Clean Indoor Air.

Tuesday turned into a day full of organizing myself.  I wanted to get house chores set up on Google Calendar, inspired by Flylady and one other stay at home mom who's name escapes me.  That way, I can keep on top of things without resorting to triage and if I want to know what I'm doing chore-wise for the day, I can just ask my phone.

I also started looking into the Sure Start programs that they have around England.  Sure Start is a government program that gives parenting resources to care takers of small children.  Their services range from baby wellness examinations (sort of the replacement for US pediatrician visits), counseling, breastfeeding support groups, play groups and community service opportunities.  This is in addition to things to do at the Wigan Life Centre (i.e.-- the pool).

So I've got a pretty full schedule.

Monday mornings, Arthur and I will be attending a toddler arts & crafts class; afternoons, he goes over to Grandma's and in June there will be a play group session opening up that his grandparents could take him to if they wanted.

Tuesdays, Arthur goes to nursery.  However, when this next little one comes along, there is a mommy and infant exercise class in the morning and a breastfeeding support group in the afternoon... complete with lactation consultants to help with latching issues and the like.  There is also an afternoon story time.

Wednesdays, Arthur and I can go to the swimming pool.  In the afternoons, he goes to Grandma's and once again, there's a play group session available for them to attend if they choose.

On Thursday, there are two play group sessions... one in the morning and another in the afternoon.  There is also an evening class for me called 'Aquanatal', meant to be an ante-natal exercise class. After the next little one comes along, there is a baby massage class in the mornings.  Infant wellness check ups are done in the afternoons.

On Fridays, there is an art class that I plan to attend until the next little one comes along.  After the next little one arrives, there is another mommy and infant exercise class.  Arthur is usually in nursery on Fridays.

Then Saturday mornings after Arthur turns two, he'll be enrolled in a soccer class.

The play groups are really good.  I took Arthur to one last Thursday and was very impressed with all of the toys they had for infants and toddlers to explore.  They had crafts set up for older children.  Then after play time, there was clean up and fruit snacks for all of the kids.  When Arthur and I arrived, there were about fifteen other moms there and that number easily doubled by the time that we left.

I've got some additional classes coming in June that teaches about how the local school systems work and how to best prepare your children for those and then I also enrolled in a class for infant weaning.  I know I've pretty well done weaning already with Arthur, but I want to get some new ideas on how to do it better with this next child (not being scared to death of gagging would be a good start!).  Plus, its another opportunity for me to network and get to know other moms who have children around my children's ages.

In September there is a parenting class... more like a 'what to expect at labor and delivery' class and a breastfeeding workshop for expecting moms.

Then after both of my children are old enough to go to nursery, I will be taking another class to get a certification to become a teacher's aid and/or school volunteer.  Trying to get your kids into the right school takes a little bit of 'who you know'... so... using that as another networking opportunity to help my kids get into Woodfield Primary School.  Woodfield was the school that their dad went to when he was growing up and its considered among the best schools locally.

I'm actually also considering teaching... period... as a change of career once the kids are in school themselves.  I have a lot of time to figure out that part though.

Besides all of that is the question of how to get around to get all of that done?  Things where we live are pretty convenient, still within a mile of home, but England's not known for its great weather.  Then there's the fact that I'll have two babies to tote around to consider.  So I am also looking into driving classes and buying a car.

We started car shopping this past weekend.  I went to look at a Fiat 500 first because it was the car that we hired when Chris and I were in Italy and its a very fun car to drive.  But it only comes in two door and getting a rear facing infant in and out of it would be very tricky.  Mostly what I'm looking for in a car is a small foot print for getting around town and finding parking easily for; something with four doors so that small children are easily accessible; something that makes ingenious use of the interior for such of a small space, including the boot (trunk); and just about all cars of that class have an insane 50-70 MPG rating.  Right now, I'm looking at perhaps a Toyota Aygo or Yaris; a Citreon C-series; a Peugeot 107; a Fiat Panda; or a Nissan Pixo or perhaps even a Micra.

Then in the shorter term, as in this week, the Olympic Torch will be passing within one mile of our home.  I've been working up plans with Chris to walk out there as a family to watch it go by.  This weekend is the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and she's touring the nation.  Its not been released when exactly she'll be making her way through Wigan, but Chris and I will be seeing about going out to see her.  Then we also have the long awaited gender scan for our next little one.

Homemade Pedialyte Recipe

A good friend of mine passed this weblink to me this morning... a simple recipe for more or less home made Pedialyte.  Pedialyte isn't sold in the UK, and I'm not familiar with the English equivalent.  I'll likely give this a go later today, mixing it with some of my flavored water, since Arthur loves drinking whatever Mummy is drinking.

Oral Re-hydration Solutions:  Made at Home