Technology in the Early Years
Children are growing up in an age where technology is all around them. They are surrounded by technology from the moment they are born and this continues into adulthood. A child can frequently be heard talking about the games they play on an ‘IPad’ or on ‘Mummy’s phone’, but is this all technology is about?
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) reflects current living and incorporates ‘Technology’ in the ‘Understanding the world’ area of learning. The EYFS states that, ‘The beginnings of understanding technology lie in babies exploring and making sense of objects and how they behave’.
Technology does not relate solely to the use of computers. It encompasses resources that range from iPads and computers, to cameras, torches and toys with flaps or shutters. Practitioners are then posed with the problem of using this technology in a way that is meaningful, and so that learning and development occur. This learning and development should not only be focused in the ‘Technology’ area of learning, but should enhance that of the other areas.
Of course there is concern regarding the over use of technology in childhood, however as with other aspects of life a balance and supervision is necessary. Children can feel the benefits of technology, without it becoming a consuming aspect of their world, they must experience the world first hand and not through a screen alone. A child will learn so much more completing an actual puzzle rather than completing a puzzle app.
At Fareacres, children enjoy ‘Tablet time’, which is a short time that children can enjoy the tablet with an adult guiding them and communicating with them continuously. There are also numerous resources that allow children to experience technology in a safe and meaningful way, giving them the best start in this technological age.
At Fareacres, children get to experience ‘Jolly Phonics’ on the tablet, which is a literacy development programme helping children develop the required skills to enable them to read. This programme uses short songs and actions to help children learn phonics. If you would like to enjoy ‘Jolly Phonics’ with your children, please follow the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ei0iFs5uF6w
Please click on the link below for more information on Technology in the early years:
https://www.teachearlyyears.com/learning-and-development/view/ict-in-the-early-years
Technology GH
Technology GH
Technology GH
Technology GH
Technology GH
Technology GH
Technology SW
Weekly Experiences
At Gants hill, Clever Cats have been exploring different textures within the environment. The children had a tray full of items from the garden such as twigs, leaves and herbs from our herb garden. This became a sensory experience for all. The children had scissors to cut the different items and they used their communication skills to describe the textures and appearance of the items.
Sensory Tray GH
Sensory Tray GH
Sensory Tray GH
Sensory Tray GH
South Woodford children have been visiting the sensory room in small groups. The children used their senses to explore this special environment around them. The benefits children relish from accessing these sensory experiences are huge; it stimulates their brain leading to vast learning opportunities.
“This is fluffy” – Sanjna,
“I’m cleaning the floor” – Laith.
Sensory Room SW
Sensory Room SW
The Babies in Gants Hill have been playing with the water and washing the babies to enhance self-help skills. Water play is very beneficial to the children; it helps to develop eye-hand coordination and the children are introduced to mathematical language. It also enhances social skills and encourages turn taking with peers.
Water Play GH
Water Play GH
Water Play GH
Stingrays children in South Woodford have made a house from a cardboard box and called this “Stingrays House”. The children painted the box using various colours of their choice “red” – Ariya, “door wow” - Sam P, “red house windows” – Aaron. The children painted this using a range of big and small movements to help develop their gross motor skills. All children were engaged which enhances the possibility of effective learning and development.
Painting the House SW
The children in Gants Hill had the opportunity to play in the dinosaur swamp; this was built up using a variety of malleable resources. These experiences stimulate the children’s senses and will help the children to develop creatively, socially, emotionally, cognitively, linguistically and physically.
Dinosaur Swamp GH
Dinosaur Swamp GH
Dinosaur Swamp GH
Dinosaur Swamp GH
Sharks children have been learning how to thread and have been practicing their fine motor skills. Some of the children mastered this quickly and were able to use their hand-eye coordination to successfully thread laces. In order to challenge these children further, the activity was adapted by introducing a “pattern” using 2 coloured reels. This was modelled numerous times and the children copied, which helped to develop their understanding of the concept of “pattern”.
Threading SW
Crawling Caterpillars are developing a “garden box” to help develop their understanding of the world, communication and personal, social and emotional skills. This is a cardboard box which the children have covered in green tissue paper inside and out. The children have participated in activities to create flowers, butterflies, worms and trees from salt dough. The children have been adding to the “garden box” daily and have been able to place them independently. They have painted and decorated using glitter and glue to make their own individual creations. “Wooooow “– Reilly.
Garden Box GH
Garden Box GH
Garden Box GH
Rainbow Fish children in South Woodford have been exploring the sand. They have been using a variety of containers and spending time filling and emptying the containers. They have been exploring the grainy texture of the sand and some children enjoyed this so much that they climbed in the sand tray!! This has helped to develop their fine motor skills and the ability to listen to instructions.
Activity of the week
Activity of the week was won by Archana Loganathan (GH) Archana created a lovely activity using postcards for the pre-school children's age group. As we all know children enjoy talking about home and this activity incorporates this in order to encourage the children to engage. The children were asked to write messages to their parents, which gave them the opportunity to make meaningful marks and be able to write their name as they sign off the postcard. When a child is asked to write in a context that means something to them, they are more likely to actively learn and have the motivation to try.
Postcards GH
Postcards GH
Postcards GH
Top 5 Children’s Quotes of the week
- “My mum does Zumba” – Zayd
- “When I was at my grandads I watched about a boat that crashed into the ice” – Maya
- “I love my mummy because she gives me a smile” – Isla CP
- “When I’m not looking, my daddy puts my toys in the bin and then when he doesn’t look I get them back.” - Libby
- “My dad made me fried rice, he put egg in it” – Anish
Quote of the Week:
‘Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is the most important’
- Bill Gates
(Co-Founder of Microsoft)
Please remember to look in your cupboards to see if you have any items to donate for our food bank.
Thank you for taking a glimpse into our Fareacres Learning Community
Until next time...
