DAP and Screen Time Use
Use the camera app on a mobile device to help children record observations and keep track of what they see and discover.
A child's development is unique and complex. Although children develop through a generally predictable sequence of steps and milestones, they may not proceed through these steps in the same way or at the same time. The earliest learners are connected to smartphones, tablets, and media that help to shape how they learn from the world around them. And you know that a child's development is greatly influenced by factors in her environment and the experiences she has.
As a provider, this makes your role so important in bridging the gap between home and your child care program by understanding how to use technology and digital media in an interactive way to promote learning and healthy development.
When technology is used in early learning settings, it should be integrated into the learning program and used in rotation with arts and crafts, in the writing center, with manipulatives and other toys, in the reading corner, and during outdoor play.
You can make screen time child-centered and an important learning time when you:
- Use media to teach life lessons.
- Let the child teach you something new.
- Connect digital experiences to children’s real-world experiences.
- Follow your child’s interests.
