Kids under nine should be banned from using computer, says expert

Melbourne, June 14 (ANI): A leading psychologist has urged schools to ban children under the age of nine from using computers as the technology is damaging their brains.

Psychologist and author Dr Aric Sigman was speaking at a conference of childcare specialists in the UK, and he said technology affected children's attentions spans and was harmful to their under-developed brains.

Sigman said rules introduced in the UK in 2008, which recommends toddlers be introduced to computers as early as 22 months of age were "subverting the development of children's cognitive skills".

"There is evidence to show that introducing information and communication technology (ICT) in the early years actually subverts the very skills that government ministers said they want children to develop, such as the ability to pay attention for sustained periods," News.com.au quoted him as saying.

"The big problems we are seeing now with children who do not read, or who find it difficult to pay attention to the teacher, or to communicate, are down to attention damage that we are finding in all age groups," he stated.

The Early Years Foundation Stage or "nappy curriculum" suggests computers should be introduced from 22 months and that from 40 months children should be able to "perform simple ICT functions, such as select a channel on the TV remote control and use a mouse and keyboard to use age-appropriate software".

Primary schoolchildren in the UK have at least one ICT lesson a week and computer use is widespread.

Debate about the benefits of introducing children to technology at a young age is mixed.

Research evidence shows that technology can help children's learning, social development and health.

A number of studies in the US show that age-appropriate software can help language development.

Sigman said that even though screen technology can assist learning, children should be introduced at a later stage.

"It must be introduced and used judiciously at much later ages - ideally at least age nine - or it can subvert the development of the cognitive skills and curiosity it was intended to foster and enhance," he added. (ANI)