News for October 2000
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A Critical Look at Computers and Children
Fools Gold: A Critical Look at Children and Computers is a 104-page report by the Alliance for Childhood which challenges us to consider the potential harms, as well as the promised benefits of using computers in early childhood and elementary school. The Alliance is a coalition of doctors, educators and child development specialists. The alliance found that major health hazards can result from overuse at an early age, including repetitive stress injuries, eye strain, obesity, social isolation, and, for some, long-term damage to physical, emotional or intellectual development. They also express concern that the high cost of the technology and time spent with the machines are displacing important programs such as the arts and physical education. This well-documented report can be ordered or downloaded from their site.
Updated October 4, 2000