Early Computer Use ("A" Posting)

I have found a GREAT article about the effects of early computer experience on young children. The article is about a survey of 122 preschool children enrolled in a rural Head Start program school in the United States from 2001-2002. The test was administered to find the relationship between early computer experience and cognitive and motor development. About 75% of the children had access to computers, either at home or elsewhere, and they performed better on measures of school readiness and cognitive development. Thought, overall, there was no relationship in this study between early computer use and visual and gross motor skills.

I chose this article because it was a scientific study and not just opinion based. This article actually goes against my idea of some students being too young to use computers. But, the article does state that the test was only given over a year and they could have tested the long-term effects too. A negative point that I found about this test was that it was given in a rural county where only 53% of the children had computers at home. That is not a real representation of the majority of children in the United States. Most have access to computers and all kinds of technology, and I still believe it can hurt young children if used in great amounts or without supervision.
"Early Childhood Computer Experience and Cognitive and Motor Development" By: Xiaoming Li and Melissa S. Atkins