The Importance Of ICT In Preschool And Kindergarten Education – Being Parents

Knowledge and use of information and communication technologies (ICT) should be encouraged from an early age. This is why we are going to talk to you about the importance of ICT in preschool education.

Preschool education, or infant education, is the stage of education that caters to children from birth to age six. It is divided into two cycles: the first, which includes children up to the age of 3, and the second, which runs from 3 to 6 years. It is precisely from this second cycle that children should have their first contact with ICT.

Information and communication technologies (ICT)

ICTs are the set of resources, tools and programs used to process, manage and share information through various technological media. These include computers, mobile phones, televisions, game consoles, etc.

Nowadays, ICTs play a fundamental role because they offer all the services that users are accustomed to using in their daily life. These are, for example, email, chats, surfing the internet and finding all kinds of information.

ICTs provide us with a wealth of information and data. To be able to access it, it is necessary to develop certain technical skills related to the use of these technologies. In addition, it is also necessary to acquire specific skills related to the interpretation of this information. Indeed, all the information circulating on the network is not complete and perfectly accurate.

The importance of ICT in preschool and kindergarten education

Knowledge and use of ICT in preschool age is important because it enables children to acquire different skills. First of all, skills related to the actual use of a computer or tablet, such as touch, auditory and visual skills.

Second, they will develop other skills derived from the educational programs, games or applications they are confronted with.

In other words, the use of ICT enables and supports the cognitive development of preschool children. Contact from an early age, always supervised by their teachers, with a computer, a cell phone or any other technological device facilitates and supports their learning.

The use of technology in the classroom motivates them, allows them to seek information and generate strategies, make small decisions to achieve them, choose them, filter them and select them.

The contributions of ICT in preschool and kindergarten education

• Stimulation of creativity.
• Triggering of experimentation.
• Step-by-step progression for each student, at their own learning pace.
• Development of emerging research strategies.
• Awakening of curiosity.
• Development of increasing autonomy.
• Motivation to learn.
• Development of hand-eye coordination.

ICT in preschool education: aspects to be taken into account

So far we have talked about the benefits or importance of ICT in preschool. However, we cannot fail to highlight aspects that can be negative if misused or overused.

At the preschool stage, education should be based on play and the actual experience of objects, contact with others and with nature, reading stories, emotional and social development.

While the use of technology can promote social, cooperative and collaborative development, it cannot be compared to socialization between people, physical contact and face to face.

On the other hand, it is necessary to limit the use of ICT at the preschool stage. Indeed, a prolonged exposure can be detrimental, at the postural level. This phenomenon can also lead to sedentary lifestyle and anti-social behavior.

Finally, any use of technologies at the preschool stage and in the later stages of education must be done through the permanent mediation of educators.

They must teach how new technologies work and are used. However, they must also educate in a critical and responsible use of the information that circulates through them.

ICTs offer us endless possibilities for immediate access to information. But children must learn to interpret the vast amount of knowledge to which they will be exposed. The information, in many cases, is not complete, it is biased and must always be put in context.