You’ve seen it. The commercial for the iPad that proclaims, “We’ll still go to meetings, make home movies and learn new things, but how we do all this will never be the same.”
As Stamford daycare owners and educators of CT early learning programs, this commercial got us thinking: the iPad and other tablet computers and e-readers are not only changing the way that we sit down and read a good book but also the way our children are being introduced to books.
There are obvious advantages to taking your child to the nearest public library and borrowing books the old fashioned way – this is the way it’s been for ages. You undoubtedly have fond memories of exploring the shelves of seemingly endless books as a child. But times are changing. Now, there are also great benefits to introducing your child to the latest technologies, whether at home or part of CT early learning programs.
Libraries are more than just a place to check out a book. They also provide a safe physical location where children can go to participate in activities and stumble upon old books they didn’t know they were looking for. The same appreciation for the written word may not prevail unless you inhale the scent of an old book and listen to the audible crack when you open a new book, feeling as though you’re the very first person to flip through its pages. Additionally, libraries are excellent field trip destinations for your Stamford daycare and always make for a perfect rainy day escape.
Apple’s iPad, along with other tablets and e-readers alike, also provide unique advantages. For one, they are extremely mobile. They make for a wonderful source of educational entertainment during long road trips or even the short commute to and from your Stamford daycare. For children too young to read themselves, there are applications available that read the story aloud. Additionally, in today’s world, growing up technologically literate is just as important as learning traditional literacy.
So, we’re curious to know, as a parent, are you still taking your children to the public library? Or have you completely converted over to the world of digital literacy? Are Stamford daycare providers and CT early learning programs using these technologies or sticking to the traditional form? Is there room for both to live together happily ever after?
Leave your comments in the section below.
Watch the video here:
Rose, 
There’s absolutely room for both! My daughter loves going to the library. Having a ‘real’ book to take home supports her excitement and love for literacy. It also teaches responsibility for property. We take good care of the books we borrow and return them in the same condition so that we can continue the privilege of taking out more books the next time we visit. At the same time, my daughter loves the interactivity of the iPad. The story comes to life and in some cases can change depending on her input, which she loves. I think traditional media and new technology both deserve a place in the pre-school classroom and beyond.