YOUNG CHILDREN AND TECHNOLOGY.

1.

Before reading

1.1 Answer the following questions:

1. What words come to mind when you think about ICT?

2. Can you imagine your life without computers?

3. How is ICT changing the lifestyle of millions of people all over the world?

2. Active vocabulary.

digital - цифровой

microchip - микрочип

to fascinate – очаровывать, приводить в восхищение

vacuum cleaner - пылесос

circuit – зд. эл. цепь, контур, схема

microwave – микроволновая печь

thoroughly - тщательно

qualities – качества

3.

Reading

3.1 Read the information about the author.

Lynn Kennington was head of Gemesley Children’s Centre for 25 years. The

centre is regarded as а beacon of excellent practice in the world of ICT in the

yearly years and has received several awards for good ICT practice. The centre

staff trains staff all over the country in ICT practice and how to thread it

through the curriculum and play.

3.2 Read the text to know more about ICT in our life.

YOUNG CHILDREN AND TECHNOLOGY.

ICT, WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT?

ICT is ‘information and communications technology’. The term simply

means all the technology around us, things like mobile phones, computers, video

recorders, CD and DVD players, and digital cameras. ICT describes children

learning about different technologies within their setting and school.

There are microchips everywhere – tiny circuit boards which program

everything from the washing machine to talking birthday cards. Children accept

this technology as part of their life and they very quickly learn to use it. They have

arrived into a technological world and there is so much you can do to help them

make the most of it – to develop their language and encourage them to explore

their world so they can discover new things. Talking with children as they explore

technologies will help them to see why things happen and how things work.

Babies will begin to experience ICT as they see technology being used

around them. Toy phones, TVs and music centres imitate the real things that babies

see their special adults using in their everyday life. Simple electronic toys show

babies how their actions can have an effect, for example by pressing buttons music

will play or lights will flash.

Babies will also be keen to explore technology around the home. It is

important

that

children

are

safe

while

they

explore

and

experiment,

so

use

electronic toys that are intended specially for them and, if giving children a

household object, make sure there are no sharp edges or parts that could be

removed.

ICT is everywhere. At home, toddlers can program the washing machine,

television and microwave. These actions have a purpose in everyday life which

makes sense to children while also encouraging them to see how timers, words,

numbers and colours are used in everyday situations. Out and about, young

children can press buttons at traffic crossings. Visits to the supermarket, railway

station and airport terminal introduce children to digital screens and electronic

arrival

and

departure

boards,

broadcast

announcements

and

how

to

follow

directions using technology.

Toddlers are fascinated by sound and music, and love interactive musical

instruments. They also love to play pretend. When pretending, toddlers often

chatter away and you can help this along by joining in and answering questions.

Parents sometimes like to encourage pretend play with toys such as colourful food

mixers, vacuum cleaners or drills which need batteries so that they move and look

real. Having some of these toys alongside their pots, pans, teddies and dolls can be

exciting for young children, but they must have several features if they are to

remain interesting.

When giving a battery-operated toy to young children, ask yourself if they

might first be happy to play with it as a toy without the batteries inside. You can

always add them later, giving the toy a whole new lease of life. Once a child is

used to a toy being battery operated, try to keep a spare set of batteries to hand as

the toy will be useless if they run out.

Battery-operated toys can be expensive. You can borrow some from local toy

libraries and they are often available at car boot sales for very reasonable prices.

Check that toys work before you buy at a boot sale, and clean them thoroughly

before giving them to children.

What new facts about ICT have you learnt from the text?

4.Comprehension check.

4.1 Mark the sentences true (T) or false (F).

a) There are microchips everywhere – tiny circuit boards which program

everything from the washing machine to talking birthday cards.

b) Simple electronic toys must have several features if they are to remain

interesting.

c) Babies will begin to experience ICT as they see technology being used

around them.

d) You can borrow some books from local toy libraries and they are often

available at car boot sales for very reasonable prices.

e) Children aren’t able to accept this technology as part of their life.

f) At home, toddlers can program the washing machine, television and

microwave.

g) Toddlers and babies are irritated by sound and music

h) Battery-operated toys can be cheap.

4.2 Answer the following questions:

a) What does the term ICT mean?

b) Do children love interactive musical instruments?

c) Where can you find battery-operated toys?

d) How can parents encourage pretend play?

e) What is important while children explore and experiment?

f) Can children quickly learn to use ICT?

g) What shows babies how their actions can have an effect?

h) Are babies and toddlers fond of exploring technology around the home?

i) What can you do to keep children safe while they explore and experiment?

5. Vocabulary.

5.1 Give English equivalents of the following words and word combinations:

дрель, батарейка, добавить, запасной набор, «гаражная» распродажа,

исследовать, стиральная машина, предмет домашнего обихода, острые края,

микрочипы, цифровой фотоаппарат, намереваться, перекрёсток, нажать на

кнопку,

вокзал,

аэропорт,

экран

прибытия

и

отправления,

объявление,

пылесос, миксер, интерактивный.

5.2 Complete the sentences:

a)

Toddlers

are

fascinated

by

sound

and

music,

and

love

…musical

instruments.

b) Out and about, young children can …at traffic crossings.

c) Battery-operated toys are often available at …for very reasonable prices.

d) Simple… toys show babies how their actions can have an effect, for

example by pressing …music will play or lights will flash.

e) Babies will begin to… ICT as they see technology being used around

them.

f) . Visits to the supermarket, railway station and airport terminal introduce

children to….

g) If giving children a household object, make sure there are no …or parts

that could be removed.

h) There are …everywhere – tiny circuit boards which program everything

from the washing machine to talking birthday cards.

i) Once a child is used to a toy being battery operated, try to keep a spare set

of batteries to hand as the toy will be useless if they….

5.3 Match words in the left column with their definitions.

1) tiny

a) to take away

2) to operate

b)is not being used by anyone and is

therefore available for someone to use

3) circuit board

c) to make a machine or device work

4) spare

d)extremely small

5) broadcast

e)is a thing in which some of the parts

and connections consist of thin metal

lines and shapes on a thin board

6) to remove

f) to become used up so that there is no

more left

7) to accept

g)is a programme, performance or

speech on the radio or on TV

8) to run out

h) to agree to it

6

Discussion points.

6.1 Comment on the statements.

a)

When buying or borrowing software, choose a program with creative ideas

and lots of new things to find out.

b) Don’t spend too long at a computer and don’t leave your child too long

alone at the computer.

c)

No machine can teach a child better than you .

d) Choosing the right toys can be very difficult.

6.2 Comment on the proverbs and find the Russian equivalents of them.

Too much of a good thing is good for nothing.

A good beginning makes a good ending.

6.3 Working in groups of three or four prepare a round-table talk “ICT and

children: advantages and disadvantages.”

6.4 Write a paragraph or two expressing your own attitude to the problem

6.5

Give

a

short

summary

of

the

text

“YOUNG

CHILDREN

AND

TECHNOLOGY”.