ICT for Toddlers and Preschool Children

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) has replaced the term 'IT' both in education and business and now forms an important part of preschool eduction.  The world that our baby's are growing up in is undoubtedly different from the world we experienced as children.  We had no email, no world wide web, no mobile telephones and computers were a rarity.  It's not unusual now to find computers ten times more powerful than the ones we first knew inside our children's toys!  A good understanding of ICT is essential in order for our children to progress in the 21st century.

The term ICT covers much more than IT; as well as computers it covers an understanding of ordered information, communication such as broadcast, telecoms and the internet, and input and output devices such as digital cameras, robots and music and video players.

Children are introduced to ICT in their preschool settings.  They might have 'magic boards', play phones, the internet and have access to computers with integrated learning systems on them.  They will be exposed to CD's and DVD's, 'QWERTY' keyboards and drawing tablets.

Outside of their preschool settings you should encourage this aspect of their learning too.  If you're a bit of a dinosaur when it comes to computers then you'll have to overcome some of your fears and prejudices - ICT is an essential skill and over the next few years, your children will be introducing you to amazing things that they have learned to do with computers and other technology.

Not every aspect of ICT requires computers.  Look at reinforcing ICT topics by introducing your children to analogue information - teach them about printed materials like newspapers, introduce them to maps and teach them about signs, timetables and other forms of information.  Teach them about addresses and telephone numbers.  The better an understanding they have of information around them, the easier they will find it to grasp more complex issues with regard to ICT later on in life.