A Caution on Kids, Technology

Today's young people do not need the technology education they are receiving to be successful in the 21st century, and there are growing indications that the high-tech lifestyle promoted by government and business may be harmful to them, a new report scheduled for release today concludes.

The report, titled "Tech Tonic" and issued by the nonprofit Alliance for Childhood, contends that there is scant evidence of long-term benefits from immersing preschool- and school-age children in electronic technologies.

"Increasing numbers of them spend hours each day sitting in front of screens instead of playing outdoors, reading, and getting much-needed physical exercise and face-to-face social interaction -- all of which, it turns out, also provide essential stimulation to the growing mind and intellect," according to the study.

The report makes a series of recommendations to parents, educators and policymakers, including declaring one day a week an electronic entertainment-free zone and shifting spending from unproven high-tech products in the classroom to children's unmet basic needs.

The alliance, a partnership of educators, researchers, health professionals and other advocates for children based in College Park, issued a report in 2000 that called for a moratorium on further introduction of computers in early-childhood and elementary education.