EFFECTS OF INTERNET ON CHILDREN'S MOTOR SKILLS

Miller (2001), in a discussion of developmental stage theories, points out that most major developmental psychologists state that children progress in both physical and cognitive growth through a series of phases or stages. Typically, these stage theories hold that from about two to seven years, children develop their motor skills. This has led some educators (e.g., Drake, 1999; Hirschbuhl, 2003) to suggest that the sights and sounds of computers as well as the motions involved in typing and clicking with a mouse may serve as excellent resources for the development of young children's cognitive and motor skill growth. The purpose of this paper is to examine the literature on the effects of computer usage involving the Internet on the motor skill development of young children.

Can using the Internet help young children develop their motor skills? Shneiderman (1998) statds that children can learn both cognitive and motor skills from using the Internet but that the degree to which they are motivated to learn is, at least in part, dependent upon the user-interface design process and the extent to which it has been appropriately modified for the young user and the tasks required. Shneiderman states that the extent to which a child's use of the Internet will facilitate cognitive and/or motor skills growth will depend upon making sure that their use of it is age appropriate.

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girls and boys can learn from and enjoy participating in contests, chat rooms, and viewing personal home pages. However, the National School Board Foundation (1998) states that girls are more likely to use the Internet for education, schoolwork, music and shopping. Boys are more interested in technology, entertainment and games. What is important here is to understand that if children are required to use the Internet in a manner that is not appealing in terms of gender, they will loose interest and not utilize the technology for any length of time, thereby missing opportunities for skill development. Using websites that offer opportunities for specific skill building is another way in which the Internet facilitates the development of motor skills. According to Demmer (2001), there are a vast variety of websites available to teach children all sorts of skills, including motor skills. In this regard, Demmer states: ... several sites might be used by children directly, or with a little help from a parent. 123 Sesame Street online is a great web site for children that very thoughtfully implements many of the mentioned before guidelines. This and other toddlers' and preschoolers' websites help parents to enhance creativity in child
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Approximate Word count = 1225
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page)