by Laura Leigh Fields

Created on: September 22, 2008

The use of laptops in the classroom is a distraction for children. While the Internet is truly an information super highway, it is also full of fun things that will catch a child's attention. By nature, children are curious and they want to explore. The fact that they are at school won't always stop that desire.

When a child is allowed to use a laptop at their discretion, there is no guarantee that it is being used for its original intent. This is especially true if a child does a keyword search and is directed away from their goal. They can get sidetracked and end up at a completely different place altogether.

Along those same lines, there are lots of dangers on the Internet. There are adults that want to hurt kids but will tell them all the right things to peak their interest. There are promises of fame and fortune. There are viruses and hoaxes. Children can get lured into a world of hurt through their own vulnerabilities.

At the same time, computers are just too fun. There are website about every possible thing in the world. Children can learn about their favorite cartoon characters. They can listen to new songs. They can even play games until their eyes cross. There is so much for a child to do online that learning is often the least of their worries.

The Internet is a great place for research but it is relied on too heavily for this. How many children are even familiar with the Dewey decimal system? Kids today don't spend time at the library as much as kids twenty years ago did. Why should they? They have become enabled by and too dependent on technology to actually read books and understand the printed word.

Computers make things too easy. Kids no longer have to worry about neat handwriting. They don't have to figure out Math problems on paper. They have no need to memorize the periodic tables. All they have to do is point and click. They can type out assignments and have them printed out. They can figure out Math with an online calculator. They can turn the periodic table into their wallpaper if they choose to.

In a sense, a computer is a toy. How can a child be expected to pay attention when they have a toy that has very few limits? Would you let a child play with a baseball in the classroom? Of course not, you would be too worried they could break something or be easily distracted.

This is the same theory with a computer. There are distractions around every corner. The child's potential is being broken when they are not encouraged to study with other methods. It is human nature if you give a child an inch they will take a mile. We can't blame them though. We, as adults, are at fault for not powering down the computer and showing kids that there is a great big wide world outside of the distractions of a computer.

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