Technology can be both a blessing and a curse. Though it tends to make manual labour simplified for everyone, it can negatively affect someone’s health if used in the wrong way.

For educators, however, the debate is beginning to get a little biased – they can no longer ignore the benefits of technology in early learning. They prefer to use it not only to make work processes easier, but also to offer improved learning and development outcomes for children in care.

Most parents might disagree, wanting their children to learn through conventional book-and-paper methods instead of letting them get hypnotized by a bunch of fancy colours on-screen.

But to everyone’s surprise, one of the best breakthroughs to emerge among nurseries is the use of educational software: computer systems made to teach your children in an exciting way. Of course, this happens to have certain merits to its name:

• The educational software gives your child the power to control their experience. They can create their own learning pace, without having to feel the frustration of failure. Making them play at a comfortable level at first allows them to slowly become more accustomed to challenges.
• Children’s senses become acuter upon interacting with different games. This includes increased hand-eye coordination, sight, sound and touch. By maintaining a deep connection with such exercises, children develop increased concentration skills, making them masterminds at solving complex problems in the future.
• Such software triggers a child’s creative mind, due to the wide range of game styles available.
• They get to learn in a fun way, involving activities like drawing, or joining their favourite characters from books or television on educational adventures.
• Perhaps one of the most important aspects of educational software is the way they improve a child’s deductive reasoning. Children can gain problem-solving skills and deeply understand cause-and-effect. Moreover, the self-confidence they get after solving such problems is monumental for their mental and emotional growth.

Of course, not many parents would want their children’s education to revolve around a computer – which is why it is up to the nursery administrators to be mindful of a child’s screen time. Nurseries like Oakfield Early Learning Center in Jumeirah Lake Towers have many age-appropriate resources that incorporate innovative learning through interactive play. This includes an entire stimulating library area just for children. It has its own interactive board and educational software, built to make education fun and inspiring for children.

The idea that technology could one day take over traditional learning is scary, but it does not have to be the only possibility. The better notion is to merge the benefits of the two elements, creating something resourceful and enjoyable at the same time.