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Home | Store | Forum | What's New | Contact | About | Terms | Links | Storytime | UNCRC Articles for children's care, learning and development.   Information Communication and Technology    Children's early years and ICT This, and the page links below are in celebration of the information once found on www.SureStart.gov.uk  within the Early learning and technology section - those pages are now available as archived snapshots taken back in November 2008 They all inspire the following resource suggestions Technology is an integral part of our lives. Machines at home continue to require higher levels of programming and engagement than ever before. The array of technological toys and tools for children and adults is vast. Children's settings have the opportunity to reflect the familiar environments that children experience at home and develop everyone's sense of belonging in providing valuable experiences through technoligies that offer cultural significance. Children are naturally curious and will explore not only how technology works but also how it fits into the world they live in. Everyday technology supports children’s role and imaginative play by providing meaningful contexts; shops that use bar code scanners and digital tills, homes that may have answer phones, car parks that have ticket machines, and so on. There is a need for awareness that enables children opportunities to learn about technology as well as to learn with technology. Social relationships are an integrated part of learning and technology can provide excellent tools to engage, motivate and encourage learning. Digital cameras, scanners and moviemakers can put children and their families right at the centre of their learning. Different races and cultures can be celebrated and our displays, home made books, signs etc can include all our children, families and carers. The range of technology tools that have become available in the last few years can give all children greater access to learning right across all areas of development. It is important with such an explosion of technological tools available that practitioners consider appropriate uses and not be led by the technology itself. Our ‘Early learning & technology’ pages are intended to guide practitioners in developing their best practice in using technology in the early years. Digital cameras Metal detectors Remote control toys Tape recorders Music mats Programmable toys Role play toys Useful links Story book titles to support ICT ICT related resources begin with the very basic idea of input of some description occuring to initiate a chain of reactions .. communicating with technology to make something else happen ..  possibly a hand that acitvates the spin motion of a top that humms or maybe lights up on amazon.co.uk .. the depression of a button on the latest computer that starts the display screen .. code-a-pillar - build your caterpillar by joining together command segments available on amazon.co.uk Torches  Keyrings   poptastic  calculators  Button press knights and princesses All 4 UK home nation early years frameworks or England's learning goals of EYFS 2014 More ICT activity ideas in the forum   Support silkysteps free resources and purchase a downloadable copy of  I.C.T. in early years - creative activities  an ebook that blends concepts of technology with creative art.