It starts in utero, intensifies when babies are learning to crawl and hits a frenzy about the time they are learning the alphabet: the push to get smarter has created a global industry dedicated to training young brains…

… Tech toys aimed at improving intelligence are designed for the under-10s, and particularly for the ages when children are learning to read, write and count…
Toys are no longer purely about fun and entertainment: smart kids are what it’s all about…

From laptops for the under-fives to interactive dolls, technology is driving the childhood experiences of the next generation - and nobody knows what the long-term effects will be…

Dr Verenikina believes toys that claim to help babies and children to develop ahead of their peers send the wrong message to parents…

“We know that learning in children under three is essentially based around human relationships and through emotional and social connections,” Dr McDowell says, and time spent by very young children in front of a screen teaches passive rather than active learning…

While technology can be used for brain training, most researchers in the field of brain ageing argue that the same effect can be had through regular low-tech substitutes.

Source: The Age
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