The toddlers I work with are great little helpers. One activity which they help me with is the washing. At times a small group of children will come through to the laundry with me and help me to load the bibs and cloths into the washing machine. I show them how we pour the washing powder into the machine before closing it and pressing the ‘on’ button. Once the bibs and cloths are washed, my willing helpers return to the laundry with me to transfer the bibs and cloths from the washing machine to the dryer. The children have come to know which is the ‘start’ button, but need help pressing it as it is fairly hard to push. They often enjoy watching the dryer when it starts, as it begins to whirl the clothes around. After this long process the children will often help me to remove the washing from the dryer and attempt to fold it alongside me before we return it into the drawers. 
It amazed me as I realised after our first technology class that this process which I viewed as a chore was actually a great learning experience for the children. Technology involves thinking about processes (Smorti, 1999). The washing machine and dryer are pieces of technology which aid us in the cleaning process. The children are learning about the problem solving process of how their bibs and face cloths are cleaned, that they don’t automatically come out of the draw clean. This is a concept which the toddlers may have never considered, if they had not had the opportunity to help with the process of washing and drying. 
Through helping me with the washing the children are learning about the technology used within their society to carry out this process. “Technology is influenced by the culture or society in which it occurs” (Smorti, 1999, p.6). The toddlers are building an understanding of how the world around them works (Ministry of Education, 1996), and in this time they are building an understanding of the technology used within their world. Along with building an understanding of the technology used within their world, young children are also learning how to become competent users of it. “Children are competent users of technology, active agents in their own learning and very aware of the world beyond their family” (Arthur et al., 2008, p. 275). This links with my previous blog on spoons, as I discussed how children practice from infancy to become competent at using a technology tool such as a spoon. This learning is significant to children as they develop an understanding of how technology solves problems and makes our lives easier. The children will all be familiar with washing machines and dryers as many would have them in their home environment. Technology is all around us, and we have become so use to it as part of our lives we do not often stop to think of the significance of technology for both us, and the children we work with.
References:
Arthur, L., Beecher, B., Death, E., Dockett, S., & Farmer, S. (2008). Programming and planning in early childhood settings (4th ed.). Victoria, Australia: CENGAGE Learning.
Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whāriki: He whāriki mātauranga mo nga mokopuna o Aotearoa. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media Limited.
Smorti, S. (1999). Technology in Early Childhood. Early Education, No. 19 Autumn 1999.
Hi Steph!
ReplyDeleteI strongly agree with your comment of us forgetting the significance the technology plays in our lives.
Through the children helping you with the washing they are indeed developing concepts of what occurs when washing is done as well as the process it takes.
I feel you have done a great job in explaining the steps involved in washing, (putting clothes in, then the powder, pressing start, drying and folding),Through this, like you said children are developing understanding of the how their bibs become clean. I doing the washing with you may also create links from home from the children as many children may help their mums and dads do the washing.
This blog has really opened my eyes to the fact that technology is all around us. I personally know that when I think of technology, I had not thought of a washing machine because I take it for grated-it is just always there.
Problem solving is a great learning outcome of this process of washing. Not only do the children develop understanding of how a washing machine works, they are processing the ideas that washing machines clean our clothes.
I admire you for including children in the washing process (from my experience many teachers do not). Children are gaining new knowledge and experiences from helping you with the washing.
Your recognition of the importance of including children in 'chores' has provided new and meaningful experiences for children in which they begin to understand and become aware of the technology in their world.
Stefanie, I really enjoyed your second blog. I have a strong belief that children enjoy helping and work is very important in their growth. Your blog confirms this. I liked how you recognised that the children were problem solving (how do we get our bibs clean?) when you let them help do the washing. I also agree that by demonstrating the washing process, it shows children that technology helps to simplify tasks. Keep the good reflections going Stef; maybe you could reflect on digital technology next time.
ReplyDeleteSteph you’re so right that we normally think of using the washing machine and dryer as a chore without giving them a second thought of just how significant they are in our lives. How would we manage without them, thank goodness we are not living in the stone age. As you mentioned the children watching the machine start and the clothes begin to move around it brought back memories of when my own children were little and used to sit and just watch it spin. Letting the children help you with jobs that need to be done but are made easier through technology is providing the children the foundations they need to begin to understand the many uses of technology as well as life skills. This is teaching them that technology is not all about computers, and games but is there to help and benefit our every day basic needs, such as clean clothes, bibs etc.
ReplyDeleteShowing the children every step you took with putting the powder in and pushing the buttons was making them aware that we need to work these pieces of technology and that they do not just start to spin around or clean on their own. I believe that young children do enjoy these experiences just as you mentioned as most would be familiar with them from home. This is helping them to make connections with their home life and what is familiar (Ministry of Education, 1996). Well done Steph you work with very young children just like me and to start with I think we both were worried how we will see the technology being used with them but yes just as you have said it is all around us.
Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whāriki, he whaariki mātauranga mo nga mokopuna o Āotearoa: Early childhood curriculum. Wellington: Learning Media.
Hi Steph
ReplyDeleteI feel human nature is such that we take things for granted and perhaps would only think about it or value it if one day it decided not to work.
Your commitment in including the children to help you in the washing and the understanding why it is necessary to include them is impressive. I am sure these children would also have seen or helped their families at home therefore washing machine and the dryer would be part of their social world. This experience that you have provided to the children has made a connection from home to the centre which should be done frequently so that the children have that sense of belonging and at the same time can make sense of the world around them.
Additionally, as you have explained the whole process (from putting the clothes, adding detergent, pressing “on” button, to placing the clothes in the dryer and eventually folding the clothes and putting them away was a great learning experience and have made the children become more responsible in attending to chores in a positive manner. Children also become socially competent when they work together with their peers. Indeed it was significant learning for the children in understanding how technology is solving problems and making our lives easier.
Hi Steph...
ReplyDeleteIm sorry to only be commenting on this reflection now but i honestly thought i already had but anyway a great reflection.I love the washing machine because it cleans my clothes but i hate using it but i do see the benefits of teaching children about the significance of these items. I do feel though that as teachers we also need to keep children's safety in mind and make sure to remind them that they only go near a washing machine or dryer when with an adult. If someone were to ask my daughter about a washing machine or a dryer she would probably say "We go to the laundromat" but like other children she can still identify with this technology because it is familiar to her.