In the modern world, children are immersed in a digital environment from an early age, where electronic devices become part of their daily lives. A natural question arises about the influence of these technologies on the formation of speech and vocabulary of the younger generation.

Natalia Abuzarova, director of the network of speech correction centers “Ya-Logoped”, shared her expert opinion with Vechernyaya Moskva about the impact of digital technologies on children’s development.

Transformation of communication skills under the influence of technology

When interacting with virtual assistants or chatbots, children do not master complex speech structures, do not develop the skills of formulating and verbalizing thoughts. Instead of developing the skills of accurately expressing thoughts, children get used to simple voice commands, which limits the development of their vocabulary.

A typical example is replacing text messages with emoji and other visual symbols. It is easier for children to convey an emotion with a picture than to choose the right words.

Changes in Vocabulary

Despite the fact that technology opens up access to new words, this vocabulary often remains passive. Children may encounter specific terms in applications and games, but do not know how to use them appropriately in live communication. It is important to understand: rich speech is not only knowing a lot of words, but also the ability to use them correctly in different contexts.

Impact on attention and concentration

Children who spend a lot of time in front of screens have difficulty completing long tasks, whether it’s reading a book or solving logical problems. Frequent switching between applications and watching short videos creates a habit of short-term attention span.

This can make it difficult to deeply process information and learn new vocabulary, and actively use it in speech. Getting used to the rapid change of information flows, the child loses the ability to attentively perceive the interlocutor and meaningfully read, which affects the quality of communication.

Methods for supporting speech development in the digital age

There are a number of effective methods for minimizing the negative impact of digital devices on children's speech development:

- control of the time the child spends in front of the screen.

- interaction and communication of the child with parents and peers.

- reading remains one of the most effective tools for enriching the child's vocabulary. Its role in speech development is difficult to overestimate.

Resource: https://vm.ru/