Children’s Corner Articles
YouTube, a tool for young learners: Pros and Cons
by Katherine Reyes
4 August 2022, 5:13 P.M. (EST)
YouTube has grown to become one of the most prominent social media platforms in the world since its launch in 2005.
As students around the world were asked to study at home due to the coronavirus epidemic, educational and e-learning-related YouTube channels garnered more viewers.
According to US internet population figures, the 18 to 25-year-old age group accounts 81 percent of YouTube visitors.
Like any other social media app, it is used to share videos, watch the news, find recipes, and even learn science, math, or even a new language.
The possibilities for learning are endless.
Educators, students, and parents all agree that online videos are a valuable teaching and learning tool.
The best thing about YouTube videos is how readily they can be incorporated into several educational systems, particularly online education.
Despite having so many advantages, we must remember that YouTube is an open platform, and using it as a learning tool for young students has drawbacks.
Children are exposed to graphic content and fake news. This can lead to grave consequences if not monitored.
Here are a few things to consider when using YouTube:
*Enhanced learning
For young learners, using YouTube videos for learning can be enjoyable. Students are more likely to concentrate when watching videos rather than reading books or listening to a tough and boring teacher. The majority of young students learn better through visual content, while others learn better by reading the information directly. With YouTube, every student can learn in a way that best suits their needs.
However, a large number of videos from dubious sources are being uploaded every day. Young learners must be taught how to distinguish between credible content and unreliable ones.
*Independent learning
Children learn at different rates. Some students may not get the opportunity to have a vital point repeated in a classroom setting if they did not understand the information the first time or are too shy to ask questions, especially if the teacher is impatient or stern. This is where one of the best features of YouTube will come in handy. You can rewind, pause, and replay videos, and you can easily search for the topics you're interested in.
On the other hand, YouTube promotes individualism. Users can only interact with the creators through comments and replies. Students will not learn how to collaborate in groups or solve problems with their peers.
*Accessibility And Content
YouTube is a cost-free platform. Students can take advantage of it for educational purposes.
Consequently, there is no content supervision on YouTube. Advertisements support content creators financially; therefore, students may come across numerous ads, some of which are lengthy and do not have a skip option, which might cause them to become distracted from their studies.
In addition, they are prone to exposure to inappropriate content. Some videos are violent, explicit, and not suitable for teenagers, let alone children.
The benefits and drawbacks of YouTube in education suggest that it can be an effective tool for learning. Any social media platform can either help or hinder a child's development.
With the downsides in mind, the solution isn’t to steer them away from it. It is to keep them on the right track. As long as the disadvantages are well addressed, YouTube as a learning tool for young students has a lot of benefits.
The key lies in proper guidance.
My Child’s First Word
by Loiselle Cenas
4 August 2022, 5:14 P.M. (EST)
I remember when my son turned 4 months old, I asked his pediatrician when do babies start talking? This is because I was surprised how advance my son is. He started babbling at an early stage.
Doctors say, babies actually start learning language even before birth. That’s because babies could hear their mother speaking while in the womb and gets familiarized with the language spoken. The moment I felt my baby recognizing my face and looking attentive, I would always try to make normal conversations. It’s not that I’m eager for him to talk, but I want to develop his speech skills.
According to experts, baby boys develop their language skills slower than baby girls. And I don't want my son to be left behind, so, I avoid having baby-talks with him, even though at times, it sounds cute.
When he reached the babbling milestone, I encouraged his father to send voicemails whenever he’s away to allow me to let him hear his recordings. Since my baby is born into interracial parents, we wanted him to be bilingual. With this, our baby would hear his father speak to him in Arabic, and I would speak in English.
I always interact with my son to allow him to be familiar with sounds and words and be encouraged to try it out himself. Whatever catches his attention be it a person, animal, or anything, I tell him their names. My husband wanted to be called Baba, and so, I would call on my husband this way.
I sing and read books to him to make learning language fun. I notice that he stares into my lips as I read and say words. This is a good sign of his foundational learning.
At 6 months old, my son, started cooing sounds that eventually became consonant sounds. Whenever he’s hungry you can hear him say, "Ma, mi" which I translate to "Mama, milk". At first, I was not sure if I heard him correctly, but he was very consistent with this whenever he is hungry.
People would always say that since I am the mother, it is in my nature to understand my child. A mutual feeling, some kind of bond that only a mother and child has. With consonant sounds, my baby began forming multiple syllables like pa-ba-da-ma.
Then, the moment I have been waiting for finally came, my son uttered his first word, "Mama". I felt so sentimental hearing him speak clearly for the first time that I kissed and hugged him tightly. I couldn’t believe that at 9 months, my son spoke clearly. He became talkative ever since that day and started combining more words. In fact, our communication led into having him answer simple questions saying "yeah" with a matching cute nod. I feel that because of his interest uttering words, he sounds like he has so many stories to tell and whenever we speak with each other his reactions are on point.
How has your child shown their speech milestones?
As a first-time mother, I am proud of the progress my baby is showing with his speech skills. I shall continue to engage and help him learn more words and build a solid foundation in learning.