Reflection 2:
Using mobile phones enhances children's literacy skills.

Date: 9-9-2011

At five o’clock this afternoon only I, one boy and one girl both 3 years old were still at the centre waiting for parents to pick them up. I felt sorry for these children because they went to and from the window. They boy picked up a toy phone and press the keys then put by his ear and said, “Mummy, mummy.” The little girl said, “My mummy.” The little boy took the phone down, looked angrily to the little girl and said, “Not your mummy, my mummy.” They started to argue then I said to the little boy “do you want to go and ring mummy?” He nodded his head. We went to the office, looked at his mother’s work phone number. I grabbed the phone and gave it to him. He started to press they keys and heard the sound they make. After pressing five keys, he puts the phone by his ear. After a while he turned to me and said, “No mummy.” I asked if he wants me to do it for him. He nodded his head and gave me the phone. I pressed the numbers as I said them then put beside his ear with my ear close to his ear. A lady answered the phone, he started “mummy, mummy: I asked the lady if we could speak to his mummy. Anyway, he talked to his mummy saying, “come mummy.” 

Using the phone I think that the child’s need was immediately met. After about fifteen minutes his mum arrived happily surprising when her son can contact her on the phone. This is the first time for me to see a child use the phone to ring the parents. I am so glad to find out that I assisted this little boy on his current need. I believe that I should encourage children to use the phone when they wish but ask a teacher to get the phone from the office or allow children to bring a mobile if they wish and if their parents agree. This little boy develops understanding how to use the phone except his unable to learn the phone number. In our centre I take the four year old children as transition to school classs. In the beginning of every year we start with the ‘theme myself’ or ‘my family’. Children’s home phone number is included in their learning. They were only playing around with the toy phone but not the real phone. I have a feeling that we should allow them to use the school phone but it is beyond my responsibility to make the decision. I believe that allowing children to use the telephone help them to make their own decision and enable them to memorize their contact phone number of their parents or friends. This helps them to develop their social and communication skills. Communication Goal 3, as cited in Ministry of Education (1996) “Children develop experience with some of the technology and resources for mathematics, reading and writing.” (p.78) I was amazed when I found out that this two year old boy can manage to find the way to reach his mum to use the telephone, not only that but pressing the key numbers on keys show that he has experience using phones at home. I believe we could meet with parents to discuss the importance of experiences especially in technology to enhance children’s leaning. 

We should plan a policy about using technology in our centre. Ministry of Education (2000) states “early childhood goals for children to achieve are that they discover and develop different ways to be creative and expressive (communication) (p.12). I believe educators and parents must add and provide technology to the daily experiences for children’s own exploration and creativity. Observing this little boy enable me to read his thoughts and feelings at the tiring time of the day. No one suggested to him to ring his mum. He clearly showed his entirely needs by touching the toy phone. To me I felt like crying knowing that this boy was really wanting his mum and this really encourages me to raise up in a teachers and parents meeting the importance of including technology in the daily experiences in the settings as Ministry of Education (1996) states “The curriculum is provided by the people, places, and things in the children’s environment.” (p.11)