Should I Go To New York University

Should I Go To New York University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Erica is a New York City tutor and 2009 graduate of New York University. She majored in History and now specializes in amultiple subjects including Literature tutoring, Arithmetic tutoring, ACT prep tutoring, and SAT prep tutoring. See what she had to say about her alma mater: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Erica: Going to NYU was most definitely a different experience than most other colleges in the best way! NYU doesnt really have a campus, but most of the buildings surround Washington Square Park. The only thing you need for transportation is an unlimited MetroCard. NYU does provide free shuttle buses from dorms, but if you want to explore the city you can easily take the subway. The campus is as urban as it gets, and it really is very safe just be smart and use common sense. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Erica: Most of my professors were amazing. There are a few bad apples, but that is the story at every college. Professors were very accessible if you take the time to email them or visit office hours. Teaching assistants lead small discussion groups that are a required part of large lecture classes. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Erica: I lived in a dorm my first three semesters. Freshman dorms are all very close to where classes are, which was very helpful in adjusting to NYC my first year. Upperclassman dorms are more scattered some are close, some are far, but all are in Manhattan at least. Get an unlimited weekly meal plan not all freshman dorms have kitchens, and youll need one if you dont want to be hungry all the time. Freshman dorms are pretty friendly places everyones in the same boat. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Erica: For undergrad, NYUs business, acting, education, art, film/television and social work programs are extremely well-known. For graduate, the law, medical, business, film, education and social work schools are top-tier. NYU is divided into different schools, and people usually refer to their school when talking about their major (for example, Hi, Im Erica, and Im in CAS [college of arts and sciences]). CAS is the more typical undergrad school, which has most of the typical college majors (English, sciences, social studies, etc.). I majored in history (you dont have to specialize in a time period at NYU) and minored in religious studies. I had planned on being a lawyer when I was in high school, so I figured Id major in something law-ish. After I changed my mind about law school, I figured Id get my degree in whatever I wanted I figured the most important thing was getting a Bachelors degree. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Erica: The best way to meet other NYU-ers is by joining clubs. I met my best friends in the clubs I joined. Every September there is a club fair, and all of the clubs are very welcoming. You can also meet people in classes you take. It all depends on what you enjoy and what your social circle tends to look like. Its NYC, so you can definitely meet all types of people. There is Greek life, but they are not a huge presence at NYU. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Erica: I did find the Career Center helpful in certain ways. They offer lots of seminars on how to prepare for an interview, how to write a resume, etc. I didnt really use the Career Center (back then when it was called Wasserman, I think the name has stayed the same) in terms of recruitment, but my friends who were in the business school were there all the time and found their jobs through recruiters from campus. All kinds of businesses would recruit huge Fortune 500s as well as tiny boutique-y places. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Erica: I absolutely lived in the library (Bobst) during my time at NYU. I loved it I would find a random study carousel on a random floor and just sit and read/write for hours. That was also how I functioned I could never really get work done at my house. The student center (Kimmel) was also a wonderful, wonderful building. There is also a Starbucks right on 4th street. The Starbucks tended to be super crowded in the evenings, especially during finals. Also, the library was packed during finals as well. There are definitely places to study, both in NYU buildings and in coffee shops in the neighborhood. Some days I would feel like there was nowhere to just sit down and read, but most days I could find a spot. I believe NYU has been making more of an effort to increase study spaces on campus. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Erica: NYUs surroundings are everything that makes up New York City. It is absolutely amazing, wonderful, overwhelming, enormous, and fantastic, all at the same time. The first month or so of freshman year, people tend to hang out at bars around the Village, but as time moves on people move more uptown and downtown. There can be a lot of pressure going to school in the city, but honestly some of the best times Ive had are hanging out in someones dorm, watching movies and talking. You can get whatever you want here. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Erica: NYU is very huge its one of the largest private schools in the country. If youre walking around the Village, youre mingling with NYU students. Some classes are large lectures, others are small seminars. The freshman writing class everyone has to take is no more than 15 people, while some of the other required classes are big lecture classes. Usually big lecture classes have smaller discussion sections led by a TA these I did really enjoy. Speaking as a History major, my seminar classes were always small. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Erica: My last semester at NYU, I was finished with my major and just needed the credit hours to graduate. I loved it I took a photography class, a class on Shakespeare, a French conversation class and a linguistics class. I just loved taking photography I did everything from load the film into a 1970s black and white film camera, develop the film myself using all of the chemicals, enlarging the negatives in a darkroom. My ideal house for myself most definitely has a darkroom in the basement. Check out Ericas tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Best Universities For Economics In The UK

Best Universities For Economics In The UK Get The Most Out of Your Economics Degree ChaptersEconomics At Cambridge Or OxfordLook At An Economics League Table For InspirationMake The Long-Term Investment In An Economics DegreeSo you’ve decided that you’d like to study an undergraduate economics degree at university. The next question to answer is where exactly you would like to go?Universities across the U.K. and overseas offer economics courses, but there are a lot of factors to consider when choosing what university to apply to.For example, do you want to study economics as a single subject, or would you prefer to study a combined degree that mixes economics with finance, politics, or international relations?Some universities only offer economics as a single degree, so that may have an impact on which universities you decide to apply to.Other considerations should be:How respected the university’s economics department is;The quality of the education that you’ll be provided;What modules the course will cover â€" some universities specialise in different area s of economics; andThe location of the university and your  willingness to travel there.There are many marked differences in economics courses between the best universities in the U.K., so taking the time to research any potential university thoroughly will help you make the right decision when the time comes to decide which institutions to apply to.It also helps to visit the university on any open days that may be available. If possible, it’s also a great idea to try and talk to a former graduate in economics about their experience of the course, and what aspects they liked and disliked. This should help you make an informed decision about which university should best suit your studying style and personality.Below is an overview of some of the best universities to study economics in the U.K. Such overviews should give you a good idea of what to expect from studying from these institutions, although don’t be afraid to carry out your own research as well. You can never be too inf ormed when it comes to picking a university!Macroeconomics;Quantitative Methods in Economics;Political and Social Aspects of Economics; andBritish Economic History”There is a continued emphasis on microeconomics and macroeconomics in subsequent years, with a number of optional modules also available throughout the degree.Cambridge University is one of the best universities to study economics. (Source: CC0 1.0, revbritton, Pixabay)Oxford, on the other hand, offers a number of combined economics courses, including:Economics and management;History and economics; andPhilosophy, Politics and Economics, known as PPE.Microeconomics and macroeconomics remain core aspects of the economics syllabus at Oxford University, with other optional modules.Finally, it’s worth noting that both the University of Oxford and Cambridge have a collegiate system. This means that the universities are made up of a number of different colleges, differing in size, age, and the number of tutors that specialis e in degree subjects.Students usually live within college accommodation and will have supervisions (similar to tutorials) at the college, although degree lectures are often held at university buildings so that students from all colleges can attend.If you want to study economics at one of these two universities, it’s worth researching which college will best suit you, and if possible you should try to visit those colleges during an open day.Look At An Economics League Table For InspirationUniversity or subject league tables can be a great tool when researching the best universities where you can study economics, as they can give an indication of the quality of an economics degree at a particular university.Although you shouldn’t base your decision on which universities to apply to on league tables alone, there are some universities that consistently score highly in such tables, and are generally regarded as excellent universities to attend. Some of these universities’ economics courses are discussed below.Warwick - EconomicsEconomics is offered as either a single or combined degree, so it really depends on what you’d like to focus on. As can be expected in all economics degrees, there is a focus on microeconomics, macroeconomics, as well as econometrics, although there are also modules on topics such as economic history.UCL - EconomicsUCL requires applicants to have an A* in mathematics to get on to their economics undergraduate course, highlighting the importance of numerical literacy in many economics courses.As a result, there is an emphasis on mathematics and statistics in the first year, although you’ll still be expected to use your numerical skills in years two and three of the course.The UCL economics course heavily emphasises mathematics. (Source: CC BY-SA 2.0, Steve Cadman, Flickr)Durham - EconomicsAs with many universities, economics can be studied on its own at Durham, or in combination with other subjects, such as:Management;French;Politic s; andPhilosophy and PoliticsThe course content is reviewed each year and covers both domestic and international aspects of economics, as well as fundamental economic concepts and theories. There is also the opportunity to take modules from other departments, so there’s a lot of variety on offer when it comes to what modules to study.Like Oxford and Cambridge, Durham University is a collegiate university, so it’s worth spending some time researching the various colleges to see which one could suit you.Make sure to do your own research to discover the best universities for economics. (Source: CC0 1.0, mteresa, Pixabay)It's worth remembering that, regardless of what university league tables say, every individual is different, and will likely prefer one economics course or university over another. This is why it's worth taking the time to visit each university that you're interested in during their open day and speak to current economics students for their take on how much they enj oy their economics syllabus, as well as life at that university more generally.Having first-hand reports of how university life is at different institutions can best equip you when the time comes to make a decision about where to apply to study.Of course, there are other things you should keep in mind when researching universities, as outlined below.Make The Long-Term Investment In An Economics DegreeThere are so many excellent universities in the U.K., and there are some that haven’t been covered in this article.The important thing when choosing a university is to ensure that you understand and research a number of things, examples being:What the degree syllabus entails;How long the degree lasts (a Bachelor’s degree usually lasts three or four years);How much contact time with tutors or professors you’ll have each week; andHow your degree is assessed â€" is your grade based on examinations at the end of your final year, or are you assessed throughout your degree?If you can fi nd a university that offers an economics degree course that appeals to you, perhaps due to economics lessons that focus on the post-war economy, or its emphasis on international economics, then you’ll know you’ll be motivated and engaged by the degree’s content, thereby increasing your chances of finishing university with a great grade.Although the best universities in the U.K. can be very competitive to get into, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try and secure your spot. If you have or could reach, the grades required to get into a university, then it’s worth a shot.Equally, if you find yourself needing some extra help to secure the A-level results that you need for a place at university, you can always reach out to a tutor for some help with exam tips and tricks or study techniques. Superprof has a range of economics tutors that can provide assistance, either online, in groups, or in person, at a price that won’t break the bank.Simply enter in your postcode and you'll be matched with suitable tutors in your local area, as well as tutors that are able to conduct sessions online.Affordable tutoring means that you can afford to invest in your education when it counts the most. Having tutoring before you begin university as well means that you can prepare yourself for the modules that you'll be studying during your first year.Not only should this help you feel more prepared for your time at university, but it may also help you relax, as having confidence in your academic abilities should mean you can kick back and enjoy the first few weeks of university without any added stress!Find more on alternative economics.Discover the jobs associated with economics here.

Heart Math Tutoring Welcomes Program Manager

Heart Math Tutoring Welcomes Program Manager Heart Welcomes New Program Manager Heart Welcomes New Program Manager July 9, 2015 Heart Math Tutoring welcomes William Otto Katt to the team as the organization’s first Program Manager. Katt will oversee the day-to-day operations of Heart’s school sites through managing Program Coordinators, stewarding relationships with school administrations, and analyzing program quality and efficacy. “Otto is a fantastic addition to the team. His love of learning will be felt by our volunteers and staff as we help students become enthusiastic learners themselves,” said Emily Elliott, executive director of Heart Math Tutoring. “Otto comes to Heart with experience both in the nonprofit and public education sectors, and I know the program and the students we serve will benefit greatly from his direction.” Katt graduated with a bachelor’s degree in history from The College of New Jersey and a Master of Arts degree in Latin American Studies from the University of Connecticut. He was a Citizen Schools Teaching Fellow in Boston and a Teach for America corps member in Charlotte. Prior to joining Heart, Katt was a Dean of Students at Ashley Park PreK-8 School. “My career has been dedicated to improving student learning and achievement,” said Katt. “Heart Math Tutoring firmly aligns to my commitment to erasing the opportunity gap that exists for our nation’s most at-risk students.” For those who will be meeting Katt through their involvement with Heart, here are five things to know: New Jersey native and is the oldest of 11 siblings. Moved to Charlotte in 2012 to join Teach for America. Recently moved to Dilworth with his wife, Anna, who is a third grade teacher and also a Teach For America alum. Currently training for the New York City marathon in November. Enjoys tennis and cooking. Favorite dish to make: New York-style cheesecake. Reach him at kruio.

English Wedding Vocabulary with a Royal Wedding Guide

English Wedding Vocabulary with a Royal Wedding Guide For royal watchers (people who follow the royal family), the event of the year is the royal wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton which takes place  in London on  April 29. Here is a guide to the royal wedding for English students that includes wedding vocabulary and phrases in English.Will you be watching it?Here is a general wedding vocabulary guide if you want to chat about the event with your English friends and colleagues.The ParticipantsThe woman getting married is called the bride.The man getting married is called the bridegroom or groom.Before The WeddingMarriage normally starts with a proposal in which one of the parties, almost always the man, asks the question:Will you marry me?After the marriage proposal is accepted the couple is officially engaged. Once the two people are engaged, engagement rings are exchanged and the man becomes a fiancé and the woman a fiancée. The period of engagement can last hours or years.Traditionally, the ‘last night of freedom†™ before the wedding ceremony is celebrated by the bride and groom alike with a special party.This party is called a ‘hen’ or a ‘bachelorette party’ by the bride and a ‘stag’ or ‘bachelor party’ by the groom.The CeremonyThe actual ceremony of getting married is called the wedding ceremony.Wedding ceremonies can be civil, in which case they take place in a registry office and/or religious, when they take place in a church.The ceremony involves the wedding party including the bride, the groom, best man (who assists the groom) and the bridesmaids (assisting the bride).A young girl, usually a relative of the bride, who carries the flowers is called a flowergirl and a young boy, usually a relative of the groom carries the rings. He is called the ring bearer. The bride walks up the aisle (the middle) of the church, generally accompanied by her father. The music playing, normally on a church organ, is called the Wedding March.The priest stands at the altar. The service incl udes religious songs called hymns and religious passages from the bible called readings.Generally, after the official ceremony, the newly married couple signs the  marriage register.As they leave the church, the guests throw pieces of colored paper called confetti over them.After The CeremonyAfter the ceremony the couple and the guests go to a special lunch called a wedding reception.The best man usually makes a speech and the guests raise glasses of champagne to toast the couple.After they cut the wedding cake, the groom invites the bride to her first dance (as his wife).She throws her bouquet of flowers and, there is a superstition that the girl who catches it will be next to get married.Then, the couple goes on honeymoon, a romantic holiday which generally lasts two weeks.Probably the most famous Royal wedding took place in 1981 between Prince Charles and Diana Spencer. Lets watch some of it now.Did you find this blog helpful? Feel free to share it on Facebook and Twitter. Party bus NJ Actually i think it is more valuable post. Because in this post i have found a more important thing. Which         is so need for me. Thanks.

Brainy Secrets of Green Tea

Brainy Secrets of Green Tea Green tea is a rich source of antioxidants, polyphenol, flavonoids and other useful ingredients. The healing properties of green tea are almost boundless. Polyphenols, contained in green tea, block the growth of cancer cells and enhance the insulin activity. Fluoride, another natural component of green tea, inhibits the growth of oral bacteria, prevents tooth decay and gum disease. Green tea increases the metabolic rate, which stimulates weight loss. Tea is a source of flavonoids, improving the LDL-HDL cholesterol ration and protecting blood vessels. Drinking green tea hinders the accumulation of free radicals and boosts immune system which may delay ageing. Unlike synthetic medications, all these miraculous effects of green tea are achieved without negative physiological consequences. So, several cups of green tea per day, with its immense healing and anti-ageing properties, could help to protect you from many diseases. In addition to positive influence on health, drinking green tea can also improve brainpower. Researchers  discovered that some natural ingredients found in tea can improve brain performance, memory and attention span. Catechins, contained in tea, were found to preserve brain cells from the negative influence of the protein, which builds up with ageing and weakens cognitive activity. Thus drinking tea helps to reduce such age-related disorders as progressive cognitive decline and dementia. Tea, like coffee, contains caffeine that has stimulating influence on the central nervous system, increases alertness and reduces fatigue. It is known that caffeine may cause headaches and increased blood pressure. However, tea is a safer stimulant than coffee because tea contains theanine, which reduces potential side effects of the caffeine. The natural combination of theanine and caffeine in tea is exceptionally beneficial in improving brain performance on cognitive tasks. A recent study from China revealed even more fascinating facts. Epigallocatechin-3 gallate (EGCG ), an organic chemical in green tea, was found to promote the generation of neural progenitor cells. This provides benefits for learning by improving spatial memory and object recognition. An ancient Chinese wisdom declares: “Drinking a daily cup of tea will surely starve the apothecary.” Modern scientists  confirmed this old saying. Drinking tea protects your body from ageing, prevents diseases and keeps your mind sharp. Drink several cups of green tea every day and take all the benefits of this amazing beverage!

Everything you need to know about getting paid to teach English online

Everything you need to know about getting paid to teach English online Whether you want it to be your full-time job or a handy side hustle, teaching English online can be a great way to make some extra cash. Aside from the awesome commute (no public transport and no traffic ) and the opportunity to chat with people all over the world, working as an online teacher means you can choose how much you work and where you work from, so your earning potential is truly in your own hands. But while the freedom that comes with online teaching is great, there are a few practicalities to think about when it comes to getting paid. Being in charge of your own working hours, taxes, and even juggling between different teaching companies is perfectly doable, but doing a little prior research definitely won’t hurt. So, what do you need to know about getting paid to teach English online before you start? How much will I get paid? Let’s start with the most important questions! Browsing around online you might notice that many online teaching companies offer pretty great hourly rates: $20 for working from your sofa, anyone? But it’s worth going through the company interview process to get a breakdown of what your actual pay will be. This is because most online teaching companies don’t pay all of their teachers at the same rate. Instead, they have a pay scale that’s generally between $10-25 per hour. For example, VIPKID is known to provide some of the most generous salaries for online teachers in North America and they pay up to $22 per hour but their rates start at a significantly lower $14. Where you get placed on the scale depends on your experience, qualifications and, crucially, interview performance. Interviews for online teaching nearly always involve teaching a demo lesson so make sure you prep beforehand and do the best lesson you can! On top of your hourly rate, there might also be opportunities to make extra cash that you can factor in. Many schools, such as Qkids, pay bonuses for things like being on time for your lessons, getting students to rebook classes with you and referring new teachers. Some schools pay their teachers more if they work over holidays like Christmas and you might also qualify for a pay rise after you have been in the job for a few months. Sign up to Teach Away today for access to the latest teaching jobs around the world. What about lesson planning? Is that paid too? A seriously great advantage of being an online teacher is that you’ll probably have much less lesson planning, report writing, and homework marking to do than you would as a face-to-face teacher. These extra tasks often end up taking a significant amount of (unpaid ?) time. Anyone that’s stared at a blank lesson plan will know that cutting out this paperwork will free up your non-teaching hours, give you some extra mental-space, and provide you with mean a much truer idea of what your hourly pay actually is. That being said, make sure you find out what the expectations are for any school you sign up with. Gogokid doesn’t expect teachers to plan lessons but does require them to write up short lesson reports for parents. Some schools like online teachers to use real-life props in their lessons that you’ll have to find or make in advance. And even if you don’t have to lesson plan, you’ll probably still want to have a look over the provided lesson materials before the lesson starts so you feel prepared. Ask your school about these kinds of tasks and make sure you factor this time in when you’re working out your teaching schedule. Will I get paid the same amount of money every month? How much you get paid each month really depends on your schedule. Each online school works on a slightly different timetable, so it’s worth shopping around a few to see which one will work best for you. To give you an idea, DaDa offers lets teachers choose the days they want to work, but asks for a minimum of ten hours a month. At the iTutor group, teachers must be available to teach some peak hour slots at weekends. And other companies like HAWO work on two and four-week rolling timetables so you can build up regular students. All this means is that there is probably a minimum you can expect to earn each month, but it’s in your hands if you want to increase your hours and earn more. Do I still get paid if my internet cuts out? Making sure you have a reliable internet connection is, well, obviously essential for an online teacher. The last thing your students want is to be stuck staring at a frozen screen, straining to make out your pronunciation through a crackly connection. This matters because you really need to build up a base of loyal online students. Not only are these students the best way to keep your online teaching career ticking over but they’re also the best part of the job! Getting to know your students and seeing how they progress over time is one of the most rewarding parts of the job for any teacher. You won’t be surprised to find out that online schools also take your internet connection seriously. Companies like VIPKID will cut your pay if your internet cuts out for more than 3 minutes per class. This might sound harsh, but from the students’ perspective, 3 minutes is 10% of a 30-minute class they’ve paid for. So, if you’re going to invest in one thing before you start online teaching, make it your internet provider. When will I get paid? In the same way that different schools have different teaching schedules, they also have different payment schedules. Depending on the policy at your school, you could be paid monthly, weekly, immediately after the lesson ends or a mixture of all three if you work for a few different schools. Way to avoid that end-of-the-month, empty bank account feeling! Make sure you check not only when you can expect to get paid but also how long the transfer time is for international payments, so you know when any money should be available in your account. So, will I get paid straight into my bank account then? Most online teaching schools will either pay you via PayPal (in countries where it’s accepted) or directly into your bank account. The transaction fee from PayPal or your bank will come out of your wages so make sure you are calculating that into what your take-home salary should be. What about paying my taxes? Do not forget to pay your taxes! Whatever you earn teaching online will be subject to tax in the country where you live. It’s up to you, not your school, to be on top of this so make sure you do some research into how you declare your taxes and how much they will be before you start teaching. Getting an idea of the taxes you need to pay in advance will mean you’re on top of your legal responsibilities and you can put some money aside on a regular basis to make sure that you don’t get hit with a painful tax bill out of the blue. And that’s everything you need to know about how you get paid for online teaching! Remember each school will have their own way of doing things, so make sure you check the finer details with them. And otherwise, get ready to travel the world and earn some $$$ all from the comfort of your apartment. Or, your dream nomad location. Or… Well, you get the idea.

Children swiping pages of real books - Tutor Hunt Blog

Children swiping pages of real books Children swiping pages of real books Children swiping pages of real booksSchoolsChildren distressed that they can`t swipe the pages of real books There are numerous reports from teachers at receptions schools and nurseries that children are misunderstanding the basic mechanics of how a book works. Instead of seeking to turn a page in a normal manner, they are attempting to swipe the page left with one finger. The national Union of Teachers (NUT) recently convened at their annual conference, this year held in Brighton, and speakers told of the `disturbing` trend of children thinking books work like tablets and phones, and becoming distressed when the pages refuse to change with a mere finger swipe. Jennifer Bhambri-Lyte, a delegate from North Somerset reminisced about the romance of books themselves - the tactile, physical component that was being lost with the encroaching ubiquity of electronic reading devices: `Kindles and iPads are wonderful things, but many of my friends talked about the smell of a book, finding tickets and receipts that someone had left as a bookmark, echoes of all the people that had been there before.` Ms Bhambri-Lyte said she had been both a nursery and reception teacher, and that she hadn`t yet got used to the new reading habits of her pupils: `I personally still find it disturbing to see a child pick up a book and try to swipe left.` She went on to say that books are expensive, and many families would struggle to afford all the books their children might want. It is understandable then that, with e-books being so much cheaper (many of the classics are completely free) many young children are finding the screen a more familiar sight than the paper page for their reading experiences. Many would say that as long as children are reading, what does it matter if they are using electronic devices, rather than traditional books? A child can easily carry their whole library around with them - whatever mood they are in they will likely have a book available to accommodate it. This can only encourage their reading habits, and who could possibly say that`s a bad thing? The University of Toronto published the results of a study last year, which unfortunately suggested some disturbing facts. Children in the UK under the age of 3 use tablets and smartphones for an average of 44 minutes every day, and the results of the study suggested that, for children aged between 6 months and two years, each 30 minute session of screen time resulted in an increased risk of delayed speech by as much as 49 percent. It is generally accepted that by the age of two or three infants should be communicating using sentences of between three and four words: the study suggested that there was a negative correlation between screen time, and language development. This is the very first study that has suggested smartphones and tablets can have a negative effect on infant linguistic growth. Dr Catherine Birken, staff paediatrician at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, after commenting on how smartphones and tablets are now an everyday part of modern life, went on to say: `While new pediatric guidelines suggest limiting screen time for babies and toddlers, we believe that the use of smartphones and tablets with young children has become quite common. This is the first study to report an association between handheld screen time and increased risk of expressive language delay.` Dr Birken was adamant, given the seriousness of the findings, the very real negative impact smartphone and tablet use can have on language development, that screen media use should be discouraged in all children younger than 18 months. I know many parents who see tablets and smartphones as a real asset in day to day parenting. My friend has a child whose wailing can only be assuaged by a quick you tube fix - while a colleague with an 18 month old child can always placate them through feeding time with their phone. As regards those children mistakenly swiping paper pages, I feel that this is not a mistake that would be often repeated, and likely stems from there being no books at home at all. Something worth considering is that this generation of children are the first who have had smartphones and tablets in their lives from birth. It is wonderful how naturally children take to new technology - swiping and pressing buttons seems to come naturally to them - but if studies warn us of potential deleterious effects of prolonged exposure, we need to take notice. 23 months ago0Add a Comment