In today’s world, it’s common to see toddlers engaged with smartphones and tablets, watching videos and playing games. Our children have evolved beyond mere "Digital Natives."

However, from a neuroscience perspective, it’s important to recognize that children under the age of 3 to 4 face significant challenges in grasping tech concepts. Key reasons include:

• Brain Development: The areas of the brain responsible for complex thinking are still maturing. As a result, young children may struggle to understand cause-and-effect relationships.

• Limited Vocabulary: Their vocabulary is still developing, which can hinder their ability to express and comprehend more complex ideas.

• Cognitive Skills: Young children are in the early stages of developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which are essential for understanding technology.

Despite these challenges, early exposure to technology can provide significant benefits, helping children engage with tech concepts more effectively. Research suggests that around age 3, children can start to comprehend longer sentences and basic logical structures, such as simple if-then scenarios.

It is crucial to minimize reliance on text during this learning phase. Studies indicate that using fewer words and more visuals can make learning more enjoyable and effective for young children.

Can a 3-year-old start coding?

Well, it’s a very difficult question to answer. While traditional coding may be complex for a three-year-old, introducing foundational concepts is certainly possible. At this age, children can engage with coding through play-based activities that emphasize logic and sequencing. Tools like visual programming apps or interactive toys that respond to commands can introduce basic coding principles without reliance on text. By using colorful, tactile materials and simple instructions, we can spark their curiosity and lay the groundwork for computational thinking, making the learning experience both fun and accessible.

What Strategies Can Be Used?

Now, let’s talk about exactly HOW we can creatively introduce technology concepts to young children. Let’s not forget the golden rule of the early childhood education:

Make Abstract Concepts More Tangible.

Let’s start with… OF COURSE.

Color

Utilizing vibrant colors can enhance engagement and memory. Use color-coded materials or visual aids to categorize tasks or concepts, making learning visually stimulating and easier to comprehend.

Arrows

Incorporate arrows in activities to represent direction and movement. For example, using arrow stickers on the floor can guide children through simple coding sequences, teaching them about programming logic in a fun, interactive way.

Sound

Integrate sound cues to reinforce learning. Use musical apps or sound-based toys that respond to actions, helping children connect auditory signals with their actions and enhancing their understanding of cause and effect.

Now, let’s be CREATIVE.

Smell

Incorporate scents into learning activities by using scented markers or playdough. For instance, you could create a "scented coding game" where different smells correspond to specific actions or commands, making the experience multisensory.

Vibration

Introduce toys that vibrate or move in response to a child's actions. For example, a robot that vibrates when it completes a task can help children understand feedback loops in coding, making abstract concepts more tangible.

Vibrating toys or devices provide immediate feedback, helping children understand cause and effect. This multisensory experience fosters curiosity, encourages exploration, and supports cognitive development by making abstract concepts more tangible and enjoyable.

Taste. Food is a good educational tool!

Use food to teach sequencing or patterns. Arrange colorful fruits or snacks in a specific order and encourage children to replicate the sequence. This approach not only makes learning fun but also introduces healthy eating habits.

By employing these creative strategies, we can make learning about technology engaging and enjoyable for young children, laying a solid foundation for future skills.

Be careful with its hygiene, allergies, and any dietary restrictions and risks.

OK. But I want to use a REAL DEVICE!

Sure. Here are a few options you could consider for early childhood tech education.

Disclaimer: I sell MODI, and I do believe it’s objectively a good product. Please objectively compare the following solutions and choose the best solution and the right vendor accordingly. No paid promotions here.

I ranked them from the most suitable for the youngest to the oldest.

• Cubetto by Primo - (Website, Video) (The Czech Republic 🇨🇿)

No screen. No text. Wooden (Sustainability? 🍃). Each colored block is an action. For example, green is forward, and yellow is left.

It comes with colorful maps and story books for a narrative-based, gamified learning experience — making it suitable for the early childhood.

• Botley 2.0 by Learning Resources (Website, Video) (United States 🇺🇸)

No screen. No text. A wireless control with colorful arrows.

It comes with advanced features, such as black line following, obstacle detection, coding cards, etc.

It makes colorful light effects and sounds, making it very engaging.

• VEX 123 - (Website, Video) (United States 🇺🇸)

No screen. Short texts. If statement used. Color and obstacle detection included.

The cool part is that the instruction gets reset if you shake it!

The colored cards and the wireless reader make Vex 123 very unique.

One thing: In the long term, Vex can be a really useful resource, as it covers all the way until the university level robotics. If you are planning a school-wide STEM curriculum for multiple grades, maybe this is useful.

• Osmo Coding Starter Kit - (Website, Video) (United States 🇺🇸)

No text. Creating the logic is very very hands-on and tangible! You assemble different coding blocks and numbers physically.

A tablet screen is required. The visual and sound effects aided by the screen could be more engaging.

• MODI by LUXROBO - (Brochure, Video) (South Korea 🇰🇷)

LEGO compatible. No wires. Simply create a robotics project by connecting inputs and outputs with magnets.

Scratch-based coding. Software on all devices (smartphones, tablets, computers). Suitable for hands-on coding, robotics, and AI education.

All the products discussed above have high quality teaching materials that can save teachers’ time. They are highly intuitive, so teachers even without much engineering background should be able to easily use it.

I’m personally very interested in the screen-free tech educational experience. I might go ahead and buy some and review… 👀

If you are interested in any of those products, let me know! See if I can find one for you (and me) to try.

There’s a Room for Improvement Growth.

Right now, there are so many kindergarten educators struggling to find the perfect solution for their kids’ tech explorations. Unfortunately, the available options are highly limited, so I hope this article has given you a small slice of inspiration.

I had hoped to uncover more groundbreaking case studies of schools or companies that focus on tech education for very young children, but I may need to revisit that topic later. If you enjoyed this post, consider subscribing for weekly insights on global innovations in education.

See you in the next one 👋,

Christopher Lee (Let’s connect on LinkedIn!)

Room for Growth