Electronic Toys: Why Should We Be Concerned? A Response to Levin & Rosenquest (2001)

Abstract

In an earlier issue of Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood, Levin & Rosenquest (2001) suggested that early years educators should be concerned about the increasing use of electronic toys because of their perceived limitations in terms of fostering children's imaginative and creative play. In this response, I propose that such a stance reflects a generalised ‘moral panic’ that is often adopted in relation to electronic innovations and suggest tat there is a need to develop further research which examines carefully the impact of such technology on the communicative practices that are currently taking place in contemporary childhoods.