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Hudson Valley Parent 7
educator for more than 30 years and the
former head of the parenting program
at the Mandell School in Manhattan,
was inspired to write a book on this very
topic when she started to notice big
differences in the children entering her
toddler program.
Digitods – toddlers on technology.
The result, "Toddlers on Technology,"
(AuthorHouse, April 8, 2013) is a collab-
orative effort between Summers, neu-
ropsychologist Dr. Ann Desollar-Hale,
and economist Heather Ibrahim-Leath-
ers and combines their experience and
knowledge in early childhood education,
clinical neuropsychology and practical
parenting.
The book serves as a
guide to help parents
navigate the raising of
these digitally-influenced
toddlers, or "digitods."
"Digitods," said Sum-
mers, "are extremely
enthusiastic about learn-
ing. They are training
themselves to learn at a
very early age because
they can learn without
pressure."
A device like an iPad
doesn't care when its
user gets the correct
answer to a program or
game. Instead, a child
receives praise whenever
he or she gets the right answer.
"That can make learning a lot of fun,"
Summers said. "I've seen 2-year-olds who
may not be able to speak in complete
sentences yet, but can name their colors,
shapes and some of their numbers and
letters. And that is an enormous change."
Digitods are certainly learning basic
technology skills when using a touch-
screen device, but they are also exposed
to everything from traditional numbers
and letters to foreign languages and ani-
mals through fun, interactive games.
In Lagrangeville, Isabel Dichiara's
child, Sebastian, learned how to spell
when he was 3 years old, thanks to her
