About this episode

Rachel Harrington discusses the impact of screens in preschool classrooms and advocates for hands-on learning experiences.

I know this might be a controversial opinion, but I don't think screens belong in preschool classrooms. In this solo episode, I share what I've observed as a school-based occupational therapist and why I believe we've become too reliant on technology in early education. This isn't about being anti-screen or anti-teacher. It's about asking whether screens are replacing the hands-on, movement-rich experiences that young children actually need to develop. I talk about SMART Boards, educational apps, handwriting, fine motor development, free play, and why movement, creativity, and real-world learning can't be replaced by a screen. I also share practical ideas for parents, therapists, and educators who want to reduce screen time without eliminating technology altogether. At the end of the day, technology isn't the enemy, but development has to come first. Thanks for listening 🩷 I'd love to hear your perspective. Do you think screens belong in preschool classrooms? Let me know on Instagram or in the comments! Links We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form - https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3 All Things Sensory Podcast Instagram…

People in this episode

Host: Rachel Harrington

Topics covered

• screens in classrooms
• early education
• occupational therapy
• fine motor development
• screen time reduction

Keywords

• screens
• preschool
• technology
• development
• fine motor skills
• educational apps
• free play

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Harkla

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