Pulaski Academy Prioritizes Hands-On Learning, Limits Screen Time in Early Childhood Education
Pulaski Academy in Little Rock, Arkansas, is implementing a new educational approach in its early childhood classrooms that significantly limits students' use of tablets and computers. Instead, the school is focusing on hands-on activities to teach a wide range of skills, from building to basic coding. According to Juli Paddie, the school's STEAM teacher, this shift is informed by research on children's brain development and the potential negative impacts of excessive screen use. Tiffany Knight, head of Pulaski Academy's Early Childhood School, stated that the goal is to improve fine motor skills, critical thinking, and vocabulary through direct engagement and dialogue among students. For technology education, the school utilizes tools like B-bots for basic coding, which allow students to learn sequencing and problem-solving without relying on screens.
