By Salma Dhalla
Herald Intern
As conversations around childcare continue in Central Florida, John Henry Morgan, an avid musician, is shifting his focus to another growing concern: how constant access to phones and tablets is shaping early childhood development.
Morgan is the son of Shiela J. Morgan, who was known as “The Mother Of Head Start” and made great strides within the field of early childhood development in the 1960’s. She was known for founding the Early Childhood Development Center opened on June 30, 1969 in New Smyrna Beach.
He highlights how his mother’s legacy continues to live on in that center: “the center is going on 57 years and is now called the Bethel Christian Academy for preschool children,” Morgan explains. He emphasizes that the current director Angela Carter along with her husband Pastor Pete Carter “are doing fantastic work with young children and offering excellent care.”
Now, while Morgan has previously spoken about the need for 24/7 childcare, he is now emphasizing what happens within children’s early lives, particularly how much time they are spending on screens. He speaks on how many children in the 21st century are automatically given “tablets and access to televisions,” as opposed to other forms of entertainment. This can in turn be "detrimental" for them in their early stages of critical thinking and development.
Rather than simply criticizing technology, Morgan is advocating for alternatives, specifically, more creative forms of learning. Drawing from his background in music, with over 60 years of experience in the industry, he points to the idea that early exposure to music and performance can positively impact how children learn and develop.
He is advocating for a more prominent incorporation of the “Mozart Effect” for children. “The Mozart effect releases an endorphin to the brain,” Morgan explains. “That gives the brain a feeling of well-being and helps to keep a child’s mind open.”
He acknowledges that in the early stages of development, infants identify individuals such as their mother through “her heartbeat.” Mozart’s music is often viewed as having a “perfect rhythm,” comparable to a mother’s heartbeat. According to Morgan, the most beneficial way for the Mozart Effect to be applied is when “a head set [is put] on the fetus at 16 weeks,” playing
Mozart’s music. The “mathematical structure” of Mozart’s music can prove to support brain development during the early stages of growth.
He also believes that music and activities surrounding it can also expose children to future careers in the music field. Children may grow up and take on careers such as being involved with the “piano, violin and other [types of] music” if it is emphasized in their early lives.
Morgan also connects this idea back to his broader goals in early childhood education, suggesting that addressing screen time is part of preparing children more effectively for the future.
As discussions around childcare continue to evolve, Morgan hopes this perspective sparks more awareness among families and educators about alternative forms of creativity and learning for children in their early years.
