thoughts on all this technology for little ones

So many commercials & magazine adds are for iphone apps, tablet games & a ton of other things like this.

I don't know how I feel about it. I know a lot of these interactive games encourage learning but I'm not crazy about her staring at a screen all the time. If I let her, she would carry my phone around all day "playing" her games & she's only 15 months old.
I guess it's ok in moderation but the way she screams her head off when I take it away is crazy!

I don't want to start a controversy but I was just wondering how other parents feel about all these things out there.

thoughts on all this technology for little ones

Not a parent yet (6 weeks to go ) but it does concern me, I myself can't put down my iPad. I don't think I'll be introducing her to electronics anytime soon. I also wonder about all these wireless waves from the iPads, wireless networks etc. I wonder what we will find out about it years down the road...

Re: thoughts on all this technology for little ones

DS is 27 months old and he lovesss playing on the iPad. I have no problem with it because it's all in moderation. He's only on it like 30 minutes a day, if even. When he's not using it I hide it - out of sight out of mind. Unless he catches me playing on my iphone. LOL

Re: thoughts on all this technology for little ones

There are some that really are educational but I still do not like it. One thing I can say is that even in Kindergarten they are all expected to know the keyboard and the concept of a touchscreen.

thoughts on all this technology for little ones

There are advantages, but it can't nor it won't be the sole source of learning and entertainment for my son. He loves his cars and trucks. We tall about the sizes and colors when we play. We also read real books to the point where he sits there and tries to read. But he gets my phone when we are at a restaurant and its the last resort.we have e books on there and kid apps. They need technology to keep up with their peers but in moderation.

Re: thoughts on all this technology for little ones

My DD is only 2 months old and already she has had too much exposure to tv screens and computer screens, in my own opinion. I try to limit how much of these things she sees but its impossible nowadays to shield her from it. And so many people feel it is acceptable and expect DH to face DD towards the computer screen for 10+ minutes to skype with them... I HATE that. I know they do expect kids to come to school knowing about computers, but I had to learn how to type and use a computer in middle school and I can do everything a business would need me to do nowadays. We can pick these things up as we get older. so as she is so little, I am all for limiting technology as much as possible and introduce that later.

Re: thoughts on all this technology for little ones

Not a fan of it at all for my child. I prefer the good ol' way of reading, with a book in hand, not on a screen and electronically driven. Whatever works for your family though.

I do realize they need to know how to use a keyboard as they go through school, etc., and we have a touch screen desktop PC with a keyboard. Once in a while she plays Starfall on it, but my child is more into arts and crafts and imaginative play than electronic play.

Re: thoughts on all this technology for little ones

It's kinda funny how my older DD(12 now) is in school where they use smart boards, they are encouraged to use their smart phones for research in class, but she still has to bring a physical book to englilsh for reading. I asked her teacher about the kindle and reading with that and she said that while she's all for technology(half of their homework is all done on the computer at home) that she still feels the physical book gives them better comprehension. Go figure.

Re: thoughts on all this technology for little ones

For my family, I don't have a problem with my child using technology. My DD has been very proficient with all things "techie" (cell phones, IPads, Leap Pads) from a very young age. As with anything, I think what is important is that there be moderation. I don't let her play for hours on end but there are so many wonderful apps and learning games out there that I do want her to take advantage as a supplement to the things we do with her at home.

Our whole world revolves around technology so I think it would be hard to shield her from it even if I wanted to. Again, I am a big believer in "everything in moderation" and I do believe that many of these apps and games have merit and are worthwhile for her to engage in so we do allow them in our home.

Re: thoughts on all this technology for little ones

I'm not a fan of their noses being buried in technology, but I've come to the realization that if I don't allow them to play with something, they'll be behind all the other kids.

I've decided to get them both leappad 2's for x-mas, but they will be limited with playing with them.

Re: thoughts on all this technology for little ones

I think it's great - in moderation. And absolutely necessary to expose your child to it, the same way you'd expose them to numbers and letters and colors b/c love it or hate it, it's going to be an essential part of their learning, and their lives as they grow up.

It's funny though, for as much as they love it, they still prefer 'real' books to those on the iPad.

Re: thoughts on all this technology for little ones

I think it is a new way of life and this is just how life will always be for them. We as a society have already started down this path, and I don't think there is any turning back at this point.

Re: thoughts on all this technology for little ones

I have no problem with it, as long as we monitor what DS is doing and is playing educational, interactive games. I want him to learn, not numb his brain.

My DH works in IT and is very tech savvy. He has found countless educational apps for my DS to use, and my son has learned so much. Granted, not all kids have the patience to sit and play nicely with an iphone or ipad, but my son does, and he's learned a lot.

This will probably turn into a debate though. One person will say one simple thing, someone else will get offended and defensive, and then it turns into a whole "ipad at the dinner table" battle.

Bottom line: You do what you think is right and best for your family and your children. I don't think many of us go out of our way to make BAD decisions for our kids. Different things work for different people.

Re: thoughts on all this technology for little ones

Moderation and like everything else, control.

AJ knows if she whines or cries for the tablet, phone or anything electronic she’ll get NOTHING and won’t for some time afterwards. I have NO Issue with a screaming, crying kicking kid, I am mom, I make the rules and you WILL follow them because I have nothing to lose. So my kid is 4 and just barely knows how to use the mouse on a computer, so what? Sure there are some stuff that is very educational and some that are just fun. I don’t mind those at all. But yes, I mind if she demands more time with it or gets ‘sucked’ into it.

So I found that the best solution was to just not tempt her at all. I find that a lot of parents are very attached to their phones (no offense). We set examples. I personally don’t use my phone in front of her. No one calls us at nights and although both of us have smart phones with good games we both like to play and I use it for Facebook, I never do it in front of AJ. AJ time is AJ time, not phone time. So she’s never been interested in our phones other than just occasionally. We both use our computers (me a desktop, him a laptop) but never at the same time with AJ around. One of us interacts with her and the other gets some down time. For us there’s just NOTHING that is so vitally important that we have to be on our phones and not paying attention to our daughter. Nothing at all. My father being in the hospital and very sick, I would call daily and only once did I text my brothers and sister. Those times I did like I always do “You got AJ?” then walked into another room.

Its not that I fear her learning to text or seeing what I’m doing. But she’s only 4 she has no concept of what is ‘enough’. That’s not her fault. She’s a kid. It’s my responsibility to set those boundaries.

She has a leap pad. She forgets it all the time. I point it out to her so she can do the Disney Princess book games or the letter song. She asks that I watch it with her (something we have always done, watch things together). So yes, *I* get bored! We play Candyland, checkers (wrong way), connect 4 (badly), Memory and other games that are physically in front of and require us both to be engaged. We play hungry hippo type game on one phone so we play each other! Haha

Point is, in our house it’s not the technology that bothers us. It’s the engagement of parent and child interaction. We both get a knot in our chest and look disappointed if she’s just by herself with her leap pad or a phone or our tablet zoned out. We interrupt her and get her engaged with us on something. It feels ‘wrong’ to have an electronic babysitter (to us).

Technology can be a useful, fun and family oriented tool. You just have to be careful HOW you use it JMHO.

PS: yes that means WE give up our time our own relaxation and we don’t get our chance to ‘connect’ to the outside world, but then again, we laugh and say we are ‘connected’ to our own little family, the net can wait. We both do our own ‘thing’ on our own like I said with AJ going back and forth for about an hour here or there. But mostly it’s all her. Then she’s asleep and we surf the net, watch our own shows, etc. For us, it’s not a sacrifice it’s an easy decision of priorities.

Re: thoughts on all this technology for little ones

DD just turned three and we are now letting her use the computer. We waited until DS was 3 years old as well. We did give DD a leap pad at 2 1/2 but we limited the time she could play with it for 15 minute segments and limited the number of days a week. DS had a leap pad at 4 1/2 and we let him play with it more than DD but his time was also limited with it as well. He is in kindergarten now and they have computer class weekly. He was expected to know about the internet and the keyboard when he entered school. He did not realize that the games he plays or books he "reads" were on the internet.

Re: thoughts on all this technology for little ones

Posted by Hofstra26

For my family, I don't have a problem with my child using technology. My DD has been very proficient with all things "techie" (cell phones, IPads, Leap Pads) from a very young age. As with anything, I think what is important is that there be moderation. I don't let her play for hours on end but there are so many wonderful apps and learning games out there that I do want her to take advantage as a supplement to the things we do with her at home.

Our whole world revolves around technology so I think it would be hard to shield her from it even if I wanted to. Again, I am a big believer in "everything in moderation" and I do believe that many of these apps and games have merit and are worthwhile for her to engage in so we do allow them in our home.

thoughts on all this technology for little ones

DD loves her books, blocks and all her non-techy toys. But, yes we do allow her at 20 mos to play her little FP apps and watch a YouTube baby Einstein, Elmo, etc on the iPhone/iPad. She knows how to swipe screen and is pretty good at using it. After her 2 min ipad attention span, she will watch her little show, or FBB and eat a sugary ice pop too. Oh the horror! If she enjoys winding her day down after a full day of play, then so be it.

thoughts on all this technology for little ones

I think the Key is moderation. My niece and nephew at 7 & 10 would sit through the WHOLE dinner out with the family on their Ipads - too much time IMO. My 3 year old, we bring it out- so that when he's done eating, and we are still finsihing up- if he starts rustling we break out the tablet - limited time - plus he can play the Match card toddler game.

Re: thoughts on all this technology for little ones

Re: thoughts on all this technology for little ones

My opinion is they should be exposed to in small doses at such a young age. I have friends who will let their child spend hours upon hours each day on an IPad or a DS. I think they are doing an incredible injustice to their child.

I understand that this is going to be normal for them when they are in school.

I'm old fashioned. I rather he take a book and make up a story in his head about what is going on in the pictures.

I rather he send his trucks to the moon instead of playing on a $600 tablet.

I'd rather he sit down and craft a cow with tissue paper or turn the colors of the rainbow into one big green blob while finger painting.

I will give him my IPhone if he is on the verge of a melt down in a resturant.

However, I normally pack a back pack filled with books, little toys, coloring books that he gets to go through first.
He gets my IPhone if everything in that bag has failed to keep him occupied.

Re: thoughts on all this technology for little ones

Everything is ok in moderation....

Re: thoughts on all this technology for little ones

i definitely feel old fashioned about it
my DS is 12 mos and has never 'played' with my phone. We don't have a tablet so he doesn't see that either. He may see us on our phones once in a while, but has not grabbed for them himself.

I personally HATE the idea of him looking at a screen instead of a real book or a game. i just do.
He doesn't watch tv, doesn't know who Elmo is (other than a face on one of his toys) and has no idea about any Disney character. And honestly, i'm really really ok with it. He'll have plenty of time to be bombarded with all that when he gets older. For now, i'm happy with him playing with 'real' toys and learning how to use his imagination and dexterity the old fashioned way

i'm also the kind of person who gets annoyed by all the toys that sing and light up as well I feel its overstimulation for the sake of it sometimes. Why can't it just be a ball? why does it have to sing and buzz and light up too?
(insert crotchety old woman yelling voice here )

Re: thoughts on all this technology for little ones

Posted by Hofstra26

For my family, I don't have a problem with my child using technology. My DD has been very proficient with all things "techie" (cell phones, IPads, Leap Pads) from a very young age. As with anything, I think what is important is that there be moderation. I don't let her play for hours on end but there are so many wonderful apps and learning games out there that I do want her to take advantage as a supplement to the things we do with her at home.

Our whole world revolves around technology so I think it would be hard to shield her from it even if I wanted to. Again, I am a big believer in "everything in moderation" and I do believe that many of these apps and games have merit and are worthwhile for her to engage in so we do allow them in our home.