Will you let your babies/children to play iPad?

H

hkcareplus

New member
iPad seems to have some good apps for babies to learn and my sister's son (around 2 year old) love to play it so much (seem to have a bit addict to it). But I just curious it's a good time for them to play? do any parents do the same or have any suggestion on it?
 
my kids 5 & 7 don't play on the computer much. we do occasionally allow them to, but it is VERY limited. and no, we don't have an ipad. mummy and daddy can't afford to play on one, even if we did have one, my kids would NOT get their hands on it.
 
" iPad seems to have good apps for babies to learn"

I wouldn't let my baby go near an iPad. Perhaps to look at photos & videos that we took but certainly not an app for her to learn.

I wouldn't even let my 4 year old play with the iPad. Even with my iPhone, I don't play games on it so my daughter doesn't even know any games.

Call me old school but I'd prefer my child to run around in a playground and interact with other kids rather than sit down playing on an iPad. Other parents may think otherwise.
 
I let my kids play. My 16 month old isn't very interested, but my 3 year old really likes it. They don't play every day - maybe just one or two times a week, and never more than for about 30 min or so... We have a lot of educational games and I think it's been a positive thing for them. It's a good distraction in some situations (like if we have a family dinner which is out and takes a long time and is past their bedtime), and is great for things like planes etc when they can't run around. I think as long as it's in moderation, it can be a good thing. But I can see how it could easily get out of control as well.

All that said, I have a smartphone and I have determined NOT to put ANY kids apps on it, because I know that if I did, and if my kids knew that they could play on it, they would ALWAYS want it and it would probably end up being a negative thing. My phone is JUST for me.
 
We have an iPad and let our daughter (3yrs old) play on it, 15mins every other day...or something like that. it's not a must, but I must say some of the apps ARE quite educational and when you just want 15 mins of quiet time, it's pretty good. You have to be pretty selective though, some apps are better than others and as a parent you really have to pick and choose carefully. For some of the apps it givves me some nice quality time with my daughter as I can use it to teach /review things in a different way so it can be quiet stimuating, if used under guidance and not abused.
 
I have no problem at all letting my boys play on the iPad. Even the 17 month old. I prefer it to watching tv. There are some great apps for kids and my youngest especially likes looking thru the photos and videos.
Having said that we are lucky enough to have a trampoline and lots of outdoor space for them to ride trikes and bikes and play. They have a nice balance.
 
My now almost 3yr old has been playing with (MY) iphone since about 1 yr old. Now he also sometimes use Daddy's ipad. It's like a daddy-son time before dinner. He also use the computer regularly. I believe he learned a lot of words, math, even science from iphone (he was searching for how gears works, loves the video explaining how thomas the steam engine works versus diesel engines etc).
My 1yr old hasn't been that interested. He just wanted to touch it for a couple minutes then he's onto other things. So I guess even if you let them, not every kid likes it.
 
My 22 mo luvs my ifone Actually technically it was his, mine in name DH got it to 'keep him
in pl' at times We let him watch educational videos mostly(i mus say they r excellent stuff!)and it's a great bb-sitter at meal times esply wen we r out & just wish to have a proper meal & conversation Plus wen I nid 2 do som time-consuming chores knowing he's learning stuff w it & not climbing up d chairs or table! We do limit his use & kp a balance with his playground, toys, learning time etc DH has been tokg abt getting him an iPad so dat I can have my ifone fully
 
I use it for long haul flights as at least I can pre select the content- my little one isobsessed with Bob the Builder and Peppa and this way i know i can kep her occupied. I also love the Toca Oca doctor and Paint My wings. Its more for special occasions. i am way too protective over my i phone tho:)Id say all in moderation and the right time- we still read ooks and o other things but lets face it 14 hours on a plane is a nightmare without one;)
 
We don't own an iPad and my smartphone has only the factory-installed simple apps and isn't internet-enabled. First of all, we can't afford to buy an iPad so we won't be buying one until we can--if ever. If we had an iPad, I would take the same stance with it that I took with computer usage and my son. No computer usage at all or exposure before 2-years-old because "screen time" is not recommended for children younger than two. After that I let my son play some educational games or watch videos at sites like the Sesame Street site. Recently, my son has averaged about 30 minutes of computer time every two weeks. About two weeks ago one night I was feeling ill and needed a break so I let him watch a few episodes of Word World. That's it. My son is far too busy doing everything else he does to plop down in front of a screen every day. I know that iPads and iPhones are more interactive but they're still virtual and at this stage in his development I think it's best for him to be living in the "real world." If we had an iPad he might get to play a game on it for 15 minutes/day max--that would be my limit.

I think this video is poignant.
 
No problem with children using iPad, they're fun and can even be educational. Getting to grips with technology is a key life skill these days and will likely become even more so. As long as physical, mental and social skills are not neglected I see no reason to ban the use of iPad - it's far more interactive than TV.
 
thanka2 said:
I think this video is poignant.
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I see nothing sad about that video at all - what is really sad is the comments within that video.

An electronic device (smartphones, pads, computers) are just tools and if used appropriately can give kids great amount of education and amusement at the same time.

As for "screen time", a healthy approach is always better than outright bans and blanket statements.
http://www.geekmom.com/2011/10/what-the-aap-should-have-said-about-screen-time/
 
Howardcoombs, thank you for that link. When the association of pediatricians says 'some concerns' of harm, I've always wondered what harm exactly. Now it seems, they themselves are generally vague on what the harm actually is. Their main concern seems to be that it does not have any positive benefit. As a parent, I'm ok with there being no positive benefit, what I'm not ok with is serious harm.

I let my son have "screen time" not because I think it's educational but because sometimes I just need a break from him and can't think of anything else and I don't think it will do serious harm. Yep, I'm a lazy parent. I'm in awe of parents who manage no screen time at all for their kids. However, I think as long as my kid is not spending huge amounts of time staring agape at a screen, his brain cells will be fine and so will my sanity.
 
You're not a lazy parent at all, you're a perfectly normal parent.
As for positive benefit : there is a great positive benefit and that is a sane and happy and less stressed parent :-)

My mother always taught me : Everything in moderation and everything in reasonable amounts
 
i would not ban my children from screen time... i just know, we have tried letting my two have computer time, that it gets out of hand WAY too easily. so, for that reason, we don't have a nintendo, PS3 or anything else like that...i figure they will get enough of that as they get older. same as the "no toy guns" rule that i have. i'm sure as they get older, they will be exposed to them, so why do it now?
 
howardcoombs said:
I see nothing sad about that video at all - what is really sad is the comments within that video.
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I also didn't think anything was "sad" about it...including the comments on it but I did think it was moving and made a very clear point.

But, as far as our opinions being different on this subject, I don't think that's surprising to either of us. :smile:

One of the other concerns I have is the potential effects of radiation from using electronic devices that are hands-on (cell phone; iPad etc.) with young children. This topic hasn't been fully studied yet and recent studies point to very real possible adverse effects.

As far as children becoming tech-savvy (regarding a comment from another poster)--I think if we wait until 2-years-old the kids will be just fine. :biggrin:

Everyone chooses their own boundaries with their children based on the information they have. I have chosen to wait until later to let my children have "screen time" and there is basis for this which is not just some draconian ban or decision based on a blanket statement.

Other people may be fine with their children having a constant entertainment, technology and stimulation flowing through various devices in and outside the home. I also love technology and am fond of my gadgets but...I also like solitude and sitting and listening without doing anything and I want my children to have a grasp on this--not be reaching for an iPad or iPhone at the first hint of boredom.

For us, we feel like our children already get more than enough stimulation (especially on the street in HK!) that we prefer to have the TV off most of the time and allow all of us some time to think without having to be stimulated--I think it might be a dying art, actually but for us I still think it's valuable.

While screen time may not actually HARM my children (in any obvious way) I don't always see the benefit. As a teacher, I teach children who often have a hard time focusing in a traditional classroom--largely due to being constantly over-stimulated everywhere else. So, until every school can have iPads for every student to interact with, I think there is value in teaching children that they don't always have to have a screen to entertain them.

So, yes, it is about balance but just because we have chosen a boundary doesn't mean we're not balanced or informed about our choice. I think my children benefit from this.
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I'm quite glad my parents didn't ban me from "screen time" - in fact they actively encouraged it and bought a computer when I was 5 or 6. Like most children, I enjoyed it and become proficient using it. I am sure my lifelong interest in technology was nurtured from an early age and it's been extremely positive for my life & career. I doubt the world is going to become less technology & communication centric going forwards.....

Everything in moderation.
 
One note, regarding the article...I guess a tech designer for kids would probably have a bias toward technology. :)
 
2010-NewDad said:
I'm quite glad my parents didn't ban me from "screen time" - in fact they actively encouraged it and bought a computer when I was 5 or 6. Like most children, I enjoyed it and become proficient using it. I am sure my lifelong interest in technology was nurtured from an early age and it's been extremely positive for my life & career. I doubt the world is going to become less technology & communication centric going forwards.....

Everything in moderation.
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Sure. That's great. But, how many hours/day were you allowed to use your computer? And you said you started at 5 or 6? Not as an infant? Yes, that's the point I was making--everything in moderation. And "moderation" means different things to different people as I have pointed out above. We each have a unique experience and the way we raise our children is unique based on our own sensibilities--which are neither right nor wrong but just that...our own.

As for my experience...I didn't have a (shared--not personal as my family couldn't afford that) computer until I was 17 (gasp!) and technology has also served me well in my life and career--also having an appreciation for the more spiritual/intangible things in life has served me equally as well. Knowing how to sit quietly and reflect and ponder and debate and all those things you actually kind of need to "unplug" in order to do...have been immensely beneficial. I want my children to develop all of their intelligences and so we spend time focusing on different aspects.

I think I am starting to fit the profile of a slow parent. Lol!
 
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