Thoughts on "technology" and toddlers

[flisstebbs]

I know there are probably some very polarised views on this topic, so I'm wary at posting this!

Ever since my LG has been capable of grabbing a phone out of our hands, she seems obsessed with technology: phones, laptops, and especially my tablet.

Up until very recently, I wasn't worried about it at all, and marvelled at the fact at 15months, she can swipe through the menu screens, find the icon for her nursery rhymes and more often than not, get them going. For very short periods of time, its been a godsend (eg so I can get a shower).

We generally have quite limited tv/screen time as we never stay in during the day, always out at park or with friends etc, and she has 3 days a week at nursery.

Literally in the last week however, Jess seems to have become suddenly obsessed with my tablet and is constantly looking for it and works herself into a right temper if she can have it (if she sees it). We have decided to hide it from now on and not let her use it at all, and agreed we need to "set an example" and not be on our phones/laptop in front of her if possible.

Has anyone had issues with their toddlers and phones/tablets? I'm guessing there's a happy medium for these things?

 

[Applecrumble]

Good post, will be watching.

Imogen is 12 weeks old and already glued to tv when its on, and stares at my tablet.

 

[Sprout]

I don't have any issue with the use of technology itself, I think it's just another area of learning (and one that's pretty important these days). I think problems arise when children are having screen time when they otherwise could be socialising/playing outside/playing in other ways. In that way I think it's no different than, for instance, keeping a baby in a baby swing to entertain them for hours on end, instead of talking to them/holding them. It's really more about what might be missed out on.

I think it's fine to allow a child to explore technology or watch a screen and use it to keep them quiet for a few minutes at a time while you do something you need to, which you can't include them in.

 

[LD1978]

Yep emily loves phones, remotes, iPads the lot!!

As you say there are going to be very different views on this. My personal opinion is that I'm ok with it. We facetime grandma and grandad a lot so the phone and iPad have been part of her daily life. I've even bought a fisher price iPad holder so she doesn't wreck it!! I've downloaded nursery rhymes and fisher price apps too. I don't feel overly concerned as like yourself we do toddler sense, read books, play games, sing songs and a whole variety of other things. I don't use it as a baby sitter but it's something she obviously enjoys so I'm comfortable with it. I do think lots of apps are quite educational and rightly or wrongly technology is a massive part of everyone's lives these days (even schools focus on using technology)

Yes she gets the hump if she can't get the phone but likewise she gets like that over other things (eg the bubble bath bottle tonight)

Like you say its a happy medium but also what you feel comfortable with as a parent. Do whatever you feel best and works for you guys x

 

[Hoping for no2]

I'm ok with the use of tablets etc in moderation - my 5 year old can be a bit obsessive so we set a timer for him to limit how much use he gets. They are used in school from 4 years old so think it's just the way things are going really. However, we are very vigilant about having the wifi switched off or turning our phones to flight mode if our little boy does use them. It's a an unknown how the radiation from wifi etc will affect childrens developing brains as it's such a new technology. Our friend who has brain cancer was given this advice so we decided to err on the side of caution x

 

[babyslog]

My 19m old is obsessed with my iphone..
I did have the babytv app installed for a good while but deleted it as he tends to come off the app and try and call people without realising lol.
He enjoys wathing back videos of himself though
Im getting him a leap pad for christmas, so atleast I can see what its clicking on as hes already blocked t phone and managed to change the language lol!
I don't have an issue with it, same with the tv, if we are at home he tends to have his fav programmes on.. Hes not constantly glued as he'll still interact with you and play games etc.
Hes also obsessed with the remote.. Or the sky box itself lol! But thats cos of the buttons and little red light

 

[littlemonkey]

Personally I prefer not to let my LO anywhere near my phone, but that's because I'm worried about it getting trashed! I do sometimes feel like I'm being mean compared to some of my friends with kids who let their kids use their's more.

I will put the odd TV show on it for him to watch if we're out and about and he's restless, but that's it and I don't let him play on games or apps or anything like that. But we do take the odd selfy together on it!!

It's the same as anything, used in moderation it's fine, using it as something to park your child in front of instead of parenting is no doubt going to cause problems.

 

[Kay Kay]

This is an interesting one and one that I worry about too. With my lo it's more the tv he's obsessed with and asks for peppa pig whenever he's fed up with toys. I do get down on the floor and play with him but can't do that all day long so the tv goes on when I need to make dinner or whatever. I feel really guilty about it to be honest. Babyslog I could have written your post! Matthew sounds just like Noah!

I think in this day and age its a good thing for them to be able to use tablets etc as its the way of the future but not sure when it becomes a problem for little ones? Maybe someone else has some answers, would be interested to know x

 

[Rooster30]

Hmm. It's a tough one. In many ways TV is genuinely quite educational as are some iPad apps. It's weird that YouTube and iPad are within my two year olds vocabulary. He usually watches YouTube on my OHs phone first thing due to sheer laziness on my OHs part. However, I don't think my son is hooked on the TV or tech (of course he tantrums when he wants and can't have), as he is happy to play with his toys, paint, play in his room, go for a walk. TV, sadly was a god send during the early part of this pregnancy and this past week when he has been too lethargic to play or move.

My son's speech is very very good. I don't know how he's come so good at it, but it might be in part, because he has watched a fair bit of CBeebies? Unfortunately CBeebie top and and tails his day. In the morning when we're tired and and in the evening for wind down. If TV was all he ever wanted I'd be seriously concerned but we do do a fair amount of playing. TV is usually completely off from 1130am-1815pm anyway. The morning unfortunately it can be on, but in fairness to myself and him, it's more background noise whilst he plays golf, or cars etc.

 

[Ella1979]

We used to let our daughter play on my OH's tablet, but it got to the same point - loads of tantrums when she couldn't have it - so we stopped her using it. She watches quite a bit of tv, but doesn't use a phone at all (neither me or my OH have iphones, just a basic phone, so not as interesting).

However, I had a computer when I was 9 and loved it. I've always loved computer games and used to play them lots... in addition to being outside running around with my friends and everything else I used to do as a child (ballet, swimming etc.).

I personally think there's no problem with tech in moderation. It's all about copying adults when you're a toddler, so it's more about how me and my OH use technology in front of our children and showing that it's just part of life and not the only thing.

 

[Baby2sky]

My 2 year old doesnt play on our phones. Mainly cos we wont allow her to as I worry she would be calling people or break them! We dont have a tablet so actually shes not that exposed to technology yet. I will definitely buy something tho in the near future as (being a teacher) I see how we use tablets from as early as 4 in school and I don't want her starting at a disadvantage to her peers.

We have tv on all day tho. I just like the noise. She has her fav programs and movies. I let her watch tv whenever she wants. She has an amazing vocab and knows words I had no idea she'd know so I can only guess she has picked a lot up from cbeebies and Disney! She also can.count, knows her abc, shapes and colours. I think a lot of kids tv now is educational. However, she spends most of the day painting and drawing with me, as this is what she loves the most. We go out everyday too.

I think technology is great and something I will teach her about in the same way as writing her name, doing numeracy and learning imaginative play.

 

[Mrs M]

I have never allowed my kids to use my phone, and my daughter had no technology of her own until we bought her a cheap tablet for her 4th birthday. She started school in September, and uses an ipad and computers there, so that plus her tablet she gets enough. My little boy who is 2 and a half, occasionally catches a little bit of tablet time, depending on where my dd plays with hers, but he will also get one for his 4th birthday. I prefer them to play with toys, use their imagination and run around tbh. I find doing an actual jigsaw with my kids way more satisfying than on a tablet, and books too. I far prefer a physical book, turning the pages etc.

 

[Saxelby88]

I have a 5 almost 6 month old little boy who has been transfixed by tech since he could see far enough. During the day he sits in a nest of pillows on the sofa with me (when he isn't wiggling on the floor, in his toy table thingymajig or in his high chair having dinner) and if he isn't content playing with his toys, we have cbeebies on. He loves it already. I was surprised and my mum is always commenting on it. He also plays kids games on my tablet (popping balloons or animal noises). He has amazing hand eye coordination.

Last week I went out shopping with my mum and son. We went in to a cafe for a quick cuppa and to feed him. Once he had been fed and I was having a drink, he had my tablet on his lap bashing away popping balloons. There was a lady with a baby about the same age who was looking at me like I was letting him play with a gun or something. He was happy, fed and quiet. And it gave me 2 minutes to drink a hot cup of tea without risking a spillage on or near him.

I am not really sure why people are so against it personally. I feel that he gains knowledge and experience from the TV. I mean, he is seeing things I cannot provide for him. He gets to see people of all different races and culture, animals we do not have access too without trips out to the zoo etc, and educational programmes that will help him in the future.

It's not like I plonk him down in front of Jeremy Kyle and leave the room. We still play with 'real plastic' toys, instruments, read books and sing songs. I still feel I have to justify it though. Maybe I am missing something and I am being irresponsible.

I think, in this day and age, it is something they will be growing up with and it is integrated in to society. I mean, if I had no internet connection, no phone and no laptop, I would go bonkers and life would be hard. My job would be impossible, I would have to take my son to the supermarket every week rather than have it delivered and enjoy my time off with him. Even when I was at collage (about 10 years ago now!) we were using laptops rather than traditional work books and a pen. My friends niece recently had to do a power point presentation and she is in year 1! When I was at school we had one computer for the whole school and we had to take turns at typing. Green font on a black screen! Things are changing and hiding my son from the inevitable feels to me, like the wrong thing to do.

But as I said, I could be completely wrong and I am damaging my sons future. Who knows.

 

[littlemonkey]

Saxelby, I must admit I think your very brave letting a six month old play with your tablet! If that had been my LO he would have had it in his mouth and chewing on it!!

Like I said in my post, that's my main concern with it all. These things are expensive and I don't think my LO is at an age to understand to take care with them.

 

[Saxelby88]

He is actually pretty good with it. He does try to lick the screen sometimes, but it gets dummy wiped every time he is given it. It isn't a big fancy ipad, its a hudl2, so only about £100. I am not too worried about scratches etc. Not that I am a throw away person or rich. Far from it!

He is quite a gentle child at the moment. He even pets the cat. It's so cute

 

[BunnyN]

I like that LO learns to use computers, tablets, phones etc as as others have said its the way things are going these days but moderation is needed. I know as she gets older I dont want her to be the kind of kid who playins video games and watches TV all day. I think every parent has the responibility to set the limmits that are right for them and their LOs. The comments others have made seem pretty sensible.

I admit to using TV more than I would like to for entertainment but I'm not sure how I could have coped through severe morning sickness etc without it. I do make the effort to sit and read books and draw etc with her too though and we try and go out for a walk every day. If I'm not up to it her dad takes her. I was a bit shocked the other day when clothes shopping and our 21month old girl was naming all the cartoons on the fronts of Tshirts. I didnt even know who Sophia (the princess) and Jake (the pirate) were until she said, lol.

The last few weeks we have been watching videos on youtube more than TV. We watch videos of nursery rymes and counting songs etc. She is glued to them. Again I dont like having them on all day but it feels better than her watching TV all the time and it works well with a newborn to look after. I can sit and feed him and sing along with the songs or pop in and out of the room while she is sitting on the potty watching them for example. She has learned quite a lot from them too. There is one song in Chinese she loves and aleady knows words in chinese from it, lol.

 

[CARNAT22]

TV has been a God send the past few weeks (and quite honestly James has always been a it of a TV monster)

Thankfully he loves science programmes [Brian Cox is his current fave!] and he loves anything about the weather / animals / volcanoes as well.

I make sure when we watch TV - usually whilst I am feeding baby - that we talk loads.... I ask him questions and get him to expand upon what we watch. He can tell you what the hottest planets are and what the colder planets are. He can tell you what comes out of volcanoes and the difference between a tornado and a hurricane etc...

Of course we watch other stuff too (Peppa Pig, Thomas and we all love the "Cars" films in this house) but a lot of what we watch is stuff James is interested in and it's been amazing for his vocab.

We don't have any tablets, but James does know how to play Angry Birds on OH's iPhone. We do have a mini DVD player as well that gets used occasionally.

X

 

[clairebear22]

My eldest has autism, he finds it very hard to play with toys. If it's not a puzzle, a shape sorter or his trains that he sits and watches for hours he literally can't play, he has no imagination when it comes to toys. He has used iPads/iPhones since he was around 9 months old and has a real flair for technology. He is very socially awkward too so technology is a godsend for us to keep him calm when in social situations. He gets great comfort from his apps and although he is completely non-verbal (has never said a word but makes lots of noise) he knows loads of shapes and numbers 1-10 so it is very beneficial for us. He plays with it every day for limited periods of time. We also take him out as often as possible and he goes to pre-school 3 times a week. My youngest also loves the iPad but goes back and forth between that and playing with anything he can get his hands on lol.

 

[flisstebbs]

Thanks so much for all your responses ladies, and its helped me "normalise" where we are with all this stuff. We've hidden the tablet and within 2 days she forgot about it!! Obviously we still watch telly in the lounge and we use this more than I'd like at the moment, mostly because the weather is crap and I feel rubbish in tri1

 

[Sparklisam]

I think in moderation it's ok. My Lo like the rest of the posts watches tv when I prep TV. We r quite firm on the no iPad for him just yet and the reason is he has a 3yr old and 2yr old cousin that both had iPads for their 2nd bday EACH !! They sometimes don't even say hello when I visit. That's my issue !!

Reality also is that it's not as 'safe' for kids to play outside as much as I did when I was old enough so that I feel has a big impact on why kids r so into their technology.

iPads r a good learning tool hence why they r now in schools etc. my Lo will prob have his own just not quite yet ��

Xx