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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think CBeebies should ease off encouraging our kids to use tablets, smartphones etc

61 replies

LightsOnNotIn · 01/10/2013 08:12

Cbeebies regularly encourages children to use computers, in whatever form. Children can use apps, the website, games, and of course, watch again/on demand. My son is 3.5 and so far he isn't pestering me to get a tablet, or to give him my phone... but it will come. He watches TV for 30 mins a day. I don't want him to 'have more screen time'. Yes it's down to me to say no, and I find this easy to do, but the adverts normalise the use of screens - why should it be normal? I want him to be interacting with family and friends, not monosyllabic and getting hooked on screens.

OP posts:
BadSeedsAddict · 01/10/2013 10:31

Sorry, not meaning to be flippant. I suppose CBeebies are, like any channel, out to generate income for their employees and company; maybe to expect them to consider families' needs above all else would be unreasonable? If you think of them as a business it puts it in a different light. They come across as some sort of government-run service, encouraging kids to eat veg and get exercise, but the very nature of their output requires children to be stationary and focused on the bright colours and movement. So it's natural for their products to extend into interaction with websites and apps, which they will then promote as much as they can.

I don't think apps promote skills in ICT. I have no skills in ICT and find apps easy and fun to use, because that's how they are built.

LimitedEditionLady · 01/10/2013 12:35

My ds is two years 9 month and has got a tablet ,he doesnt use it everyday but when he does it has educational games on which he really enjoys and its actually helped him with letters which i was finding hard to teach him.I think YABU because its in your power whether you give it to your child to use and you can control how much time. There are high schools around here that have given the kids tablets to use at home.

Original poster
LightsOnNotIn · 01/10/2013 21:46

Well, I showed DS the CBeebies website this afternoon. Made me realise that it must be easier for a 3.5 year old to use when they have a tablet with touch screen. We had to use my desktop. It would take time for him to figure out how to use the mouse. Figured out the up and down arrows ok. Then he tried the CBeebies app on my phone. This was easier for him. Tapping and swiping will come with practice. He was hooked on it straight away mind you!

I will use the app again ... in moderation, as others have said.

OP posts:
moustachio · 01/10/2013 21:47

Bit miffed that Mr Tumble now has a 'tumble tap' rather than photos in the new series :( doesn't have the same flow. DS likes it though because it's like Daddy's iPad!

3birthdaybunnies · 01/10/2013 21:57

How did you find it? He will probably need to use the mouse for school, but he will learn the co-ordination with some practise. We use a mixture of laptop and phone. By yr2 (6) ours are expected by school to use the Internet to research their homework.

Original poster
LightsOnNotIn · 02/10/2013 07:49

3birthdaybunnies I think it looked good. TBH, I need to sit down and explore the website on different platforms, and the app - without DS around. Then I can guide him to the good bits.

OP posts:
WeeHelena · 02/10/2013 08:20

There is an advert for a tablet and it has a school ages boy as the person using it day to day and at school.
Tablets will be a necessity in years to come just like computers are.
Can't prevent it and it's not a bad thing,children will only become inactive if we allow it.
My 3.5Yr old never plays with my phone glued to my hand and isn't really interested unless the camera is in on her .

ThePerfectFather · 02/10/2013 08:21

30 minutes tv time and no computer?! Please tell me what they can do that's so much more constructive? TV isn't evil, computers are amazing, and kids have a lot of free time to fill so why not use technology?

this knee-jerk "no tv, it's bad" and "computers are a waste of time" parenting really pisses me off.

ThePerfectFather · 02/10/2013 08:23

Also you do realise that these shows are trying to appeal to what kids are probably doing at home, right? Mr Tumble isn't trying to shift iPads. The show is attempting to reflect most kids reality - that a huge number of people don't have printed photos anymore, you look at it on a screen. Sorry if all the whizzy, shiny lights are confusing the cave people out there.

zower · 02/10/2013 08:47

YANBU, OP. Anyone, even a dinosaur like me can learn to use a tablet. They are made to be simple! The emphasis on computers for young children is not a positive thing IMHO, as this is the time where they are learning more important things in their development - speech, motor actvities, creativity, discipline and love of family/friends.

HumphreyCobbler · 02/10/2013 08:57

pish at 'falling behind'

they can learn how to use a computer at any time. Although I don't mind if mine have a bash about on my laptop, there is NOTHING that a child needs to learn on a computer that they cannot learn in real life.

fuzzpig · 02/10/2013 09:11

We just use our TV for DVDs as I hate adverts too.

My DCs get a little iPad time every day - there are some fabulous apps out there for youngsters. It's fun but I don't think it's amazingly educational really. It's like all those brain training games you can get that claim to make you smarter - they don't, they just make you better at those particular puzzles (I do actually love these games BTW)

I think the idea that DCs need to know computers really young is a bit daft really. Unfortunately I can't remember where but I'm sure I read that children who've not had early exposure to ICT just catch up really fast when they start to use them, and are not disadvantaged. It is so intuitive - even more so with iPads etc - that it doesn't take long at all.

ThePerfectFather · 02/10/2013 09:36

What exactly do you luddites think people like me are letting their kids do on computers, by the way?

Drawing? Yes. She also draws with paper. But she can do pretty well on the ipad. And you can save the pictures, and even email them to people.

Playing games? What difference is there between her moving around little figures on a screen and moving around little people in a toy house? It's still imaginative play. She still uses her imagination because the games are very simple. They also teach her fine motor skills which our school is always promoting.

What tv shows does she watch? The same kind I watched. Ones that reinforce things like counting, or ones like Wooly and Tig where she gets to have a show basically about her life, as told by another child. How can you recreate that? Get a kid in to deliver a ten minute monologue? Or how about just unwind for a bit and let your kid watch some tv.

I think you're all just happy to paint a negative portrait of computers and television because you don't actually watch or engage in those things WITH your child. I'm not going to promote people who stick their kid in the corner with a DVD because I think that's really negative and disengages the child.

But honestly I feel like you lot are of the "oh we NEVER let our precious children near EVIL television" without really understand that it's not at all what you think it is. I'm not letting her play Call of Duty. She's playing pet shop games or spelling games or tetris or something like that. It's called fun. RELAX.

HumphreyCobbler · 02/10/2013 09:37

I let my children watch loads of tv. I don't think it will harm anyone to play on an ipad.

My point was that it won't do them any harm not to, either.

DoJo · 02/10/2013 09:41

Unfortunately I can't remember where but I'm sure I read that children who've not had early exposure to ICT just catch up really fast when they start to use them, and are not disadvantaged. It is so intuitive - even more so with iPads etc - that it doesn't take long at all.

But why put them in a position where they have to 'catch up' just out of principle? Why not make learning about using technology a part of their world in the same way that they learn about everything else?

HumphreyCobbler · 02/10/2013 09:48

just because I don't have an ipad. Because I don't want to have endless debates about how much he is using it. Because I genuinely, given the fact he can watch tv anyway, would rather he was doing something else.

I can assure you my son is not disadvantaged.

harticus · 02/10/2013 09:48

My DS (6) is the odd one out at school because he "only" has access to the family computer - all of his peers have the full monty - laptops, tablets, their own televisions, DS3 etc etc.

I cannot afford to buy him the full range of gadgets and I wouldn't even if I could. He does brilliantly on our rickety old PC and has been using it since he was 3. He is mad for Minecraft but is equally happy messing about with art/design software too.

I think is crucial that children have IT in their lives from a young age. Do they need all the latest technology? No.

Spaulding · 02/10/2013 10:03

We have a tablet at home which DS doesn't use, but his grandparents have one with the CBeebies app on and I have to say, it's a great app, really educational and DS loves it. Although I do insist to them that he doesn't spend too long on it. DP's brother has a tablet which he lets DS play when he comes to visit. DS throws a bit of a tantrum when told it's time to put it down and he's not usually one for throwing tablets. So we just make sure we tell remind DS when his time on it is coming to an end.

DS is 2.7yo and he's great at selecting the correct letters on the CBeebies app and it's great to see how much he takes in. But we also spend a lot of time playing with magnetic letters at home, drawing, baking, painting, imaginative play with cars and cooking sets. Everything in moderation I say!

Spaulding · 02/10/2013 10:04

*throwing tantrums, not tablets! Oh dear!

Retropear · 02/10/2013 10:07

Yabu

My dc have a coder dad and a house full of tech(including a Raspberry Pi). All 3 are avid readers who learnt to read v early,play the piano,cycle,play with friends,doing well at school.Tbh I'd rather they were on other screens than watching crappy TV.

The key is parenting and balance.They rarely have more than an hour of screen time in a day,often none.We're too busy for more.We leave all screens at home.We talk,eat together,read,enjoy the outdoors etc.

Interestingly my sister was wooden toy,anti tech queen and my dc read for pleasure more and learnt to read quicker.

There is masses of fantastic stuff you can do on screens and they have a lot to offer but balance,parenting and the ability to say no is key.

hazeyjane · 02/10/2013 10:10

I like the fact that Mr Tumble now has an 'tumble tap', especially as for children like ds, who has special needs, the ipad has been a fantastic tool, and will be an important part of his education.

Toadinthehole · 02/10/2013 10:15

Yanbu. This recent obsession with introducing tablets and other gadgets as early as possible is laughably faddish. Plenty of time for them to learn as they get older. No one's child is going to flunk school just because said child can't switch on an app by the age of 3. Sure, computers do no harm, but let's not pete's their some sort of educational magic bullet.

candycoatedwaterdrops · 02/10/2013 12:05

I find it a little ironic that the OP is complaining about a TV programme promoting 'screen time'. A TV is a screen. Like others have said, parental responsibility has to come in at some point.

stopgap · 02/10/2013 12:24

Posted this article before, but if these people aren't afraid of their kids falling behind without early technological exposure. . .

blog.capeannwaldorf.org/2011/10/why-high-tech-execs-are-choosing-waldorf/

OneLittleToddleTerror · 02/10/2013 12:31

YANBU. I don't see what's the point of pushing young children who watches CBeebies to use ICT. Do they learn better reading a book app then a physical book? Is it better to draw on the tablet vs a colouring book with crayons?

I personally think it's a fad and teaches nothing about real computer skills to children. BTW I'm a software engineer, and DH is a scientist (in a engineering/computer area. Too complicated to explain).

That said, 2.6yo DD does have access to our tablets and smartphones. We are a many screen family with 2 computers, a laptop, a netbook, 2 smartphones, 2 tablets and 1 kindle. DD bangs on the computer keyboard when it's left on, she knows how to swipe photos on the phone/tablet. Basically she's picking them up via osmosis. I never actively encourage her to use them and there isn't any preschooler apps on the iOS/android devices lying around.

Or maybe I'm just a relaxed parent and not bought into that must train DD into her phonics and alphabets thing at 2.6yo. I'd rather take her to the park and play outdoors. Or bake.