Ban iPads & Tablets For Children

[londonmummyof1]

Is it just me, or does the iPad generation bother anyone else?

We went on a family holiday to Spain with my husband and almost 3 year old daughter, and at breakfast, lunch and dinner it’s the same sight - parents bringing out iPads for their preschool children to sit and watch - while eating!?! This is something I have never seen before and I absolutely do not agree with. I think seeing the scale of the problem during this one holiday shows what a problem this is. The thing is, the children aren’t even given the choice of asking for the iPad or to watch a show, it’s just slapped down in front of them and then they are glued. No interaction, just plugged into this simulated world, at the prime time in their life they are developing their language, speech, behaviour and personality - under the age of 5.

We did not bring an iPad for our child on holiday because we wanted to play in the swimming/splash pool, go to the beach etc and we spent such quality time with our child with memories we will keep forever.

This did not happen 20 or even 10 years ago - what did parents do with their children then? God forbid did they COMMUNICATE with their children at the dinner table?

What is happening to this world? Why not have a conversation with your child or bring a sticker book or story book for them to look at if feeding time is difficult. Every parent has been there with challenging mealtimes, but lugging the iPad around during 3 mealtimes, that’s a minimum of 3 hours your child is in a zombie state of mind, you’re starving them of developing their speech and ability to play by themselves and entertain themselves through play.

Do parents understand that too much screen time is extremely damaging to young children and can pave the way to obesity and development issues later in life?

I feel so passionate about this topic, as I’ve even seen some parents putting their children in pushchairs by the swimming pools glued to an iPad, when they could be swimming and having fun with their parents or siblings.

Parenting can be really tough, but somehow I think government intervention is required as this is such a vicious cycle, what future are we preparing our children for???

Simple alternatives to iPad/Tablet entertainment:

Play doh
Stickers
Books
Playing cards
Colouring books
Drawing

Absolutely BAN iPads & Tablets for children.

JacquesHammer , It's not necessarily what it says about that one family. It's what it says about a society where nearly every time I go to a restaurant , the vast majority of tables with kids are on iPads.

It's what it says about a society where nearly every time I go to a restaurant , the vast majority of tables with kids are on iPads

I rather think it tells us that society is far less tolerant of children in places like restaurants and parents will take any means they can to keep theirs quiet!

Mariemalad - that article kind of says it all really. V interesting

We’re both in tech. DD is going to a specialist STEM secondary at her request BECAUSE of the tech opportunities it offers

Nothing wrong with tech - just a shame screens are overused to keep kids quiet - thats what this thread is about

Jacqueshammer, personally I have no problem being judged because my young child is being giddy in a restaurant. If she was screaming and really disturbing others, I'd bring her out. Again, that's just what I do.

But I think your point highlights how adults should really be more tolerant towards children being noisy, particularly during daytime hours. They're part of the world too!

No way would i ban them. My 22m old has a kindle fire kids, it has lots of games to help her development plus lovely pre school videos, it was a godsend on our flight recently.
She also loves looking at books, colouring in colouring books (well, scribbling), uses mini aqua doodle cards, plays with jigsaws etc.
We don't give her the kindle at mealtimes as we don't want her distracted.
While on holiday she was barely out of the pool/park and only used the kindle the odd 20 mins in the hotel room

I’m reading a very interesting book about phonics at the moment. It points to evidence that, at this day and age, your children are at a literary disadvantage if your children do not have access to tablets or computers - ie the internet. TV also plays a large part in literacy in the home

Nothing wrong with tech - just a shame screens are overused to keep kids quiet - thats what this thread is about

My point is you don’t KNOW if they’re being overused. How can you possibly know that from seeing one family’s meal?!

But I think your point highlights how adults should really be more tolerant towards children being noisy, particularly during daytime hours. They're part of the world too!

I totally agree?! I don’t have a problem with children’s noise etc. But nor do I blame parents who feel they have to use tech for fear of noise and the reactions.

Everyone is so defensive and I bet none of them allow their children more than a certain amount of time a day on a screen and are going mad that they now have to defend them! We all know too much screen time affects manners, attention span, concentration, communication and then everyday skills, but OP, changes are astronomical that the people you see with their children staring at iPads are doing so after a long day playing, having fun and learning. As for play dough, I'm assuming you meant for normal hours, not in a restaurant as everyone seems to be jumping on that. And all the people talking about hospitals of course you need anything to take childrens mind off being in hell. By the way just to let you know in Silicon Valley they don't allow computers/laptops/ iPads or calculators except in computer class as they've found that students nowadays do not have the basic maths skills or lateral thinking that came in generations before us, they look for the answer instead of figuring things out from first principles.

Everything in moderation..... moderation is the key, strict time limits for use, strict times of day for use (not before 10am, not after 6pm) use it as a reward for good behaviour, don't see the harm really.

Anything overused is/can be harmful. But yes, I agree, kids at family meals with tablets is terrible

Everyone is so defensive and I bet none of them allow their children more than a certain amount of time a day on a screen and are going mad that they now have to defend them!

Nah I don’t believe in setting limits; as with anything I think it’s important children learn to self regulate.

I am so with you on this OP but fear we are in a minority...

Op you’re still not getting how it is for some people. You haven’t addressed any of the comments about you:

• having only one child
• having an nt child
• having a relatively compliant easy to bring and mould up child
• being part of a couple, not a single parent
• having good health
• not being disabled

You last post makes it sound as though you swallowed an ideal parenting book. You’re really not getting it or how hard things can get for other people.

Tbh OP the activities you describe with your child indicate a very sort of low energy, easily occupied child. A sticker book keeps mine occupied for about 6 minutes and I don’t think that’s unusual at all.

Mummytolittledragon

*- having only one child

• having an nt child
• having a relatively compliant easy to bring and mould up child
• being part of a couple, not a single parent
• having good health
• not being disable*

With regards to the above, I think there are a couple of exclusions. I can't speak for the op, but my discussion relates only to NT children.

But aside from those, the others all existed years ago and people managed. I think we are all for an easier life and if it's only occasional usage, then it won't cause harm. The problem is when it's not occasional and I truly believe it's become a major issue.

Why do you believe Sillicon Valley tech parents are sending their kids to non/tech schools? What do they know that we don't?

I think its odd though that people who use tablets literally cannot comprehend how an NT child coulc manage without one

Everyone I know managed perfectly well taking their kids to restaurants before tablets were invented

in fact we still don't even own one!!

That’s just not true. In the past people didn’t eat out nearly as much and they also had to deal with bored and fed up children. They also used to supervise them far less than parents do now.

Why do you believe Sillicon Valley tech parents are sending their kids to non/tech schools? What do they know that we don't?

This would be my BIL. He and his wife are complete hippy, lentil weaving types. His kids don't wear shoes either.

"That’s just not true. In the past people didn’t eat out nearly as much "

My kids weren't born in the eighteenth century

We ate out fairly regularly in the early naughties, amazingly

Out children are only allowed iPads / phones in restaurants. None of those suggestions you have made would work for my children. Children have different personalities and some find it harder than others to sit still and undertake a quiet activity for a prolonged period of time. My nephews and nieces were allowed Nintendo's in restaurants 20 years ago and all have grown up with excellent manners and the ability to converse over dinner. As my 80 year old dad said 'even if they're on the ipad, don't worry, they take it all in around them'. Also, why do you care and how is it any of your business?

Parents have always sent their children to non tech schools. Hasn’t meant anything for those children has it? Although- Steiner- usually means you haven’t had a very good education

I love our tablets. Everything in moderation. Ds has learned so much from YouTube videos, numbers, letters, shapes etc. We balance it out with plenty of fresh air and books but would not be without it!

Why do you believe Sillicon Valley tech parents are sending their kids to non/tech schools? What do they know that we don't

It’s just another very different parenting style.

There’s mention of the “dark side of tech” - which I agree, there most definitely IS one. However our method has been to choose to educate DD about that and keep her safe with the myriad of tools available to us to do so rather than keep her away from tech.