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.

@metoodeer. I have first hand experience of the sexualisatin of children via the internet leading to sexual assault. My child was quite seriously sexually assaulted by an older child relative who had been raised in the opposite way to my child....immersed in technology and with unrestricted private access to the internet from a very young age. This led to our estrangement from all of my family, which is one of the 'unlucky' aspects of my life.

Any adult who isn't concerned about children watching porn and the devastating impact it is having needs their head, heart and soul checking.

Oh dear.

Because of course all parents who allow access to technology give completely unfettered access, don't they?

Because parental controls and supervision don't exist.

Oh - hold on.....

And by the way I'm a CSA survivor from way back in the days before the internet even existed. Paedophiles existed before the internet.

@MadeleineMaxwell. It sounds like you have your child's future all sorted out. What about his/her childhood?

Again, utter bullshit.

Parental controls exist for a reason. Children can't access porn if they are set correctly.

Porn is a normal habit for many adults. It has not had any ill affect on me whatsoever and I am also a CSA survivor.

@QuellungChose. Totally with you. I think the main thing is, as you pointed out, the lemming mentality. There are exceptions of course for severely disabled children, but otherwise the use of gadgets in restaurants is lazy and copied behaviour. Standards are slipping, it's as simple as that. Of course, just like children, parents who have taken this easy option will attack people for raising the issue. It's just human nature and, no, I don't have a peer reviewed paper to back that up

@PathologicalDemandAvoidance and I have first hand experience of a child being sexually assaulted before the internet was publicly available. I am so sorry for what your child experienced, but please stop saying that children with access to tech/internet are going to grow into sexually abusive adults/children.

Any adult who isn't concerned about children watching porn and the devastating impact it is having needs their head, heart and soul checking. I think most adults are concerned, to be fair. We just don't let it rule our life. I check my dd's devices regularly, and I know what they are up to. They have safety drummed into them at all times. They have age restrictions on their devices.

My dd has removed herself from her social media due to "drama" and has been away for over a yr now. A choice she made without consulting me because she was given the responsibility, safe space and guidance to navigate it at an appropriate age.

I now understand that your issues with tech are more deep seated than you first let on, and that is understandable. But the internet didn't cause your child's sexual assault, a person who thought it was OK to do that to her caused it.

@zzzzz, agreed.

@PathologicalDemandAvoidance

You are avoiding most posts asking you to clarify anything, you are being patronizing to others who parent differently to you and you refuse to see anyone else POV.

You seem to lack the basics of conversation and debate.

I personally am not talking about kids with any kinds of special needs, hidden or otherwise, that's derailing the discussion. I'm talking about the over use of tech in general in public spaces for kids without special needs and half the time without headphones. It's opium of the masses. But ultimately it's just an opinion, one that seems to rub alot of techophiles up the wrong way

Ok, so the message is that parents with disabled children should be excluded, yes?

Because - shock horror - we exist. We do out in public. And how do you know that family you're judging isn't a family with a disabled child?

🙄
Never mind 'they' are more likely to be the ones they're practically flossing their teeth with their judgy pants over!

Oh and for other posters' clarification after discuss with mnhq it's perfectly ok to not only say that likening parenting an autistic child to dog training is not only acceptable it's actually superior parenting.

It's also ok to post lots of inflammatory and sneering posts whilst not engaging with other posters' queries the definition of trolling

HTH

Any adult who isn't concerned about children watching porn and the devastating impact it is having needs their head, heart and soul checking

Please do direct me to the posters on this thread that applies to.

I'm talking about the over use of tech in general in public spaces for kids without special needs and half the time without headphones

If I was able to tell by seeing a family in a restaurant that their kids were overusing tech I’d be using my amazing psychic ability to do the lottery I do however totally agree that where possible, headphones should be used.

On the strength of her use of tech, my 11 year old DD - who is head of her school Council - got permission to start a campaign which she called “When It’s Time”. She’s created posters (using her PC, gasp!) about the dangers of social media, inappropriate content and online bullying.

But sure, tech is bad.

@BishopBrennansArse ... awesome. Just awesome...

Yep. TIMC what's that?

@BishopsBrananArse. My child' autism also requires escapism. I therefore built a creative cave full of every kind of creative materials and tools possible. My child loved going into the cave and would happily spend hours in there. Another identifiable trait of PDA is obsessive role playing, often in the form of doll play long past most children have given up on it. This is escapsim but it switching off as it encourages conversational skills and imagination. Sticking headphones into a child's ear as a matter of course to allow them to switch off isn't the only way. Use your imagination.

Let’s not forget that under 5s in particular aren’t diagnosed or even close to getting identified as having problems but when their struggling they are still struggling!

Listening to jeremy vine right now talking about kids addicted to fortnite - all part of the same problem

Listening to jeremy vine right now talking about kids addicted to fortnite - all part of the same problem

Indeed. Addiction is a problem. It’s not a given though. Surely you understand that?

@PathologicalDemandAvoidance

Why are you so unable to accept that people’s children are different to yours?

A number of parents of children with SEN have posted on this thread, are you really so arrogant to tell them they’re handling their own children wrongly?