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.

YABU. Would you prefer DS 7 with ADHD to run around screaming?

None of your alternatives would work for him.

Also, as we don't have a family computer, how do you propose that my DC do online research for school projects?

Well it did happen 20 years ago.. because most kids were plonked in front of a TV all day. All our meals were on the sofa in front of a TV, we didn't eat out so you wouldn't have been able to turn your nose up at us.

Op but of the children were running around a restraint like lunatics I suppose you would hate this too. My daughter can't stand been in a restraunt that is noisy, full of clattering cutlery and loins talking etc... it sets her off big time so to be an iPad/tablet is a sanity savour.. not only for me but for her too.

We were on an aeroplane for 9 hours at xmas and she had it then too as again the noises etc drove her mad.

Restaurant'

I do all tne things on OPS list plus more. But at tne end of tbe day on holiday tne I pads come our at mealtime as it's calming and resting time for ALL of us. OP using an ipad does not take away enjoying the things on your list, it gives them another activity.

There was a recent study saying that screen time did no damage and it was fine

Loads are amazing. Mine learnt slot from all the nursery rhymes they could watch on them. A vast more options than what we had on videos. And I sit with them and sing along too. My 6 year old likes to look up facts and it has helped with his reading. They aren't glued to it all day but we all need a break. If people in the community didn't complain every time a child spoke or breathed in a restaurant or accuse the mother of performance parenting when interacting with her kids then maybe loads wouldn't be needed.... whatever happens no one is happy. You do what works for you and everyone else will do what works for them. Mine like to colour too and play doh but no one wants to be keep picking up crayons and pencils off the floor and the poor waiting staff who have to clean your play doh off of the table and floor/ walked into the carpet...

iPads and screens can definitely be good educational tools. And have a place for recreation and fun too. But I don’t need a peer reviewed study to tell me that overuse for young children would have a bad effect on development. We KNOW what is good for development - one to one interaction. Words and response - proper response from a human with facial expression, warmth and intelligence. Also sensory input - exploring different textures, sensations, in real life. Everything you do with a young child teaches them. Yes, of course a child with ADHD or ASD requires different techniques, and all parents need a break. But for neurotypical children, screens should NOT be the norm at a restaurant table. It is an opportunity for communication, learning polite behaviour. It can be hard, yes, fact of life. But actually when DO you then decide that your child is too old now to stare at an iPad at the restaurant table? Imagine the difficulty of breaking that habit? Or do you never? Will all family get togethers when the kids are grown up mean everyone staring at iPads, smartphones ?
No, the government cannot ban their use. I just hope that people do see that OVERUSE is not a good thing.

you can ban them for your kids no problems
when my son was very young we had to drive to the city 2 hours away thru a mountain pass once and sometimes twice a week and then spend the day at the hospital, the portable dvd and tablets were a life saver for me and entertainment for him on the long drives we had to make
then my husband would work away for months at a time so we would monthly drive the 5 hours to see him and you guessed it both kids used a dvd, ipod or laptop to entertain themselves which allowed me to concentrate fully on the road and also drive for longer between stops because they were happy
both kids like technology a lot but both also love being outside, riding their bikes, hanging with friends, playing with nerf guns, playing with the dogs, going camping, going to work with dad on the farm, reading, playing with lego etc etc etc
for them its not the be all end all, its a tool they they use for information or entertainment now but they dont feel the need to use it all day long
and if having an ipod at the end of a long day means i could eat a hot meal and the kid is quiet and not screaming the restaurant down.. fuck it give one out to every bloody table in the place! ( weirdly mine didnt do public displays/tantrums and still dont)

Just to add. There are studies out there making tentative conclusions. But talk about stating the obvious......www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5849631/

I'm with you OP, but then I am a judgy cow so 🤷

We were on holiday recently and a fair few families did this. I have no problem with appropriate screen time for my 3 but at the table is not it.

Also, you do know they use them in school from nursery, don't you?

Do they tell you when they use them in school/nursery? My daughter's half way through reception and tablets haven't been mentioned yet.

OP, I see where you’re coming from. I don’t like screens at mealtimes either. I also don’t like the way iPads turn kids into little zombies and how addictive they seem.

This has been bugging me this week as we are on holiday. It's not the use of iPads to distract/babysit the kids that I'm annoyed by - each to their own. You just do what you can to make life easier.

What's bloody annoying is that they let them have the sound up full.Give them some headphones at least!

We left our room to go down for breakfast and followed a family pushing a 2/3 year old who was watching something load on the iPad as he was being pushed along. He sat and watched it all through breakfast - again up full blast and then was doing the same all day at the pool.

Last night we were at the very expensive restaurant in the hotel. We sat having a £100 a head meal ( special treat) listening to episode after episode of Pepper Pig being watched by a 1 year old in a high chair.

It's all over the place here and it's making me unceasingly crabby. I wonder if these kids will grow up believing this is acceptable and we will all be walking around to a cacophony of noise from everyone's personal devices.

For those wanting research links -
www.nhs.uk/news/pregnancy-and-child/more-sleep-and-limiting-screen-time-may-improve-childrens-mental-abilities/

Too much screen time is damaging to children. It’s preventing them learning things such as patience, sharing, taking turns, being able to ground themselves and social skills. Older children who are playing games on the iPad are having a constant flight fight response which is increasing adrenaline and cortisol - this will eventually lead to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. Two hours a day screen time - tablets, television, games consoles etc is the recommended amount however once parents have taken the easy option of using the screens to entertain their children for up to 7 hours a day the child is then addicted and to reduce screen time causes a huge resistance and kick back from the child. Just don’t let them on it for hours in the first place, and parent your child.

No way!! Banning iPads would be the worst thing ever, how would I ever get a lie on in a weekend otherwise?!?
I’m all for moderation, not at the dinner table, not on school nights/days. They can be really educational and technology is now such a big part of our lives I want them to understand them , how to use them etc.
Banning is OTT imo

I would not judge behaviour of a whole lifestyle on days out/holidays. My DC went through a stage of being anxious /silly at some restaurants, I'd use any means to keep them calm

I am another who used to use a book in the same way and grandparents used to say they wish they could ban books. I don’t have an issue with technology with appropriate limits. The world has changed and will continue to do so, it is about adaption rather than outright banning something

I hate iPads at the dinner table

There was a very interesting documentary on radio 4 recently which examined the increasing number of children arriving at school unable to speak properly. Excessive screen use does have a significant detrimental effect on the development in young children. Problem is, no one thinks their children use screens to excess...

Severely disabled child here and one with high functioning ASD. Probably 2-3 appointments a week at the moment ...4 over half term!

I'm glad your lovely, lucky lives are awesome....i bet you sing in the rain, have friends around, do lovely thing like walk in the park !!!! ODFO please !!!

iPads are a life saver...on restaurants....where my disabled child doesn't eat, he's fed through a tube. My HF child can be do overwhelmed by the new founds and environment....the iPad works until he becomes more comfortable.

Ban what you want In your Mary Poppins, wonderful household ...but either live mine for a week and decide or the other option is .....decide in YOUR household...no iPads at the table .

Job done...that's called parenting your own children .....and keeping your fucking nose out of other people's lives !!!! Empathy!!!!?!!!

But you dont know if that's the norm for them or its just for holiday to have a nice quiet meal? I think they are great generally if not over used