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.

Op as you have broken all the unspoken rules of mumsnet anything you say will be totally disregarded even if there is an element of truth to it .

Unspoken rules :
Giving out wisdom when you have less than 2-3 children
Giving out wisdom when your children are under the age of 5
Judging people , especially on holiday
Suggesting the government bans things
Suggesting previous generations were better at parenting

My DD is 10 and HAS to use an ipad in school.

We also don't have a TV.

After 8.30/5pm plus walking to and from school, I allow her all the time she wants, as long as she reads for 1/2 and hour before bed.

She is bilingual and top of her class and designs things on there/reads books/does her homework on there. She actually needs it for school, you are going to have a shock when your pfb goes to school.

HTH come back when you have a bit more experience at parenting.

Etino’s post today at 00.14 , you are not wrong op. But it’s made parents lives so much more pleasant that it looks like most posters have lost their objectivity.

Since we’re not a fascist state, things don’t get banned because the minority dislikes them.

I don’t particularly like seeing ANYONE using screens instead of communicating during a meal but I wouldn’t wish to interfere, it’s up to them. My DC have an iPad and sometimes use my MacBook, I’m really not adverse to it and the iPad is so useful on long journeys. Many apps on there are quite educational.

Oh and I totally agree with PP that mentioned parents slapping and shouting at their DC during meals back in the day before screens. This was indeed a common occurrence.

I completely agree op. Every where you go now kids are glued to screens, trains, restaurant, hotels etc and they all seem to have their own ipads which always amazes me. What's wrong with colouring and books

I have 2 children. My youngest has severe learning difficulties. She is almost 3 and while on holidays (and sometimes while at home) - yes, I let her watch the ipad at mealtime if she won't be amused any other way. Usually it's the only way we can actually sit and eat a meal with minimal stress. Sorry if that makes me a terrible parent in your eyes but I really don't care.

I could give her anything on your list and she would try to eat it. She cannot do any of those things without constant help and supervision so I am not sure how we are meant to eat while doing that.

My advise would be for you to do what you think is best for your children and family and stop judging others.

And please all you electronic gadget gang - buy your kids some frigging headphones

Sorry haven't RTFT, but wanted to say we're nearing the end of a week long holiday in a Haven in the UK.
Some may say Haven is a bit 'chavvy' but we love it.
Haven't seen any screens in the restaurant. None in the live lounge.
Just lots of kids running around, having fun.
My point is, I'm not convinced that the problem is that large scale.

Haven sounds ace then!

"What's wrong with colouring and books"

Some children can't read or colour. Or those things don't provide the sensory input the child needs to remain calm.

Sockwomble most kids can colour.

Seriously. I play with my kid a lot, we are on holiday atm and have swum, gone to the beach etc etc. I also am lucky to be able to work part time so I can spend time with him. However, when I want to just eat my food in peace, while it is hot and to have a calm, no fuss meal - he can watch his ipad. That 30min of screen time Is not indicative of a lack of communication between families, or attention children. Stop being so bloody judgemental. Sometimes parents want to enjoy a meal and my child enjoys watching diggers on youtube. Win win situation. Trust me, as much as I would love my kid to sit and colour in quietly. It wouldn’t happen.

Mine can't.

My 3 year old dd occasionally uses a tablet to either watch an episode of paw patrol or play on apps, mainly educational apps. She has a brilliant imagination and will play shops for hours for example. She also helps me with cooking and cleaning as well. But sometimes when I'm home alone with her and need to get something done or we are on a long car journey the tablet is a lifesaver.
For example she has recently decided she doesn't like being in the car and we constantly get "are we there yet?" "Mummy, mummy, mummy" kicking the seats etc. This is very distracting so if we are going to be in the car for a while we give her the tablet to play with. I'm glad your child is so nice and well behaved that you don't have to resort to some electronic games to keep her entertained but she might not always be like this. Since hitting 3 my dd has pushed me more than ever and sometimes I need to keep my sanity.

Or as I said, it doesn't provide the right input to keep them in a calm state of mind.

So sockwomble then your kids must have screens - not sure that conundrum applies to most of the population

pannikin
academic.oup.com/pch/article/22/8/461/4392451

And there are plenty more where that came from.

The op post was slightly hysterical and very patronising in her original post but the basic message is correct too much screen time does have a negative effect on your child's development. Like everything in life balance is the key

Dobby do what you like on your own car. It's all the screens in public places most without headphones

Oh and I totally agree with PP that mentioned parents slapping and shouting at their DC during meals back in the day before screens. This was indeed a common occurrence

So is that assuming that the slappers have now become the iPad providers? 🤔

OP YANBU

Too much screen time is a disaster for children.

I would be mortified at the idea of my kids using screens at meal times. It’s bad manners.

We didn’t take our young dcs out much for meals and when we did (when our kitchen was being done) there were no screens. We used imagination to keep them entertained and didn’t bother pretending we were going for a lovely meal as if we were child free.

Congratulations on your well behaved neurotypical child, OP. Mine is the same age but has ASD. He won't play with stickers, crayons etc. He will very, very happily play Numberblocks games on the iPad.

Actually he doesn't because it holds no interest for him. He manages himself by vocal stimming ( which I suspect she will disapprove of as well) but they work for some children.

I will give DD (2) my phone in restaurants when she's finished her food and gets cranky/bored. She watches nursery rhymes and educational toddler videos on YouTube- that she selects herself. Not sure what harm at all you could claim this is doing for 30 mins OP?
Allows us and DS to eat in peace, she is happy, other diners (apart from those peeing over at us and judging) are also happy they don't have a screaming toddler in the near vicinity ruining their meal.

I wouldn't do this if she was perfectly happy and I would really refrain from screen time as alternative to physical, fun outdoors activity i.e. when at swimming pool or beach. I'd never plonk an iPad in front of either kid there, wouldn't even have it with me. But restaurants are another issue entirely, for us.

@FionnaMAC
I disagree completely. The nerve touched is the smug judging whilst simultaneously not having a clue, not the iPad usage.

I'm totally with you OP. Learning social skills in a restaurant is definitely needed from a young age. I really am worried that my DD and DS will grow up trying to have conversations with people at dinner and not get any response. We don't learn to converse by magic! For reference, my children are nursery age and absolutely never use a tablet at a dinner table and they never will. (Don't own one for a start!!)

DH and I get lots of lovely compliments from other diners when we take them out to eat. We get many comments about how it's nice to see children without screens all the time.
.

I can see how they must be so useful when your kids have just had enough and need some down time but to just stick them at the table from the outset seems a bit of a shame.

I'll prepare for the comments now but I don't care, I'm proud of my kids.