To tell you iPads are actually good for kids

[PennyRa]

This is something I researched extensively for my thesis in technology and education. iPads, tablets, phones, they all show positive effects on their development. Yes, including social.

I've seen a lot of anti screens on here recently but there is nothing wrong with kids in buggys on tablets, kids in cafes on iPads.

There are obviously caveats, some content is bad. It's on a scale but it's easy to see; a child playing Duolingo is vastly better than candy crush, a child watching How it's made is vastly better than cocomelon. Also the content needs to be locked and monitored for safety. However, tailored content can be better than a teacher.

Ok, 1. You’ll need to provide some actual evidence if you want people to believe you and 2. Children aren’t watching hours of Royal Institution lectures, they’re watching other kids playing video games in You Tube.

I’ve relaxed on having the tv on when my one year old is in the room but that’s because she doesn’t sit glued to it. She loves Kevin from Grand Designs and laughs every time he comes on screen. I don’t think screens are inherently bad and in of themselves.
However it’s opportunity cost. Maybe when my daughter is watching Kevin she is missing out on concentrating on advancing her skills with her toys.
That child in the cafe on the iPad is not learning how to interact with others in a public setting, and is losing out on the language and social skills development that would otherwise occur.

You can tell me I’m really smug but when my baby is on the tram into town with me she sits on my knee/stands in front of me, looks around, points out doggies, has a look out the window whilst I comment on anything interesting, and waves bye at people who are getting off. Each trip is a tiny snippet of learning and experience as opposed to being sat in her buggy with a phone and learning nothing.

Please could you link to the research?

😂This!

What you're saying is not revolutionary at all. Back when TV first became a thing and kids were told they would get 'square eyes', there were plenty of people advocating that TV was great if they watched the correct educational material instead of cartoons.

Of course watching documentaries and learning languages is 'good', however it's not what they're doing!

So how does your research recommend getting kids away from cocomelon and onto 'how it's made'?

It's reassuring that OP thinks children should be glued to a screen instead of engaging with the world around them.

...

Of course they are great for kids. But it all about the context.

I don’t believe that hours and hours of anything on a tablet is great for a child. They need lots of different forms of interactions, including in person interaction.

The content obviously matters. But then does keeping an eye on how they are when they can’t have it or come off it.

Tablets can be good or bad and it’s down to the adults supervising it and supervising it properly.

Is your thesis published? Could you share a link? Or a link to any of the research.

I think this makes as much sense as saying ‘alcohol is actually good for you’ just because research shows a glass of red wine a few times a week can be beneficial. Fact is, most people aren’t just drinking the odd glass of red. Fact is also, the same benefits can be reaped from a glass of plain grape juice.
Most kids are not using iPads to watch animal documentaries. And you don’t need an iPad to learn about animals.

Absolute bollocks.

My dc have grown up with screens. Until they were teens I was quite strict with them. I lost control at the point at which school insisted that every child have a laptop. They are now completely addicted and it’s had a detrimental effect on their lives.

your research is bollocks and clearly flawed. I suggest you rethink your methods before you submit it anywhere.

plus you’re shears going to get peoples backs up preaching at then like you’re the font of all knowledge.

Hey Bill 👋

Yes, they are really good for posture! Not. Does your research include "tech neck" and the other spinal problems that develop from these positions?

That fact that you thought this was a good idea to post with no actual evidence or facts, makes me doubt the quality of your research.

“Better”
I’m sure your thesis was a little more complex.

It's interesting that your thesis has managed to conclude iPads/tablets/phones are good for children when a lot of experienced researchers are still saying that is still a complex area with lots of nuance.

Context also matters. A child in a language-rich environment, with a range of educational experiences, watching educational content during a small amount of screen time is very different from a child who is given a tablet /telly/phone to distract them and keep them quiet so they watch huge amounts of poor quality content at the expense of human interaction and exploring the world.

Yes of course they are. And I’m a bunny rabbit 🙄🙄🙄

They are terrible for young children’s eyesight.

That's why I feel like I should say something, all the false outrage

I'm obviously no going to dox myself but there are a lot of papers out there in this area. I think I used 20 something for the harm/benefit section alone. One of them was old on the use of calculators in school because people thought it would produce a generation devoid of any mathematicians, which obviously didn't happen and seems laughable by today's society.

Well if you can't see the point in something I guess it's pointless.

I'm obviously no going to dox myself but there are a lot of papers out there in this area

Then link to some

As a mathematician I can confidently tell you that many of us are shite at mental arithmetic as we always have a calculator in arm's reach

And calculators are useless for any real maths.

You think watching a lecture that you are interested in has NO educational benefits‽ What on earth do you think education is?

Not unless you are Richie Rich

So 1 caveat of your research is that tech benefits older kids. No buggy aged kid, for example, is going to be watching a lecture, surely?!

Perhaps you could share your other caveats if you can't share your thesis?