To get a tablet for 2 year old?

[Scotlandma]

I feel like I often see very young children with tablets and I’ve heard they can also be very educational but I’m not sure if it’s recommended for 2 year olds?

(my child is not yet 2 I’m thinking for their birthday)

for background my child is in full time nursery so doesn’t get very much screen time in the week and on the weekend I tend to be out running errands but TV does help whilst I’m trying to cook dinner or occasional send a quick email in the evening.

I’m not thinking of the kind of situation where we have to bring an iPad to a restaurant (I’m not judging that situation but DS behaves quite well out) more so for car rides or almost as a toy that DS can choose to play with.

@00100001 Thats presuming that the tv watching involves an active adult participant. IME most parents use TV or tablets as a way to get stuff done and don’t sit there with a running commentary interacting with their child.

There isn’t any need for a tablet for a preschooler BUT I do find the ‘my kid isn’t allowed a tablet’ brigade but can spend ages watching tv on my phone to keep them quiet a bit ridiculous! And I know a lot of them.

I'm not a fan of sticking small children in front of the TV, either. And the idea of watching TV on a phone, even for an adult, is crazy.

It's precisely because of my own experience of smartphone addiction that I want to protect my children for as long as possible. I don't give my children alcohol either...

Surely like everything, it's all about choice, moderation and making sure you change it if you notice behavioural changes.

Imagine telling these folks commenting here that you would take away their smartphones

I wish someone would take mine away. I piss away far too much time on it. Phones and iPads are so addictive; why you’d want to give anything so addictive to a small child is beyond me.

Because at one point they WILL have a device, surely its best to moderate and teach as you go?

I think that's true to a degree. I wouldn't try to stop a 12 year old having any access to screens. But there's no need to start before that.

I think most parents (me included) allow TV and other screens purely to make their own lives easier. Why do people feel the need to pretend it's beneficial for the child? Just admit it isn't! It's ok to be human and need a break.

Yes, but giving a 2 year old their own tablet is not the way to introduce screens to children...

The problem lies in when people don't notice the changes or don't realise it's the tablet.
Because the tablet creeps in and the behaviour escalates in small increments.

So day 1 kiddo might spend 15 minutes...then by Week 2 they're spending 45 mins a day because they weren't showing any detrimental signs a week ago, so you push it and allow more. However, you also don't notice the incremental poor behaviour where they whine a little more each time they have to stop, they used to ask fornitnince a day, and now it's twice...and then its every time they come home and they want to relax... And because it's a drip drip drip you just don't notice it as much.

Where as if you look at a child who's had it for a year and you observe them staring at the screen for 45 minutes and then getting angry when mum takes it off them etc...it didn't happen overnight, so it's easy to see what affect its having on them, but not so much when you're there day in day out.

I suppose it's about like the whole "wow, haven't you grown?" That Granny says after seeing a 3 year old after a month break, but as a parent you barely notice...until their trousers are too short or their shoes are too small....

When i was about 4 we went on holiday to Cornwall. We're from the North West so maybe a 7 or 8 hour drive. I'm in my 50s. So clearly tablets were not a thing. My sibling and i did colouring, reading, eye spy, are we nearly there yet etc. Our parents interacted with us. I didn't go on a plane until i was at uni. We travelled to europe in the car. With books. With things to look out for on the journey.
I use various types of technology for work and leisure. I am not and have never been disadvantaged by not having a tablet until early middle age!! I do my shopping on line. I use online platforms for work. I met my husband online. I have adapted to the changing world. No 2 year old is going to be disadvantaged by not having a tablet!