Why oh why are people giving their under 12s tablets?

[Bigpinksweater]

The evidence regarding the effects of tablets on developing brains is damning. They are absolutely not necessary and barely existed 15 years ago. We are seeing huge rises in behavioural and developmental issues while steadfastly ignoring the fact screen time and in particular tablets can contribute to virtually all of them.

Why oh why are people still handing their toddlers and primary school children tablets?

... I remember when my parents told me my eyes would turn into squares if I watched to much TV...

On a serious note, used for a limited amount of time like 15-20 minutes homework, no issues. Used ad virtual babysitter huge issues!

We have a tablet but it is purely used for holidays as in travel. So long plane rides/ferry/train rides. It lives in a drawer the rest of the time. We really notice a change in behaviour with tablet use if used at home. So we don't allow it. I hate tablets for young children.

DD once got a homework task with a link to an online game for their tablet. We did all the other tasks but I just replied "we only have a tablet for travel so we didn't do that part" the teacher responded with "this is great I fully support this. Please don't feel you have to do anything tablet based, they're included as an option only". I would not accept a school that insisted homework was done on an app or if they gave my child a tablet. Utter stupidity.

Same 🤦‍♀️

Tv vs tablet are different things. Tv was generally in a fixed public place and shared so you could only watch so much and parents could easily see what was being watched. Plus before digital there was only so much content/ channels to watch.

Please read this article. Phil Etchells leading the study at Bath University claims the evidence is just not there linking screens and dangers to children’s health
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9d0l40v551o

With such things it really depends what they are doing with it.
Not all screentime is treated equally.
If parents choose to give their child a tablet they have to monitor, regulate and oversee it.

I agree preschool age children do not need it.

My 5.5 yo has a Kindle Fire, had it less than a year he uses it rarely days or weeks even will go past with him barely using it.
it’s set to a maximum of 2 hours per day and the first hour is educational apps only. He will do phonics etc on it.
I approve all apps and he has no YouTube or browser access.
He is active spends time outside, enjoys colouring and imaginative games and occasionally tablet use.

I think such debates are polarising but lack nuance and it’s not as simple as it being a ‘good thing or bad thing’.

My dd age 5 has one, she’s suspected ASD and ADHD and sometimes needs time out by herself to decompress and this helps her. It’s limited though, and she actually hasn’t used it at all the past few days and hasn’t mentioned it. We’ve been busy doing other things. I don’t see an issue with tablets though as long as it’s limited time on them and not every day.

Videos to watch about the topic or step by step tutorials for Art homework/tests for example.

Lots and lots of primary schools round here and especially senior schools now do all their work on ipads

My kids homework used to be on an app.

there’s a wider problem with that I think

other than that I do believe some screen time is helpful. People with adhd will always find phones difficult due to the endorphin release from phones.

I see kids with them a lot at dinner tables. I’m all for making life easier but it does occasionally make me a little sad when I see a whole family on an iPad having dinner and not one talking to each other.

I read the entire OP baffled as to why tablets were worse than calpol 😅 screens might be rotting my brain as well!

TV definitely better than the all encompassing smaller screen of a tablet or phone. But all things in moderation and I don't think an hour here or there is a complete disaster.

Because our VI (teacher for the visually impaired) said the earlier we introduced an iPad, the more successful it was likely to be.

I think we all want to be told about reliable, scientific peer reviewed research. There is so much hyperbole around anecdotal contributions to serious discussion about the issue. I am hoping the OP can provide what the BBC failed to uncover.

I can believe it about YouTube. You might be in denial but I’ve learnt to crochet, change a car battery, understand car setting, deal with electric issues when changing a light cover etc all thanks to tutorials on YouTube. There are plenty of academic ones, especially to break down maths and help with languages out there.

My 8 year old had one for her birthday purely for school work then her 12 year old step sister downloaded games & spent £60 on it off my Amazon account it’s now totally banned and won’t be making a reappearance for a very long time. We are very much low screen but unfortunately schools aren’t and all homework and “extra “ point for school are on the iPad! I’ve explained to school and they send paper copies home I think it’s becoming more common as a few parents have asked for paper copies.

It is irresponsible to make extravagant claims without backing it up with proper evidence @Bigpinksweater

Schools set tasks for homework that are far easier and quicker to complete on a tablet than they are a laptop and not possible to do on paper.

I have no parenting concerns with the amount of tablet time my children have. Smartphones on the other hand, I don’t agree with for younger children.

Wait what? My eldest is in P6 in Scotland. She hasn’t been given an iPad…

We are currently looking at prep schools for our son for next September and what I find really depressing is their total ban on phones in school and their homework policy which includes prep time at school with teacher supervision and no apps/screens. Why is this the approach for parents who will pay for their children’s education but state schools have them all on apps and iPads. I am very pro the prep school approach but think it is grossly unfair that my friends eight year olds are exposed to TikTok in the playground and homework on apps simply because they are not paying for the school

Screens that are small and controllable and changeable, ever scrolling types, also very close to the eyes are extremely damaging. The developing brain is really affected it by it, the brain chemistry, developing connections, eating, sleeping, socialisation, attachment behaviour. All affected by it.

Do you really need a full peer-reviewed study to be horrified at zombie children staring at tablets in every social situation instead of talking and playing?

Our primary kids have an iPad each, they stay in the living room and there’s limit on screen time. They are quite well rounded kids, we use some educational apps for English and Maths. Our eldest is greater depth for maths, reading and writing.

@OneAmberFinch
Seeing tots with soothers in their mouths, a bottle in one hand and a phone in the other is beyond depressing.

I think there is a middle ground. Short periods of age appropriate games under parental supervision or watching a tv show isn't going to cause harm. A parent that allows 30 hours of screen time isn't going to become parent of the year if the tablet is removed. I guess if you know the temptation of giving a tablet will mean you abandon your responsibilities then it makes sense to stay screen free but I think responsible parents can usually find a healthy balance.

I wouldn’t let them have it for hours and hours at a time but my kids do some really cool and creative stuff on the iPad. They don’t get on YouTube or TikTok (both banned in our house) or anything like that. It’s not all mindless videos. It’s absolutely fine in moderation, just like everything.

Also, my daughter has been struggling a bit with her times tables and I cannot tell you how much things like Hit the Button and SumDog have changed the game for her.