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’d class that as child neglect personally.

I’ve never thought about it. DS has never asked for one.

😆

Even if this is true - that a 5 year old child spent 30 hours over 2 days on an ipad, surely to goodness most people should realise that is extremely rare?!

Me and DD have a shared iPad. Realistically she does watch the odd YouTube tutorial (for drawing), I limit what channels she’s allowed to use. She uses it for some maths things as part of homework, maybe 10 mins 2 or 3
times a week, although the majority of her homework is on paper. She uses it for tv, app based like Disney plus. She could have it on the actual tv. She doesn’t have unrestricted access to anything, I’m strict on what she uses it for and also how much. I do get what you’re saying to a degree, but at the same time we can be responsible with it.

I bought my son a tablet when he was 15 for his Christmas and he doesn’t bloody use it

Can you outline how you fill a day as a non lazy parent with your own child? Tablets are lazy parenting, I assume you are NOT a lazy parent so what are you doing?

DS2 and DDIL are not banning screens for the sake of it. There’s absolutely no need for DGS to be on one. He has a busy little life, spends a lot of time outdoors, loves reading books so that’s good for now, He doesn’t need to be learning how to do a jigsaw puzzle on an iPad, he needs to be developing his fine motor skills by doing an actual puzzle.

I'm not for blanket "tablets are the devil" style thinking because i don't think the research really supports that, most studies I've read are looking at really excessive usage where children are on screens for around 4+hrs a day. There are also other social factors with the report you've linked around speech - the more time a child spends on a device the less engagement or investment they are having from parents or other care givers which will obviously have an impact on language and development - that doesn't necessarily make the screen the issue as opposed to the level of parental investment and interaction. A child could have no screen time but a parent who's constantly in a screen themselves and therefore have a delay in language development. It's important for kids to have the opportunity to get bored but if a screen is ALWAYS provided then this won't happen so timing is also important. Obviously some shows etc are also more stimulating/ absorbing than others so it does depend on what they're watching- I have a toddler and there are some shows I won't let him watch because I can see he does have a harder time coming away from those than less stimulating shows so I manage what he watches and how long for. His speech is still excellent and above average for his age and I work with him to develop strategies for coming off the phone (haven't got a tablet for him yet) because these will be important skills for him to learn as he gets older and naturally has more access to that type of technology. I think there's more research to be done, and more conversation to be had around use of devices in general but honestly my bigger concern is how young kids are being given smart phones now and what they have access to and how kids are supposed to manage that in school or other settings where their parent has no control over what they see when with peers. I do think there's a balance between protecting kids and also equipping them for what's ahead.

I mean, he’s non-verbal and uses the AAC app on it as his only means of communication so I’m pretty sure his development will be worse off without it…. 🤔🙄

And people wonder why local authorities are broke

Likewise. My little boy is learning to use switches linked to an iPad with the hope that, one day in the far future, he might, just might, be able to answer a closed question or be able to communicate a choice.

I agree. A baby/toddler can find literally a piece of shiny paper engaging. On a train journey I always bring small books and a couple of toys, paper, crayons. I find it sad that we are unusual in this regard. At the same time it takes effort on our part. Many parents are also addicted to screen time and an iPad gives them quiet time to scroll.

A phone/iPad is just a modern version of a dummy. The feedback loop keeps them quiet. But it’s engagement with parents and the environment that helps them develop.

Controversial opinion but I don’t understand why a parent would want a neurotypical baby/toddler to be quiet all the time (although partly it’s the massive social pressure for children to be seen and not heard on public transport and similar environments) A baby babbling is testing out and developing its language skills.

The one time my DC has watched tv on an iPad at a friend’s house they were practically climbing over each other to stare into it completely zombified. But tbf this thread has reminded me that I need try and look at my own phone even less in front of DC as we are none of us perfect!

The thing the holier than thou no screens brigade always forget is that 1. The negative effects of screen time are for excessive and unregulated consumption. 2. Not all children are like yours. For non-verbal children, iPads can be vital communication tools. For children with SEND, screen time can be an important source of sensory regulation. For children with conditions like diabetes or epilepsy, monitoring apps can be literally lifesaving.

@Barnbrack There is a difference between screen use and kids having access to social media

Same principle. Rapid dopamine hits, not available 20 years ago.

HRTWT but my first thought was tablets=medication. You mean the IT kind. As soon as the schools fully wean themselves from using online apps such as Dojo, whatsapp and any student-based access to resources then it's a lost cause.

The app crap only became a thing as a reaction to covid lockdowns and some teaching establishments and staff found it a rather easy way of appearing to impart info.

Maybe starting to access educatioal resources online as an intro to one of the many methods of gaining info at GCSE levelnis a good start; via school-based computers so no child is disadvantaged through lack of tech access.

At A-level, the ability to access academic publications online is a skill that should be taught alongside all subjects, on school-based computers as it will be vital for any student wishing to progress to uni and also helpful to those that choose different paths.

And every student should be provided with the means/technology to access online information if they attend university and not some basic tech with limitations lesser than the more well off students can afford to buy.

Therefore there is no real need nor purpose for tablets for schoolkids, it's just a parental choice to buy them - it could just as easily be jigsaw puzzles, books, sandpits, hot wheels or my top useful, favourite kids toy - Marble Mania.

Glad I'm not the only idiot who didn't read the post properly..no offence.

Not all babies. My son found nothing fascinating for more than 2 minutes, he'd take it, work it out, throw it and I'd keep a constant round of toys going. He'd scream anxiously the whole time when not physically touching me, he'd cry until he vomited. Where possible is gave him in a sling but if I had to put him in a pram I would occasionally give him a screen. It was a last ditch attempt but literally nothing else worked.

My daughter? Fascinated by any small toy as expected, things held her attention.

My wariness with the links between attention span from my own life is that with my son I was adamant no screens, never even had the really on, did baby sensory, read to him, flashcards, sang in several languages, baby music class, baby swim class, trips out to library etc etc and he needed this constant I put all the time, couldn't just be left on a playmate or whatever. So I have him all the traditional input. His development was amazing, physically and academicalky but he couldn't stay still or be separate from me and even eating, cooking, cleaning we're almost impossible and I'm used to babies and crying but my boy, screamed u til sick, screamed into seizures later on. Had lots of hospitalisations and wouldn't watch cartoons etc even. But when he discovered gaming? The improvements were huge. His lack of attention span is WHY he was given a screen out of desparation.

My daughter? Games, puzzles, cuddly toys, just watching the world go by, as long as she was comfy and warm she was amusable as expected with a box of wooden spoons and pinecones.

I try not to judge unless there is obvious neglect or abuse because we're all parenting the kid we got and they are not blank slates at day one.

Till you mentioned screen time in the last sentence I was breaking my head about which medicine in tablet form might cause behavioural issues.

More to the point i do agree with you. Mine get app based homework as well. We just don't do it. I don't think it's the best way to learn, however, i doubt that kids who just do their homework on a tablet (as opposed to being hooked to some kind of endless source of entertainment) will suffer behavioural problems as a consequence. I worry more about their eye sight but then reading (or any close work) isn't great for their eyes either.

I had MSN messenger when I was 16 which was 26 years ago and Myspace and bebo. So your timings are off there.

It is not same difference. My child building a world on Minecraft, talking us through his strategy, 3dimensional planning, rebuilding in Lego safely at home supervised by tech savvy parents is not the same as another 7 yr old in their room with a headset on playing Roblox, talking to goodness knows who. It's not the same as a child flicking through tiktok.

Thinking it's the same is a mistake made by both the zero screentime folk and the unlimited screens folk.

I don't know. I wish we had no screens, bit I relied on DC having use of a tablet at around age 7, because it was the only way I could get any time to do anything that needed doing, especially in lockdown. DC came top of his class in SATS, so I don't think it affected his academic ability too much.

School homework is all online, but we have a computer at home DC can use for it, so there's no reason to get a smartphone or tablet.

I didn't suggest replacing actual puzzles with iPad puzzles. I just don't understand parents who proudly ban their children from learning to use technology.

DH and I both work in IT and our kids learned all about computers from a very young age. They have really benefited from that knowledge, and it certainly didn't stop them from reading books or spending lots of time outdoors.

It's just a question of balance.

No we are not. My point being that my child will simply swap one highly visual activity for another. But with tablet/phone access my child is learning about the world and current affairs some of the time - she likes researching in a way she just doesn't really do with books. And while graphic novels are fun, they aren't hugely educational!

Jesus Christ, Bebo. Remember that shite?

I agree with you 100%.

@Barnbrack I had MSN messenger when I was 16 which was 26 years ago and Myspace and bebo. So your timings are off there.

Instant messengers don't give instant dopamine hits. It can be slow to receive responses, and many messages go unanswered.

Bebo was around 2005 and was very short lived.