To not understand why anyone would buy these for a child (tech related)

[Gheesesndbuscuits]

I don’t understand why anyone would get their child an iPad or tablet. Especially under ten and while a toddler even!

I know this sounds like I think I’m superior having not done it, but however I asked the question it would have come across like that. I’m far from a perfect parent and rely on the tv far too much for childcare when I’m making dinner or need to drink my tea in peace.

But iPads and tablets I don’t get, they’re so interactive and addictive. I genuinely can’t understand why you’d get one for a child. Especially when there’s tv that is more passive (though I accept not good either!).

Yep, and this is something we should try our best to change: https://phys.org/news/2024-02-screens-paper-effective-absorb-retain.html

and this is about 2 year olds, so not directly related to iPads in schools, but for the general topic https://www.sgpc.gov.sg/detail?url=/media_releases/astar/press_release/P-20251230-2

What a silly question. I am 53 and have taught myself and taken courses in tech: those in their 30s are already very very familiar with it. Their excel skills are great. You can all be behind the times as much as you like - I am now looking for people with AI skills.

in the cases of schools I know, the choice is simply dictated by costs. It's cheaper to get the online reading programs etc. Nothing else, because they can only manage with the budget they have been given.

Until the government starts funding schools properly, and parents accept that "free education" doesn't mean they are exempt from making necessary contributions, it's only getting worst.

And you think kids under 10 are or need to be learning about AI to keep up? There are plenty of adults learning in real time, I don't see why young kids need to have ipads to be considered employable in future. For most jobs, the tech skills needed are relatively easily picked up a teenagers/uni/on the job.

My nephew is 13 in october. He doesn't have a phone, smart or otherwise. He doesn't ask for one, miss having one, and won't be getting one anytime soon.

Yes 100% kids should be learning all about AI. Yes

What do you recommend teaching toddlers and primary school children about ai?

I am not sure what you are asking? Kids at primary school are already being shown AI. By the time they leave high school, AI will be in every aspect of life. Toddlers already learn AI. Smart toys. Interactive media. It’s all AI

It makes me so sad when you see toddlers in pushchairs round shops etc glued to a phone or tablets. They don’t take anything in of their environment as they literally don’t look up. You never see kids looking out the window on train journeys anymore either as sooner than later out comes a screen.

Also been out for a few meals in recent months where parents have seen sat at the table talking and their young child is glued to a screen.

On one occasion the child twisted themselves around in the chair so they had their back to the table, squashed themselves against the back of the chair, were almost upside down with their phone on the seat and were still watching it. Parents didn’t bat an eyelid.

I am also of the mindset to not introduce these devices for a long time. DC is almost four and has only playfully swiped the screen on my phone or DH’s phone when we are sitting together.

Later when needed for school we will make sure it’s supervised use, limited access and we pop it away after homework.

DC doesn’t see us glued to our phones and we don’t have tablets, so I would hope that we are leading by example too.

People were smiling and unexpectedly surprised DC and I were sitting in a cafe without any tech and just enjoying each other’s company, observing the surroundings and enjoying lunch.

I am for tv though and the day is peppered with tv time outside of outings and playtime on the weekends.

I think our approach works well for our family unit but I wouldn’t judge any other parents, it’s their call.

Exposure is not learning. They may not realise those toys etc ai and certainly not the implications. What do you think they should know?

Personally, I'll be explaining how it works, that it is clever but not really intelligent. That it is fallible and to not be trusted. That there are certain things it is useful for. But that we should always do our own thinking and often our own writing. But those are quite big things for a primary child.

And I'm pretty sure my child hasn't been exposed to ai yet. I can't think how she would.

The dangers, environmental impacts, jobs it will take, rampant misinformation etc? Absolutely.

Totally agree. As a 35 year old I’m
older enough to recall having dial up internet that was strictly limited and only came in our house age 10.
also work in mental health so understand the psychological dangers of rapid brightly coloured fast pace screen time (not just iPads). Currently pregnant and will not be buying one for our child. We have laptop and if homework etc needs doing on a computer we will do it on that. we all had to learn how to behave at tables in restaurants and have conversations with adults and screen time I feel has massively impacted some children’s social skills. Let alone social media and online platform gaming and the whole host of dangers of what comes with those!
luckily I have friends with older kids who are of the same mindset so our kids will always have kids around them who aren’t reliant on devices

Our school doesn’t. DS is 6, doesn’t use a device. Acts like a crack addict if he has my phone for 5 mins. He would never have it outdoors, only when he manages to quickly nab it…

Since kindergarten when I asked my kid’s teacher to recommend enriching activities/ materials for my kid’s level, she’d send me a list of YouTube videos and apps. When I was his age we had textbook. Now they don’t have anything- everything is online.

Do you just have the homework apps then or have you let it spread into games etc?

It's about parenting, not devices. A tablet can actually be much better than mindless TV if the child is playing educational games on it! My kids (now 11 and 14) didn't have phones til they went to secondary school, have never had Minecraft or Roblox, don't have social media, but have had educational games (log-ins provided by primary school) since Reception. Maths Prodigy, Spelling Shed, Times Tables Rock Stars, and coding apps since the age of 5! Very useful!
In addition, there are several CBeebies games they used to play when they were little - that used their brain more than TV ever did. We fly to see family in Italy a few times a year and this was especially useful on flights! We also used to download films onto the tablet for flights.
These are kids who have always done lots of clubs and activities, including physical ones, who read voraciously, and who have always played and crafted loads as well. It's all about balance - and about what you let them do, and for how long per day.