iPads for children......

[m3coolpix]

I've mentioned this in another similar thread. Have 7 and 8 year olds (14 months apart, for those who love to do sibling math ). Both have iPod Touches (3G version with no camera), that they got last year.

I have an iPad 2, my wife about to get a Kindle Fire.... On my iPad and the Touches, we have plenty of kids games, reading material, and educational apps (flash cards).

This technology is our kids future....so embrace it and use accordingly.

I am fierce with the scheduling of them getting access to any of the devices. They don't get free reign with them 24 hours a day. They aren't in their 'possession', in other words, and they understand that. They get 1, maybe 2 hours max/day, and that time is deducted from their TV time. IOW, they still have to go outside, still pick up a book, do homework, practice for their extracurricular activities, etc. etc..before they can play on their iPods, or my iPad. The devices all have Parental controls to allow only the apps we want them to have access to (no Youtube, no Safari, no App Store, etc. etc.).

And....you know what....they're not addicted to them. They do still want to be kids and do all that other stuff!

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Forgot to mention another use.

I've setup the kids grandparents with a iMac that has FaceTime on it. We do FT video calls about once a week with the iPad 2.

This is priceless sometimes.....

 

[Shrink]

I don't know if it's my age (24) but I cannot imagine giving a $500+ device to a child below the age of 7 or even 10.

Like someone mentioned above, I agree that this is a very slippery slope that could lead into some potential issues. It also makes me wonder where we're heading as a society, not just in America but other countries as well. Living in S.Korea currently, and I see tons of kids (age 1+) with iPads that their parents give them so they're distracted enough to let the parents go about their business.

What happend to the tactile feel of books or stuffed animals that we used to have as children? Will future generations go to sleep with an iPad tucked in next to them instead of their favorite stuffed animal?

^maybe that's a little extreme, and once again maybe it's just my age, but I cringe whenever I see a child with an iPad...

...hahaha or maybe i'm just an old fuddy-duddy at heart =p

I think the above post makes valid points deserving of some consideration.

It is not my intent to be a Luddite and condemn the use of e-devices as somehow bad in and of themselves. Certainly, many of the posters make clear that they control their children's access to iPads, etc. and continue to encourage other activities for they children. As in so many areas, parental supervision is the key element here.

I remember when TV was becoming a common item in most homes a great hew and cry went up about how children would be ruined (in one way or the other) be exposure to the evil box. Once again, parental supervision was the issue.

I think the quoted post brings up the interesting issue of tactile stimulation and it's value for children. It is, IMO, important that children have exposure to more "organic" items in their environment.

OP - Here's the bad news; I AM an old buddy-duddy and I agree with your concerns. Put a positive spin on it - let's just say that you're just mature beyond your years.

 

[polbit]

I have twins that will be turning 1 year old in couple of weeks, and I can't imagine them playing with any electronic devices at this point. Kids this young need open-ended, tactile toys that they can build their imagination with, not start their ADD training