What are your thoughts on young children playing on iPads/other electronic tablets - Page 2

wyndslash · 08-11-2012, 10:12 PM

thanks for the responses

i wonder if there is a cultural aspect to it as well. My family always comments on the occasional baby with iPad/tablet/iThingy whenever we go out, and their comments almost always lean towards criticism for the mother/nanny/caretaker. I admit, I live in a society where while we have nannies and maids (common because of inexpensive labor), mothers are also expected to take part in the care of their children and still manage a day job; no wonder women here aren't getting married until they're in their 30s.

meeera · 08-11-2012, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wyndslash

i wonder if there is a cultural aspect to it as well. My family always comments on the occasional baby with iPad/tablet/iThingy whenever we go out, and their comments almost always lean towards criticism for the mother/nanny/caretaker.

I'm guessing, from what you say, that the fathers aren't copping this bystander judgement? Sheesh. Children get impatient and grumpy in public - mothers get sneered at. Children are happily occupied - mothers get sneered at.

wyndslash · 08-11-2012, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meeera

I'm guessing, from what you say, that the fathers aren't copping this bystander judgement? Sheesh. Children get impatient and grumpy in public - mothers get sneered at. Children are happily occupied - mothers get sneered at.

i know the feeling. i may never get married if mothers always get the short end of the stick. sheesh. i would think raising the next generation of brats is important enough

anyway, it's not so bad now, now that some fathers here are becoming "house-husbands", but other people now sneer at them and call them lazy. another side-insult to the regular housewife.

sunnysmiles · 08-12-2012, 04:01 AM

My grand children all love the Ipad . Their parents have a lot of educational apps on them . Its very responsive and child friendly . All my grandchildren live in the Middle East and it seems to be very common for children to have them there. In some of the Private schools in Saudi Arabia they are in use .

Another Point is that Apparently children who suffer from autism find them very good according to some research recently done.

wyndslash · 08-12-2012, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunnysmiles

Another Point is that Apparently children who suffer from autism find them very good according to some research recently done.

that's great!

i love technology being used for educational advancements and to help kids with special needs

*sigh* i do think my city needs to catch up a bit more. asian societies are not as kind as some western societies.

morriss003 · 08-13-2012, 12:46 PM

Back in the olden days before Dell and Gateway, I use to take along my 2 year old when I was demonstrating this new fangled thing called a "computer." Adults were intimidated by teenagers using and showing the gadget, but no one was intimidated by a 2 year old. When he was about ten, he discovered "chat" and within minutes someone used the F word. As I stood there wondering what to do, he simply blocked them, something I vaguely knew was possible.
Let your kids use these devices at an early age, but kick them off after a bit and send them outside to play. Don't let them access sites that allow them to run up a bill. Until they are teenagers, insist on having access to their social media accounts, and after that, warn them they these accounts might be subject to supervision, if they show any signs of personal distress. We live in a time of rapidly changing technology. Don't cause your kids to fall behind.

tubemonkey · 08-13-2012, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morriss003

Back in the olden days before Dell and Gateway, I use to take along my 2 year old when I was demonstrating this new fangled thing called a "computer." Adults were intimidated by teenagers using and showing the gadget, but no one was intimidated by a 2 year old. When he was about ten, he discovered "chat" and within minutes someone used the F word. As I stood there wondering what to do, he simply blocked them, something I vaguely knew was possible.
Let your kids use these devices at an early age, but kick them off after a bit and send them outside to play. Don't let them access sites that allow them to run up a bill. Until they are teenagers, insist on having access to their social media accounts, and after that, warn them they these accounts might be subject to supervision, if they show any signs of personal distress. We live in a time of rapidly changing technology. Don't cause your kids to fall behind.

Excellent advice

GreenMonkey · 08-13-2012, 01:14 PM

My kids are 6 and 4 (youngest turns 5 in a few weeks).

They had the Leapster Explorer and later a pair of Leappads. But they got tired of the simple video games after a while. They were always using my wife's iPad (or my Nook Color running CM7 before I sold it) almost more often.

We ended up buying a pair of refurb Nook Colors; I installed CM7 on them and those are their tablets.

They use them mainly for watching Netflix before bed - right now, that's mostly My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic and some Blue's Clues. Sometimes they play some kids' games (they loved Cut the Rope for a while until they beat all the levels).

They are so good with touch devices, but terrible with a computer mouse, and can't operate the remote control for the TV. It's funny, kind of.

steven522 · 08-13-2012, 02:04 PM

When my daughter was old enough to sit in my lap and actually reach for things, she started using the computer. First it was games designed for toddlers to just "bang" on the keyboard and get a reaction. It did not take long to move up to the "point and click" of a mouse on higher level games. It was great... until the day she learned how to load the CD and start the game on her own and I became an irrelevant background noise. *sigh*

My niece has been doing the same thing on the ipod touch and ipad. The main difference that I can see is that there is no learning curve for moving to a disconnected pointing device such as the mouse. Everything is touch and react.

It all boils down in the end to how much the parent is supervising the use of the "tech" and how much actual educational value vs pure brain-dead entertainment is coming out of the device.

tubemonkey · 08-13-2012, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenMonkey

They are so good with touch devices, but terrible with a computer mouse, and can't operate the remote control for the TV. It's funny, kind of.

Install TV remote apps on their Colors

The great thing about tablets and players (iPod touch, Galaxy Player) is the wealth of educational and entertaining apps for free or next to nothing in cost. Compare that to the content cost for dedicated gaming and children's handhelds; which borders on outrageous. My 4yo grandson has access to a tablet and a touch; and is very adept with them. Kids take to this technology and should be encouraged to use it.

danskmacabre · 08-13-2012, 02:22 PM

We have a few PCs in the house, 2 tablets, 2 ereaders, an ipod, various mobile phones and consoles of various types.

We have 2 kids one 9 and one 12.
All devices with connectivity to the internet are monitored and the portable devices that the kids have access to are mac address banned from the internet.

Consoles are all in the loungeroom where we can see them and no PCs, TVs etc in their rooms.
We only allow internet access in the loungeroom when we are present.

Apart from that we allow 1 hour access to each child per day to any electronic device, which includes, TV, consoles, PC, ipod, tablets etc.
I allow my kids to read ebooks on their eareaders unrestricted tho as that's the same as reading a physical book (we strongly encourage reading), but again the ereaders are mac address banned from internet access.

On weekends and holidays the access to electronic media is increased to 1.5 hours a day.

fjtorres · 08-13-2012, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Kids take to this technology and should be encouraged to use it.

Children are born pre-programmed to learn and experiment; born scientists and engineers. Society and educational systems bore it out of most of them. The survivors are the ones too stubborn to conform.

Chi Cygni · 08-13-2012, 04:11 PM

My little one will also be 5 in a few weeks. Almost ever since I bought ipad 1 in 2010 he was using it a little bit (at first I was petrified he would break it, now we don't care). He has interactive books on it, magnet letters, musical instruments and all kinds of educational stuff (if I had to buy him all this as toys the house would be cluttered to the roof).

Today I showed him Star Walk first time and he loved it, asking me all kinds of questions about planets and stars (was whining a little when told his sign is Virgo and not Leo, in the end we agreed his will be Leo Minor and mama Leo Major because I'm bigger

) Anyway as was already said, I limit his time to 1 hour per day, I announce "now we will turn it off and go to the garden".

He is also unable to turn on tv remote and can't use computer mouse. But reading a real book before bed is compulsory. One thing I do NOT like is when he is colouring something on ipad with his finger. To hold a crayon is an entirely different skill and I do not encourage finger painting or writing for that matter.

tubemonkey · 08-13-2012, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chi Cygni

One thing I do NOT like is when he is colouring something on ipad with his finger. To hold a crayon is an entirely different skill and I do not encourage finger painting or writing for that matter.

Give him a real crayon and the iPad

Seriously though, have you considered a stylus for the coloring?

fjtorres · 08-13-2012, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Give him a real crayon and the iPad

I'm as tech crazy as anybody this side of Japan but I'd go with the real crayon and a real coloring book. That way you end up with something you can pin on your office cubicle corkboard.

08-12-2012, 04:01 AM	#19
sunnysmiles Addict Posts: 279 Karma: 1188010 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: London Device: I pad air, kindle pw2 and kindle touch , kindle had fire Nook pad nook	My grand children all love the Ipad . Their parents have a lot of educational apps on them . Its very responsive and child friendly . All my grandchildren live in the Middle East and it seems to be very common for children to have them there. In some of the Private schools in Saudi Arabia they are in use . Another Point is that Apparently children who suffer from autism find them very good according to some research recently done. Last edited by sunnysmiles; 08-12-2012 at 04:06 AM.

08-13-2012, 02:22 PM	#26
danskmacabre Guru Posts: 733 Karma: 3593438 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Glo. Galaxy Tab S 8.4	We have a few PCs in the house, 2 tablets, 2 ereaders, an ipod, various mobile phones and consoles of various types. We have 2 kids one 9 and one 12. All devices with connectivity to the internet are monitored and the portable devices that the kids have access to are mac address banned from the internet. Consoles are all in the loungeroom where we can see them and no PCs, TVs etc in their rooms. We only allow internet access in the loungeroom when we are present. Apart from that we allow 1 hour access to each child per day to any electronic device, which includes, TV, consoles, PC, ipod, tablets etc. I allow my kids to read ebooks on their eareaders unrestricted tho as that's the same as reading a physical book (we strongly encourage reading), but again the ereaders are mac address banned from internet access. On weekends and holidays the access to electronic media is increased to 1.5 hours a day. Last edited by danskmacabre; 08-13-2012 at 02:25 PM.

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08-11-2012, 10:12 PM	#16
wyndslash Wizard Posts: 2,951 Karma: 3000001 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: Kindle 3 wifi, Kindle Fire	thanks for the responses i wonder if there is a cultural aspect to it as well. My family always comments on the occasional baby with iPad/tablet/iThingy whenever we go out, and their comments almost always lean towards criticism for the mother/nanny/caretaker. I admit, I live in a society where while we have nannies and maids (common because of inexpensive labor), mothers are also expected to take part in the care of their children and still manage a day job; no wonder women here aren't getting married until they're in their 30s.

08-13-2012, 12:46 PM	#21
morriss003 Evangelist Posts: 438 Karma: 3409790 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Maui Device: kindle	Back in the olden days before Dell and Gateway, I use to take along my 2 year old when I was demonstrating this new fangled thing called a "computer." Adults were intimidated by teenagers using and showing the gadget, but no one was intimidated by a 2 year old. When he was about ten, he discovered "chat" and within minutes someone used the F word. As I stood there wondering what to do, he simply blocked them, something I vaguely knew was possible. Let your kids use these devices at an early age, but kick them off after a bit and send them outside to play. Don't let them access sites that allow them to run up a bill. Until they are teenagers, insist on having access to their social media accounts, and after that, warn them they these accounts might be subject to supervision, if they show any signs of personal distress. We live in a time of rapidly changing technology. Don't cause your kids to fall behind.

08-13-2012, 01:14 PM	#23
GreenMonkey DRM hater Posts: 945 Karma: 2066176 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Michigan Device: Nook ST glow, Kindle Voyage	My kids are 6 and 4 (youngest turns 5 in a few weeks). They had the Leapster Explorer and later a pair of Leappads. But they got tired of the simple video games after a while. They were always using my wife's iPad (or my Nook Color running CM7 before I sold it) almost more often. We ended up buying a pair of refurb Nook Colors; I installed CM7 on them and those are their tablets. They use them mainly for watching Netflix before bed - right now, that's mostly My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic and some Blue's Clues. Sometimes they play some kids' games (they loved Cut the Rope for a while until they beat all the levels). They are so good with touch devices, but terrible with a computer mouse, and can't operate the remote control for the TV. It's funny, kind of.

08-13-2012, 02:04 PM	#24
steven522 binomial: homo legentem Posts: 1,061 Karma: 25222222 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Alabama, USA Device: iriver Story HD; Archos 80 G9	When my daughter was old enough to sit in my lap and actually reach for things, she started using the computer. First it was games designed for toddlers to just "bang" on the keyboard and get a reaction. It did not take long to move up to the "point and click" of a mouse on higher level games. It was great... until the day she learned how to load the CD and start the game on her own and I became an irrelevant background noise. sigh My niece has been doing the same thing on the ipod touch and ipad. The main difference that I can see is that there is no learning curve for moving to a disconnected pointing device such as the mouse. Everything is touch and react. It all boils down in the end to how much the parent is supervising the use of the "tech" and how much actual educational value vs pure brain-dead entertainment is coming out of the device.

08-13-2012, 04:11 PM	#28
Chi Cygni 秋子 permanently lurking Posts: 844 Karma: 6590735 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Europe Device: Oasis 3, Pocketbook Era	My little one will also be 5 in a few weeks. Almost ever since I bought ipad 1 in 2010 he was using it a little bit (at first I was petrified he would break it, now we don't care). He has interactive books on it, magnet letters, musical instruments and all kinds of educational stuff (if I had to buy him all this as toys the house would be cluttered to the roof). Today I showed him Star Walk first time and he loved it, asking me all kinds of questions about planets and stars (was whining a little when told his sign is Virgo and not Leo, in the end we agreed his will be Leo Minor and mama Leo Major because I'm bigger ) Anyway as was already said, I limit his time to 1 hour per day, I announce "now we will turn it off and go to the garden". He is also unable to turn on tv remote and can't use computer mouse. But reading a real book before bed is compulsory. One thing I do NOT like is when he is colouring something on ipad with his finger. To hold a crayon is an entirely different skill and I do not encourage finger painting or writing for that matter.