IPad exposure can negatively impact a child’s brain development, as it can lead to a decline in fine motor skills and sensory-motor abilities. The Association of Teachers and Lecturers warns that young children might be proficient at swiping across an iPad screen, which may replace hands-on activities important for the development of sensorimotor and visual-motor skills.
A new research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association of Pediatrics suggests that watching screens may limit fine motor skills in children aged between 2-8 years. This test aims to assess motor and praxis skills in children aged between 2-8 years, divided into different by age subgroups: 24-36. Some kids in my class are struggling with fine motor skills, socializing, and attention spans. Children under the age of three can also pick up underdeveloped fine motor skills and a difficulty in visual spatial awareness.
As long as there are proper precautions and supervision, iPads can be a great learning tool, as long as there are proper precautions and supervision. Through communication and play with other kids, adolescents pick up language skills, expanded vocabulary, motor skills, and empathy. Screen time at age 1 is linked with higher risks of developmental delays in toddlerhood.
IPad kids tend to have significantly lower levels of visual memory, spatial relationships, fine motor skills, and dexterity. They do not allow children to develop well-rounded language skills, as watching videos etc is entirely a passive activity. While it can be difficult for parents to use an alternative for an iPad, in the long run, it will help the child’s growth and development.
📹 Screens May Affect Your Child’s Brain Development | Better | NBC News
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What is the iPad kid personality?
The term “iPad kid” refers to Gen Alpha children born since 2010 who are constantly glued to their tablets, seeking technological stimulation, and becoming upset when their devices are taken away. This term also highlights how easy access to technology can impact parenting choices, as parents often sacrifice opportunities for their child to develop vital skills like self-expression and social behavior. Experts warn of negative consequences of excessive screen time and overreliance on technology, including addiction, depression, and behavioral issues.
How does the iPad affect child development?
Excessive iPad use can have both physical and behavioral effects on children. The constant stimulation and instant gratification of the device can lead to a decrease in attention span and focus, making it difficult for children to concentrate on other activities. This can result in difficulties in school and learning environments. Additionally, extended iPad use can result in a lack of social skills, as children may not learn the necessary social skills to interact with others, leading to difficulties in making friends and developing meaningful relationships.
Lastly, children can become addicted to their iPads, similar to cell phones or gaming consoles, leading to excessive use and neglect of other activities or responsibilities. To create healthy limits and guidelines for iPad usage, parents should implement parental controls on the device, restricting the amount of time spent on the device, limiting content access, and monitoring activity. Setting boundaries on iPad use can help ensure that children are not spending too much time in front of a screen.
What are the negatives of iPad kids?
A 2023 study on the impact of excessive screen time on child development found that while some screen time can enhance education and learning, excessive screen usage can lead to negative effects on social and emotional growth, obesity, sleep disorders, and mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. The study suggests that successful screen time involves setting appropriate boundaries, using parental controls, co-viewing, and selecting age-appropriate content.
The Institute of Digital Media and Child Development recommends that screen time for babies aged 0-18 months should be limited to video chatting, toddlers between 18-24 months should have limited screen time, and children aged 2-5 should not exceed one hour per day.
How long should kids use iPad?
Pediatricians recommend setting boundaries for children using electronic devices, with guidelines ranging from zero screen time for children under 2 years old to two hours per day for children aged 5-17, except for homework. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends parents develop a family media use plan, which can be easily constructed on their website at healthychildren. org. This tool helps parents guide their children on appropriate screen time and when and where it can be enjoyed, ensuring a positive parenting environment for their children.
Why am I an iPad kid?
“iPad Kids” refers to children in Generation Alpha, born between 2010 and today, who are addicted to screens. Generation Z, born between the late 1990s and around 2010, coined the term after observing many kids glued to their iPads. The term has been criticized for implying parents are relying too much on devices, leading to an online movement where many declare they will refuse to raise iPad Kids. While it is not always possible to predict how parents would raise their children before having them, the recent increase in screen time raises questions about the validity of the term.
What are the behavioral issues with iPad kids?
The National Library of Medicine’s study found a correlation between screen time and behavioral issues, including behavioral problems, developmental delay, speech disorders, learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and ADHD. The study also revealed significant dose-response relationships. A counselor who spent six summers at a summer camp post-COVID-19 observed signs of social and emotional developmental delay in children, particularly those in the youngest age group. The study suggests that part of this delay may be due to the lack of in-person socialization and the excessive use of technology.
What is a good age to give a kid an iPad?
A survey of parents revealed that 27% of respondents indicated a preference for children aged 9-11 for use of tablets, 26% for children aged 6-8, and 23% for children aged 12-15. Fourteen respondents indicated that ages 3-5 is an acceptable age range for tablet use, while ten respondents stated that tablets are appropriate for use until ages 16-18.
Can too much TV delay speech?
The extant research indicates that children who spend up to two hours per day engaged with screens at the age of one are more likely to experience communication delays at the age of two. Children who engage with screens for two to four hours per day at age one are twice as likely to experience communication delays at age two. Those who engage with screens for more than four hours per day at age one are five times more likely to experience communication delays at age two.
Why do autistic kids like iPad?
Technology is playing a significant role in the education of individuals with autism due to its predictability, customization, and immersive visual and cognitive experience. The iPad adds interactivity, allowing active engagement with lessons, making education less abstract and more meaningful for these individuals. Traditional computers present challenges with using a mouse as a proxy for engagement, especially for those with fine motor and processing challenges. The iPad removes these barriers, allowing users to touch, move, and interact with their learning environment, making education less abstract and more meaningful.
The iPad and autism are perfect together because it is easily transportable. Many individuals with autism need supports in different environments, such as classrooms, art, gyms, and recesses. The iPad allows individuals with ASD to have their critical supports available wherever they are, providing them with a library of supports within seconds.
Another benefit of having a portable device is generalization. Many individuals with ASD struggle to transfer skills between settings, and the iPad makes it easy to generalize skills between environments. An app that teaches any skill can follow an individual wherever they go, helping them teach skills anywhere.
What are the symptoms of too much screen time?
Excessive screen media usage in children can have both positive and negative impacts on their development. While screens can enhance education and learning, excessive screen time and media multitasking can negatively affect executive functioning, sensorimotor development, and academic outcomes. Early screen exposure has been associated with lower cognitive abilities and academic performance in later years. Language development is also affected by screen time, as it diminishes the quantity and quality of interactions between children and caregivers.
Contextual factors such as co-viewing and appropriateness of content also play a role in determining the impact on language development. Excessive screen usage can lead to problems in social-emotional development, including obesity, sleep disturbances, depression, and anxiety. Parents play a crucial role in managing and reducing screen time by raising awareness, setting boundaries, and providing behavioral controls.
It is essential for caregivers, educators, and healthcare professionals to understand the potential risks of excessive screen usage and implement strategies to promote healthy development in children.
What is iPad kid syndrome?
The term “iPad kid” refers to a child who has excessive screen time, often consuming unlimited access to their favorite shows, movies, and games. This has led to a debate about the potential harmful effects of raising such children. Experts, including Joseph McGuire, PhD, a Child Psychologist and screen time researcher at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, provide an explanation of what “iPad kids” are, the potential long-term effects of excessive iPad use, how to establish healthy limits, and what to keep in mind while raising today’s tech-savvy generation of kids.
By understanding the characteristics of an iPad kid and setting healthy boundaries, parents can help their children navigate the challenges of raising tech-savvy children and maintain a healthy balance in their daily lives.
📹 What are the Effects of Tablets and Smartphones on Babies’ Brains? | Babies: Their Wonderful World
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Ok my life experience – after 2 week’s of holiday I decided to hide tablet from my 5 year old, as his behaviour got worst every time when he had it in hand . I said it’s broken and it was sent for repair. He was upset at first but than he started to play with his imagination more. His concertation spam has increased so much it’s unbelievable, his tantrum has decreased, his vocabulary is more advance, finally he likes exploring drawing items and reading books more than ever. It’s been 5 months and he didn’t even asked once since. Most of children’s articles are simply stupid with opening presents, throwing toys etc. I can only say do it before it’s too late, but you have to be ready to play with your child more. There is not even ONE day I regret my decision.
Children who have more experience with fine movements due to exposure to tablets have better fine motor skills? No shit Sherlock… What about negative effects on things like concentration, or sensitivity to addiction at a later age due to prolonged exposure to lots of small dopamine boosts from a very young age? Seems more relevant imo…
I haven’t read all comments but as a teacher for toddlers I have seen the long term results. At first tablet users are very smart and seem in advanced but after the 3year point disadvantages began to show. Potty training is difficult and social skills seem troubled. Non tablet users are behind but they advance consistently whereas tablet users seem to fall back after a while. If you are questioning my experience I’ll let you know that I have watched many toddlers grow within over 11 years.
If it’s dexitery you’re testing then this is obvious. Try testing concentration. I had to go cold turkey and remove the phone my 23month old son used 3 months ago because the mobile was ruining his concentration span. Now he can play with particular toys for longer, willing to read a book for longer and more importantly doesn’t get into a strop so easily and quickly.
While this is interesting, I’m far more interested in whether there is an effect on the more mental side of cognitive development than co-ordination. Given that’s they’re such full on sensory environments that provide such instant feedback, I think the impact on things like concentration are likely to be far more substantial.
I took tablet away from my 4 year old daughter after seeing she was perusal some seriously messed up stuff on YouTube (frozen elsa and Spiderman)she was also picking up bad habits like throwing things to get her way, not being able to concentrate, shouting. Its been 2 months and the difference is amazing. She is more calm, manages to make good conversation, has more patience, increased concentration. Thinking back i should never have got her a tablet.
I watched my niece grow up up until she was about 3(she’s 4 now but no longer lives with us). From baby to 3 and even still she is perusal YouTube. She had unlimited access whether it was on the tv or tablet and based on observation I really believe it’s affected her cognitive development negatively. The results?: Her attention span is very short Her speech is delayed She shows more interest in tv/iPad then imagination or human interaction She struggles to draw objects on her own or from imagination(think of a tree or house or people for example) She struggles to follow complex instructions She will often tune people out when focused on the tv/iPad. Keep in mind she also has minimal interaction, playing, teaching from family members as well (I think they believe she will learn everything she needs from YouTube, and early education(which didn’t start till 3). They had a girl come over to teach her basic things(honestly things a parent should be teaching their kid) like mr.potatohead, how to use shape toys, poking,pulling and other sensory related activities and games. Those were only once a week tho) Family still spoon-feeds her to this day and she doesn’t know how to sit still and eat at the table. The only time she eats at the table is with the iPad propped up in front of her and even then her attention span is so short. When the iPad or phone is taken away she would throw a huge tantrum to which the parents would give up and give it back. I see aLot of parents struggle with this and fail to see it’s their actions that have created the child they are today.
While I don’t think tablets are villians and that sort of thing (we had bad parenting long before them), this feels kinda biased. Isn’t it kinda given that children that spend more time using their hands for small movements will have better fine coordination? Maybe have some more tests, analyzing different aspects of the baby’s development would be more interesting.
Both my little kids have started with tablets from very young age, however we have been very careful to this day to moderate the usage carefully. Further, we have used it for some baby games, and these days (both are below 7 yrs), use it for driving games or puzzle games for a limited time, usually a few hours max per week (Not at the same time though). And I must admit both of us are happy with the outcomes. I believe the key is moderation and responsible usage. Overdoing it may cause harm, but I guess that part is very hard to study over a longer term.
In my experience the least amount of tantrums and negative behavior comes from treating the tablet just like any other physical game. There is a time and place and it shouldn’t go unchecked for hours on end. Let them reap the “fine motor skills” and then change it up and get physical. They also learn from us…if all we do is stare at a device…they want to do that too. Get up and play with your kids. Create some fun memories. Teach them to observe their surroundings by playing games like “I spy.” Tech is important because in school and work they will have to use it…but they should be able to live without them attached to their hands 24/7.
I think this piece is asking the wrong question. I don’t think motor skill development is really a concern people have around babies and toddlers use of digital technology. There are other concerns around, for example, their social and emotional development and attention. There are recent studies showing that certain cognitive functions are improved by article games. But this is not surprising at all. What we need to ask is whether these particular cognitive skills are very beneficial to them and what other damage might we be doing to them in other areas?
I wonder how many of these tests would have been far more influenced by ‘the parent and child have tried activities similar to this before, so the child understands the requirement’ than by ‘the child has been allowed to use a tablet’. It was pretty clear that a number of those kids (who looked older) had spent more time drawing with crayons, or playing with blocks.
My granddaughter learned her colors and shapes by 18 months. She is extremely active and prefers outdoor activities over indoor activities. While indoors she has access to a toddler computer, learning toys, pencils, scissors, and paper, blocks and play kitchen. I believe what the child has access to and their interactions with people around them effect skills.
This is not a serious experiment, the samples are ridiculously small, motivation (which is supposed to be as close to null as possible and in this case surely wasn’t) has a lot of influence on the results especially with toddlers, and since it wasn’t conducted rigorously the number of times the toddler had performed the tasks before was probably very different along with the instructions given and the way they were given.
Same shit, different generation. They said this crap about TV. They said this shit about electric lights. They said this shit about the printed word. They probably sounded some vague warnings about stone tools. Just encourage children to a large range of physical and cerebral activities, human and technological interactions. A mixture is the best IMO.
I’d say that this is just because the “tech” kids have been practicing fine motor skills. Compare them to kids that spend a fair amount of time practicing fine motor skills in traditional ways (coloring, drawing, playing with block and stacking toys, etc) and I would guess you would not see a difference.
My 3 considerations: 1. The kids’ time with the tablets and the phones should be fairly limited. 2. Furthermore, the content should be appropriate and should facilitate all the positive developments. 3. Lastly but not least, the screen brightness should match the lighting in the surrounding environment.
This title needs to be changed. Obviously their motor control will improve but I thought this would test cognitive development which is different from physical development As an AMI Montessori guide, I’ve seen that tablet users are way behind in cognitive and social-emotional development. We don’t use any technology in our Montessori environments but I have parents who tell me how much screen time they give their children and it’s obvious how it changes their ability to cope in a REAL and physically and mentally stimulating environment that’s conducive for concentration.
All I know is that I used to be a huge reader as a kid, and I would watch the tv sometimes and play disc computer games back in the 90s-2000s. Ever since smart phones and modern computers came into my life I can definitely see that my concentration and attention levels have diminished to some degree. So if this change happened because I started using these things in my preteens/teens, what will they do to people who have them from babyhood?
It feels like this article was so sponsored by the tech company. Of course the kids who are on their tablets will have better fine motor skills they’re essentially using their fingers all the time. What’s more important is how the child is developed psychologically. Social skills are imperative to child growth. It affects their self-esteem, their mood, and most importantly their health.
I thinks its not the mental aspect is what really negatively affected but rather the emotion of the child. In the long run they become addicted with th gadget and their ability to socialize is also affected because they spend more time with the gadget and not other human being. My advice to other parents like me control the use of it, and dont let them keep their gadget, you put them in the box when they are done using in max of 2 hours a day.
Well, I understand the need to have footage of adorable babies with a cute soundtrack, but the sample size of 6 is astonishingly insignificant. At least a short summary of actual scientific work would have been very helpful. I’m concerned about how this reflects the BBC’s expectations of viewer scientific literacy.
Sleeping pattern! Early age refractory errors! Basal metabolic rate changes! Social bonding! Curiosity to explore environment! How come BBC doesn’t want to consider any of these and rather make a study based on the just the motor part of developmental milestones? Using tabs or phones primes the fine motor movements and it’s not surprising for tech kids to have a small advantage. But I believe a study must be made with the primary interest to identify the side effects in tab using babies instead of just having a few selective variables to show a positive outcome…
i have a child, tablets and cellphone it causes autism. I turn off the wifi and hid the gadgets and now my child is out of his shell. He can inter-act and express his feelings now. Before he was just making sounds at 3-4. Yes my child can do that stacking and drawing lines at two but won’t progress much on gadgets..
in my experience for my 2 years old… ing 1 yr she was exposed in books and flash cards.. i can say her behavior is really good… then later when she was exposed in cellphones and tv.. her behavior seems like you are not there anymore she wont listen to me anymore.. but her improvement in the she talks and reacts to any thing that she can see is better… but she will play with another children she even dont want to talk and very shy.. i think the most important is to balance everything… let the child play at their most and use what ever things that can improve their mental development.. and most of all be with them always build your relationship as parents..
I truly think that balance is key, if the child is able to become emotionally attached to his/her device, they may not want to pay attention to other things and may show anger when the device is removed/dies/breaks etc and the device becomes a disadvantage. If the child views the device more as a learning/exploring tool or reward, these things tend not to be prevalent and knowing how to use said device can be an advantage.
It’s pretty obvious that if your kid watches YouTube all day, he will not gain anything from device, but if he uses educational software then he will. It’s the same for adults using PCs for games or productivity. The question is, can you limit your child to only drawing and educational apps and make sure they don’t watch TV on it or play games? < I think in today's age it will be pretty hard to set limits, might be easier not getting the device at all
They didnt really test for concentration. Fail. Fine motor skills will come regardless–thats not the issue. Its lack of concentration that can be learned or not learned and can stick with them if not taken care of. This article was like seeing how well a sick patient absorbs vitamins without even testing how they could reduce or prevent the sickness
There is research that suggests action article games can have positive benefits on cognitive abilities including things like fine motor skills. However, using these technologies (ipads, tablets, smart phones) should not be first resort. I think parental interactions will be most beneficial to child development. Maybe in later years incorporating some technological strategies could be acceptable but the primary means of learning should always be through human interactions. I think the effects of technology and children is not black or whiteb but rather a gray area.
Kids tend to bounce around from app to app and articles. So I would think #1 not ex engaging with world in front of them. Like at the store or conversation at diner #2 eye development and carpal tunnel. #3 not staying focused on 1 thing. They are a tool in the toolbox for long road trips or especially air travel. It’s also the future now.
I find it fascinating to read comments asking for information for social and emotional effects of technology. Do you just hand your child a device and let them have at it? Or are you a PRESENT parent that actually spends quality time with your children while they use tech? There’s a big difference. Being a present parent is the most crucial aspect of parenting. Especially for social and emotional intelligence. Our decreasing social and emotional IQ didn’t begin with computers. No, it began long before that. For example, the invention of the automobile vs the passenger train. What’s even more fascinating is the people that assume these children in this article are the ONLY ones participating in the study. When you could easily click the link in the description to learn more about the studies performed in this documentary. You might even find related studies that provide even more data. That actually just proves a point I try to make to everyone that demonizes technology. Most of you lack the skills to properly use it. When you fail to take the initiative to dig deeper for information, tech is the least of your problems. You have some “self-work” that you need to be doing. My daughter is already learning to read at 26 months, she’s high social and emotional IQ, and capable of solving complex problems. This isn’t because of tech or education. This is because her mother and I chose to be present with her as often as we can. Guys. It’s not the tech. It’s YOU!
The fine motor skills type of desterity is better because that is what tablets develop. Kids are more naturally going to develop the physical coordination. I am worried about the mental concentration and emotional control because I was not going to let my daughter use electronics at a young age especially but it kind of happened because we all use them around here…I am not proud of it but anyways now she begs and whines and screams for movies, throws fits about us not letting her play with our phones, does not concentrate on her toys or play with them as much and seems to have little or no desire to, does not look at her books as much, does not sit down and play as much as she used to, and definitely gets irritated more easily. She is only 19 months. I just connected that a lot of the issues arose as she became introduced to more and more electronics…
Tech or no-tech, isn’t really the key part of determining a child’s success–It’s parental and environmental interaction and guidance. Leaving a child to watch articles all day without interaction or guidance is a bad idea, as is leaving a kid to run and explore all day without the same interaction and guidance. I’m not quite sure why people hate on technology so much. Just my two cents.
Screens keeping toddlers up at night makes sense because blue light suppresses melatonin release, which normally helps one fall asleep, but the idea that screen time “shortens attention span” is complete nonsense. Attention span is a component of executive function which is affected by genetic (or familial) and congenital factors. It’s like saying sugar or bad parenting cause short attention spans.
No kids should own tablets or phones PERIOD. Once in a while and I do mean ONCE in a WHILE is ok to give them 30 minutes or an hour maybe 2 hrs in rare occasions but NO MORE. These things are ruining childhoods. My nephews don’t want to play outside, they don’t like going out and if they do they have to have their phones/tablets, they don’t get excited about anything outside of their phones/tablets and they don’t interact with anyone unless its through a tablet/phone online. This stuff is too much and parents are to blame for giving these objects to kids to baby sit them
whenever i see little children (on the bus, at the doctors’) all they want is their mom’s phone. they sometimes even get agressive and start yelling if they can’t watch vivid colors quickly changing for 15 minutes. this needs to be regulated by the WHO so that kids cartoons can’t have oversaturated colors and every scene needs to be long (at least 10 seconds)
What almost everyone here seems to be missing is that its not technology that is the problem, rather the mind numbing games and apps these young children are exposed to. Games that are designed to entice and addict. Once a child wants to play something incessantly, advertising can be slid in and they won’t mind. Its all about the money, the ability to get them to want something so their parents buy it. Its hard saying no to an adorable face you love so dearly. Marketers know this and take full advantage of your vulnerabilities. If your child is so interested in your device learn how to disable all the games and let them play with the device. It will be a puzzle to them and learning how to make it work will be challenging. Today’s geniuses in tech didn’t spend their childhood playing games. They designed and built stuff. Playing a game is passive. Building/designing is active. In the real world children are far more actively involved with what is around them. Their attention span is tottaly different. Tech kids have lightning bolt levels of patience, as in non-existent. This is the single biggest problem with technology. The real world takes patience. Tech makes us believe anything we want can be acquired with very little effort because the stars of YouTube and Instagram do it. They live in the huge houses, drive the exotic cars, have a perfectly attractive spouse and never seem to work much. So obviously we can do.
Group is two small and also there can be completely different explanation. For example it could be parents. The ones who see that tablets can help in development and the others can belong to different social groups with different education levels which impact development of children and it is nothing to do with tablets.
As someone with a degree in child education and development and currently a preeschool teacher working with kids age 2 to 6, I beg of you, don´t give your children celphones and tablets at all, children younger than 13 don´t need a screen or to have uncontrolled access to the internet, the cons definetly outweight the pros for this.
My daughter is 4 and she’s the brightest at school because she learnt colours, numbers including other poems and creatures through her tablets. The good thing is she started using this tablet from 3 months old. I decided to continue because of the strange attention she developed from day one looking at it although another reason is for us to be left alone when busy, but she would watch and not even touch or disrupt it. she eventually started school and could identify things in class quickly that the teacher singled her out. i remember when she was about a year plus she would reply us using only 123456789 just to express herself regardless of the question because that’s all she could say. lol. tablets is good if you use it the right way i’d say.
It’s an interesting question, and an interesting way of going about answering it. Not very scientific based off of how the interviewer’s expectations really shaped their reactions to what the kids did, and the seriously small sample size makes the minimal difference mean even less since the difference could simply be associated with parents, availability of learning tools in the home, activity of the child (and even when the last time the kid took a nap because as a parent of a 1 year old I now see the huge difference that makes in comprehension skills). Anyways I like the question, but would like to see actual research that the speaker spoke of.
Biased documentary. As an IT worker I have problems communicating with people verbally. Sure, your brain is more trained for analytical things, but still, you alienate yourself from people. Even this message, is a lot easier for me to transmit in typing instead of speaking it. I observed this to many other IT professionals. I prefer from time to time to do manual labor, work in a factory, work around people. It helps to have a mixed life, both intellectual work and manual work. Only manual work it’s bad payed and also I miss the intellectual work and intellectual work alone it’s hard for the mind, body and soul. Peace!
Dr. Smith is practising nothing but quackery n semantics! Humans become better at any skill that they practise more. So the babies in the test group could have the same exposure to ANY OTHER activity the trains fine motor skills to perform better on fine motor assessment. The real question is how does early n chronic exposure to these devices affects cognitive n social development. What Dr Smith needs to do at this point is to design n conduct a logical experiment and to declare any conflict of interest n then come back to us !
Well done. I think. I never used a touchscreen until I was an adult. I’m not sure if my father ever has and I know my grandmother never did! Pity. Three generations deprived of improving their motor skills with this technology before the age of 2 :/ And yet somehow we all managed to live good, successful lives… interesting!
Ok, but what about research that indicates babies regularly exposed to screens have higher instances of autism? Does that not hold any relevance on the “benefits” of device exposure? Is it just meant to be a trade off? They’ll have better dexterity, it just comes at the cost of autism, is that it? That benefit definitely doesn’t outweigh that risk! Admittedly, the activities offered for kids on mobile devices do require a certain amount of precision for them to be successfully interacted with, so it’s understandable that they encourage them to hone in on those skills more intently. But, that same requirement for precision and dexterity can also be achieved with tactile activities, and there’s so much more to gain from them! One of the greatest advantages to using more of a guided, kinesthetic learning over technology is that it also offers the benefit of fostering social and communicative skills. It doesn’t zero in on dexterity to specifically offer any accelerated development, but it facilitates several kinds of development at the same time and offers a crucial social component. Screentime exposure just promotes solitude and allows babies to retreat into themselves instead of interacting with their surroundings. It’s an impersonal, emotionless activity that facilitates isolation and detachment instead of encouraging the connections they should be establishing or the bonds they should be building. If a child were to have any sort of underlying predilection or tendencies toward autism that hadn’t yet been uncovered, allowing them to retreat into a screen could actually be laying the foundation for it’s development or inadvertently increasing the severity of it’s symptoms.
The question is do children have fine motor skills even when using tablets and phones more?? Eeeh the problem now adays is kids can’t speak properly, lack patience, couldn’t point out a parsnip in a vegetable line up and inevitably the new generation can’t cope with the demands of daily life. Loneliness and how to socialise also an issue. Life on the farm is a story we now only tell children but do they know it is an actual life. Children should be learning about nature, words, numbers, negotiation, positive communication and to feel safe and ok. Kids should be made able to use a tablet and that’s it.
My child is 18 months old and every day watches tv/screen for about an hour, sometimes more. She’s very healthy, starts speaking, repeating words, understanding a lot of them, started singing,she gets along well with other toddlers, she has a lot of energy, is curious… As long as I have all that, I think we’re fine. A bit worried about the concentration issue I read in the comment section. On phone (youtube) she tends to skip through articles. I think it’s only because she can and the phone is within reach. On tv she can’t reach the remote so she can stay still. Every parent deserves a break and sometimes screen time is the only solution. Don’t blame yourself. 🤷🏻♂️
Yeah the toddler tech users have better dexterity BUT they also are exposed to higher levels of microwave radiation from the devices. Even though it’s non ioninzing it still has shown an increase in cancer and tumors when studied on rats. This is why some countries do not want smartphones or tablets or even WiFi at elementary schools. They only time I let my toddler touch my phone is when he’s having a meltdown in the car and I’ve tried everything else. I certainly wouldn’t encourage casual use or to be used as a toy for games.
What I never understand is, what are you supposedly gaining from giving technology to babies and children? Even if the damage of using it in excess is debatable (I ABSOLUTELY do not think it is), since you gain nothing, just don’t do it. I teach English in first grade, and there is an unquestionable difference between children who use technology at home and children who don’t. Children that use technology, if they’re consuming educational material, might learn some concepts at home that we haven’t studied yet, so I can see how parents might think they are “advanced.” But knowing content is the least meaningful way to measure learning. You measure learning by skills and achieving developmental milestones, and non-tech kids outpace the rest every single time by this measure. And when non-tech kids are exposed to the supposedly “advanced” content tech-kids have already learned, they have no issue learning them as well as the rest of their peers, if not better. They will also perform better in pretty much any significant task for that age group, like learning how to write, colouring, using scissors, tying their shoe laces, prosocial behaviour, self-regulation of emotions, etc. And the argument of exposing them so they can learn to use technology seems poor as well. If it’s necessary for them to learn in the future, they will when it’s time. People who grew up not using technology are all perfectly able to use their phones, tablets, etc. nowadays. If they need to learn, they can do so when it’s appropriate, but I wouldn’t take the risk of messing with childhood development for that reason.
My son didn’t touch a tablet (still hasn’t) and he would have knocked that tablet baby right outta the park lol pardon my flexing haha.. we had him doing outdoor physical activity and interacted with him alot. The only screen time he’s ever associated with was TV and that was very limited in his first three years of life. Parents simply just need to INTERACT WITH THEIR KIDS!!
this comment section is filthy with 86 year old boomers games don’t cause harm its a new age and forcing them to not get used to technology will prob have a big effect in there future image in the future the only way to succeed will be technology and if your kid doesnt know how to work it then they will fail with there basket ball and Legos
Seriously this was pointless…if anything just showing the Dr.’s research. Excellent for the babies/ toddlers, and all did great job. I don’t have a kid or a Dr., however my opinion for a child to succeed the child needs educated loving parents. The tablet or smartphone isn’t the problem…. remember that’s what some said about television comparing to books.
In my opinion, tv is the best technology a child that is 2 old bsc u can have free control of the tv kids can’t get so much addicted to stupid things they find on YT. u can just add an educational show by or phone or since we don’t use DVDs anymore create a playlist of moves and series that u download from YT or any site for the child to safely chose something .
times have evolved… you’d be doing your kid a disservice if you didn’t introduce them to technology. who knows what the worlds gonna be like by the time they’re even ready for school and work? they don’t even read cursive writing in grade school anymore! create a healthy balance, but don’t ignore how important technology is going to be in our kids futures. teaching your kid to use a phone and call you or help at a young age can be life saving.
Who wants to play with the caucasian lady with a smile on her face or the chinese lady with no expression whatsoever? Of course any child would automatically play with a person who looks more approachable, and not due to familiarity – I find that if that test was run again but this time with a both people wearing the same expression, the results may be quite different…
My nephew is surrounded by technology whenever he comes to my house to baby sit him. I can see the sparkle in his eye when he learns something new and pronounces a new word right. Only 2 and can use an iPhone, Android and a tv remote. We love perusal pj masks, team umizumi, Paw patrol etc. we let him watch YouTube articles that show color names, numbers, the Abcs, and fun stuff mixed in with showing emotions. He speaks fluently, his mother doesn’t take the time to potty train him,(she’s still a great mom) he tells us when he has to pee and go potty. Although he often times has tantrums when a screen is taken away from him, he’s so smart and loves to play. We love him dearly and can’t wait to see him grow up into a smart young man.