iPad for toddlers Pros and Cons

[deejayburnout]

I think it's a good idea.

We bought our daughter a cheap Android tab when she was 2 and a half and she was able to learn how to use it very quick. Now she is nearly 4 she is very used to the Android system and can quite happily watch netflix/play learning and fun games.

There are more and more valuable learning tools for them and it can be quite a benefit for them.

As long as the content can be controlled and no unauthorised app purchases can be made go for it.

[Jack Foz]

I am only 15 but I am really against giving any child under 5-6 electronics such as an Ipad. sure some time on an educational app wouldn't be too bad but just think how easily influenced children are. I have personally seen kids addicted to their phones or computers and if you take them away from them its like a heroin user going cold turkey... They flip. In the end your the parent and I can't tell you what to do its your kid.

[deejayburnout]

I agree with what you are saying and I think a lot of that comes down to the parents. It is there job to control what their child is exposed too. So it doesn't matter if it's tablets/cbeebies/chocolate/tv/video games it all about the parent controlling what the child is up to.

I head a story about a child who was playing with his mum's ipad and kept clicking on the adverts within the games and ended up spending a fortune on apps. Hundred of pounds worth iirc. Apple wouldn't refund the purchases. Parents fault if you ask me.

[o00oo00o]

I give my son an iPad too, he learn a lot from those children game but beware of the ads in them.

[AndyDel]

Purchased our son an iPad when he turned 2, he has a kiddie case on it which seems indestructible.

He was able to navigate through my iPhone at the age of 1, after seeing a program on nurserys using iPads and some of the educational apps it seemed like a no brainier. Helped him learn spelling and maths, also logic puzzles.

It's an expensive gift for a young child but it's an excellent tool for learning

[directhex]

Protip: our 2 year old loves Super Hexagon. LOVES it. Has no interest in the tablet, other than for dancing whilst I play (and occasionally poking at the screen). Try it!

[Revvvhead]

Minecraft and you tube. That all my kids would ever do given the chance.

[gamerprez]

we've banned Minecraft in our house for that very reason

[sivan]

Nowadays children are addicted to iphones, etc... In my opinion too much is too much like for everything. It's all a matter of proportion, a little bit, why not ? But they also should play with other children, read books, etc...

[determined_gal]

Kids nowadays seem to be more interested in gadgets rather than the actual active playtime. There are a lot of advantages exposing children to such but for as long as they are guided with what app/games should be used/played, seems that there is no problem. It can also be a time for us parents to bond with our kids. But again, rules are rules, then there should be time for all things to be done (play, nap, eat,study etc)

[rupertsilva10]

There are certainly a lot of apps that kids enjoy spending their time on them these days. We sometimes let our little kid play on my iPad for a few minutes at random times. We don't allow him to spend to much time on it. Though I do agree that there are educational apps out there that we find useful and he has learned a lot from them.

[Smudger]

Not sure if this has been posted before, but my wife sent me this:

http://themindunleashed.org/2014/10/...nt-either.html

Some good points there, but you have to balance it against 'learning to use the tech available'

[starkyller]

Just don't. Just give them monopoly or pokemon cards to play.

[TooNice]

I don't think that depriving them is the way to go. I wasn't allowed video games at home, so at the first opportunity (when I had some freedom) I "made up" for what I was deprived from in my earlier years.. and though I game far more casually now, I still game. I can't help but wonder that had they just let me played with it early on as they did for other toys, I might have grown out of it (like those toys). Besides, they did allow me to use a computer relatively early, and I did find myself ahead of the curve when it comes to computer literacy once I was in high school, and even at university (I was surprised by the number of people who were unfamiliar with word processors). At the same time, I do kind of regret a little that I spent, perhaps the part of the year where I would have been most physically fit exercising my fingers than my whole body, and I am kind of trying to make up for it now by taking up a ridiculous amount of activities while I am still not terribly unfit. I am no parents, but I think that I would like my kids to experience a bit of everything, indoor and outdoor.

[abaxas]

Just remember the world is 3d, when tablets are only ever 2d.

[Metalheadkicks]

I think kids of this generation are going to be too much dependant on technology and will lack common sense.
When I was a kid, technology just about worked 3 times out of 5, so we relied on common sense.
Kids today are just too impatient with basically what are older gen super computers in their lil hands.