Jacob loves playing on my phone - any issues with this?

charmcitygirl

Jacob has fallen in love with playing on some apps on my iphone.  I have about 10 toddler apps downloaded that are for counting, letters and animals.  In fact, when he asks to play with my phone he says, "Can I count on Mommy's phone?"

Yesterday, we had to take my grandma to some appointments and I let him play with it while sitting in his stroller so I could concentrate on talking with the doctors.  Another example is that while out to lunch with my grandma, he was finished, but she was still eating.  So, I let him play on it so that he didn't ask me to get out of the high chair eleventy billion times.  

DH and I were talking that I think this has reinforced his ability to count to 20 and helped him learn more animals.  (We have Peekaboo Wild, Peekaboo Ocean and Peekaboo Barn.)

But I'm just trying to think through any potential issues with him playing on my phone.  He doesn't do it all day everyday, but probably for a bit every day.  Any issues that you can think of for him to want to play this or for me to use it to occupy him when I need him to be quiet/contained?

beebe929

I like the Ipad for toddler apps.  I try to use it for travel mostly so it doesn't get used 100% of the time.  So I just lie and say things like the movies only work in the car or the plane.

I think mixing in real life counting/animal stuff would help balance it out.  Like instead of playing with the phone let's count all your blocks. 

 

krissyh21

I think it serves as a great distraction. Can't see how it will be a problem unless he accidently dials 911...

PhillySue

I dont seen any issue with it.  I let Katie watch episodes of Michey Mouse Club House on my phone when I need to distract her when we are at a restaurant and I think that is probably worse so I don't think it is a big deal to let him play games on your phone plus he is learning!

Mouseygail

I think as long as its in moderation its fine!  Jones loves playing peekaboo barn and such (didn't know there was an ocean one!!  we need that!!)  and occasionally we let him watch some yo gabba gabba on it.  I can't wait for him to be able to understand the more educational apps

CandT

I love the peek a boo apps! I just read an article, I can't remember where now or I'd find the link, about this. It basically said that kids should remain 5 ft away from all electronic wifi devices. It said the incidence of brain cancer and other health issues are on the rise (and will be in the future) do to the amount of exposure we have to these devices.

DH let's DD chew on his phone all the time and it drives me crazy. I let DD play on the ipad but I always hold it. Our world is so filled with wifi I think it's impossible to keep her 5 ft away from it but I am aware of how much exposure she has to the ipad and I don't let her play with my cell phone.

Do you have a computer that doesn't have wifi that would be the best option, but we are all wireless at my house

orange682

The only issue I can think of is that he might think your phone is a toy and try to play with it (or accidentially break it) when you're not looking.  Personally I think it's ok as long as he only plays with it when heis sitting and is some what monitored. 

I let DD play with my phone, and she has started to ask for it when we are in the car or sitting somewhere.   DH is scared she is going to drop it or break it.  Actually... I think he kind of wants her to break it so he can say I told you so. 

Do you know if the Peekaboo apps are available for droid's too?  How much do they cost?

LIAngel

I'm not cool enough to have a phone with any apps.  But if I did I probably wouldn't let Nicholas (or Ava when she's older) near it even if he was sitting and monitored.  I'd be too nervous that he'd break it or accidently dial 911.  I can't even be on my laptop when he's around.