iPad

NYE

How many of you let your child use iPad, and how do you manage it?

i don't want to be with her every moment with it. 

sucredee

My DD (2.5) usually plays with my iPad when I'm cooking. She will either watch an episode of something or play with her apps. She sits at the kitchen table while I cook. So I'm close by but not right there with her. So far we haven't had any problems. I have not let her play with it in the car mostly because I don't want her to want to play with it every time we are in the car.

She navigates the iPad pretty well do I'm not too worried about it. She's also pretty careful with it.  I don't let her play with it more than about 30 minutes a day on average. 

mamainseptember

NYE:

How many of you let your child use iPad, and how do you manage it?

i don't want to be with her every moment with it. 

We got DH one while he was deployed and now DS uses it alot. We bought one of those Fisher Price cases for it so if DS drops it, its not destroyed. He knows how to turn the music on, put his apps on or watch a movie. He plays with it maybe three to four times a week for maybe 15-20 minutes at a time. He doesn't LOVE it, but he enjoys it from time to time. I wouldn't buy one specifically for my two year old, but since we have one he likes to use it. 

anvloveskme

We bought one for a flight to Maui when DD was 18 mos and it was great - like most toys, the novelty has faded.  Some days she doesn't use it at all, other days 30 min max.  Usually on song apps (ABC, twinkle twinkle, etc.)

Kingston54

MIL got DS an iPad of his own for Christmas.  I'm interested to see how we will manage it.  I definitely don't want him on it all the time.  However, I think it's a great, generous gift that he will benefit from - especially in the form of the educational games.

TMDMJAOCT07

I have some apps on mine along with a few movies/tv shows. DD knows how to unlock it and has a general idea of where her stuff is on there. But, she usually asks me for help opening up an app. 

She plays with it maybe once a week or so, she doesn't ask all that often, and I don't usually offer it up, she has plent of her own toys.  We were just on vacation so she had more access to it then, since we didn't have much else to do in the hotel with our downtime.

 

LovinTim912

The ipad falls into the "cant live without it" category in our house.  DS loves it and has so many different apps- mostly educational- and it is wonderful.  When we started potty training, we used it as an incentive. (If he went on the potty, we would download a free app of his choice.)  It worked SO well... we are going on 2 weeks now!

We have a few movies on it and some of his music.  This is an excellent distraction tool when going to the doctor or somewhere that he doesn't wnat to be lol.  LOVE it. 

groovygrl

DD will play with it if it is on & around, DS LOVES IT, so he is the one I have to manage. it is my ipad and goes to work with me every day so it is never really just sitting around for him to play with unless I leave it on the island in the kitchen (they often sit there to eat or play). I have it passcode locked so he cannot get into it unless I allow him.  He is really tough at daycare drop off (still after 3 yrs) and so playing with it when we get home (while I make dinner usually) is his reward for having a good dropoff in the morning. I will use it as a reward in other ways to encourage good behavior also & try to limit his time on it (usually a fight breaks out b/w my kids over sharing it which = automatic taking away lol) to under an hour, usually closer to 30 min. I think just keeping it out of reach & access is the best way & not giving it constantly, making it 'special' is the best approach, at least in my house.

hopecounts

we just have always had a "you can't pick it up rule" the iPad has to be laying on a surface or propped in it's stand (for videos) and she isn't allowed to pick it up. she has her anywhere chair and we turn it so it's facing the coffee table and she sits there and plays on it or is in her booster seat at the table with it.

When she first started using it a few months ago we told her not to pick it up and if she did the iPad was put away. After a few times she got the idea and knows better now. 

DD loves it and is able to open her apps on her own though she hasn't