Technology and your lo?

lp0 · May 2014

So DS is 2 1/2 and has recently discovered the iPad. He loves it and will sit so nicely playing (which is rare because the kid is like a ping pong ball). He plays educational games and after only two days is already able to write letters.

So DH thinks we should give him that iPad and we should get a new one. I am torn because I feel like he's a bit young for it but on the other hand I am amazed what he is learning (we sit and play with it together so it's not like I'm just dumping him on the floor with it). I'm thinking as long as I put time restrictions on it it's not bad thing.

What do you guys think? Do you/ will you let your lo use tablets, computers, etc? At what age?

cammyisagirlsname · May 2014

My almost 6m old LO has been playing with baby apps for a month now. He loves the iPad & I see nothing wrong with that.

cammyisagirlsname · May 2014

Eta: pic

leahraewku · May 2014

My 2 year-old and 4 year-old use one. We set restrictions on the types of apps they can buy and on the amount of time they spend on it. Like Sooz said, they're going to be introduced to them sooner or later, so I've chosen to embrace them as a teaching tool.

FutureMrsCaesar · May 2014

I think it's fine in moderation. I don't even see a big deal if he plays it by himself sometimes, you gotta shower/cook/clean up somehow. Just remember it counts toward his 'screen time' total for the day along with tv, which at that age shouldn't exceed 2 hrs.

I also wouldn't give his own ipad at that age, he won't be playing enough to necessitate that plus he's not old enough to care for it (I've seen my then 2 yr old throw my ipad down the stairs when he got mad, thank God for a good case). Unless of course you are looking for an excuse to get yourself a new one, in which case he definitely needs his own

eta: we got my oldest a leappad for his 3rd birthday (we had a cross country flight coming up and it was great for that) which both of them still use quite a bit and he got an ipad mini for his 5th birthday but to be honest he loses his ipad privileges quite often.

notkateanymore · May 2014

Around 2 is the perfect time to introduce it IMO. Before that there is really no reason and can have adverse effects on sleep, etc. if you're getting a new iPad, I think it's fine to give him the old one, but there is no reason to go out and buy another one at his age. He should only be using it about 30mins-1hr total from what I've read. Kids usu technology in school starting at a very young age now, so there is a fine line between too much and not enough. DD got her first iPod at 4, inherited an iPad at 5, own iPad mini at 7 and iPhone at 9. She'll probably get a new desktop or laptop this year since she's using the computer for school more and more.

74dragonfly · May 2014

jenniferbromley said:
My almost 6m old LO has been playing with baby apps for a month now. He loves the iPad & I see nothing wrong with that.

I think it is silly for a six month old to play on the iPad. Many organizations like AAP, have said that it is not developmentally appropriate for a baby to use a tablet. Babies need to be working their gross motor skills, exploring things by chewing them, etc.

74dragonfly · May 2014

DD, age five, started using an iPad at age 2.5. We download games for her and we limit the use as part of her average two hours per day screen time.

kittyh8r · May 2014

Emma loves the iPad, and it came in handy this morning. She woke up at 6 am and I didn't want to be awake, so I put in Mickey Mouse club house and she laid in bed for 2 hours watching it. She plays games on it in church. I would never GIVE her the iPad though. It's all of ours, and she can use it when I say so. She would destroy it if I let her handle it herself.

chemily8 · May 2014

jenniferbromley said:
Eta:
pic

What apps do you use?

lifesaverz · May 2014

We've never gotten an iPad or even an iPhone/smartphone for that matter. I'm kind of glad too, because I see how easily they can become almost like an addiction, for adults or kids. The coolest thing I have is an iPod touch, which is what I bump on actually. Even then I have to be careful that it doesn't take over my day. We will probably try to avoid these devices if we can, but I think the way you're using it, for educational games, w/ limited time, & as long as it doesn't interfere with him wanting to do actual active play is probably fine. Those are the limits I would want for LO if I ended up getting an iPad at some point.

cammyisagirlsname · May 2014

KKDRAGONFLY said:

jenniferbromley said:
My almost 6m old LO has been playing with baby apps for a month now. He loves the iPad & I see nothing wrong with that.
I think it is silly for a six month old to play on the iPad. Many organizations like AAP, have said that it is not developmentally appropriate for a baby to use a tablet. Babies need to be working their gross motor skills, exploring things by chewing them, etc.

I see nothing wrong with it. Some people may find it silly. But I think it gives a lot of intellectual stimulation. Not for every baby, but definitely for mine.

Apps I use are Fisher Price Giggle Gang, Kiddy Fun & Baby Shapes

Alexisgamez105 · May 2014

https://www.nabitablet.com my little brother has this

MissyC979 · May 2014

DS1has used an iPad or iPhone since around 2.5. He also has his own Leappad. When we get new iPhones, I'll probably give him my old one to use on wifi.

We limit the amount of time and he has to ask permission to use it. We often use it as a reward for good behavior and (FFSC) it's bought me extra sleep many mornings.

notkateanymore · May 2014

It's not that people think it's "silly" for babies...it's not good for them. You can stimulate your child without an iPad.

KFED103 · May 2014

KateMW said:
It's not that people think it's "silly" for babies...it's not good for them.

Not true Kate, it's possible to think both

KateVA · May 2014

Babies using iPads is nuts.

My 5 and nearly 7 year old get 30 minutes each daily. But they do tend to watch each other play so it can become an hour if they play for 30 then watch for 30.

n8swife · May 2014

DS1 is 2 and he uses our IPad. He loves doing puzzles on it and he's gotten pretty good at them. He uses it for 30 minutes in the evening if he asks. If he doesn't ask to use it, we don't offer. I wouldn't give him his own IPad at this age. It seems unnecessary.

cammyisagirlsname · May 2014

I do stimulate my baby in plenty of other ways. It's not like I'm all "Here's your own iPad, kid. Have at it! Do stuff!"

So many things just aren't good for babies! Formula, rice cereal, earrings, iPads...

74dragonfly · May 2014

jenniferbromley said:
I do stimulate my baby in plenty of other ways. It's not like I'm all "Here's your own iPad, kid. Have at it! Do stuff!"

So many things just aren't good for babies! Formula, rice cereal, earrings, iPads...

Huh?
I'm only stating Ipad time isn't good and thatisbased based off the research by groups like AAP.

leahraewku · May 2014

ballerina10 said:
Ummm am I the only one too cheap to even buy myself an iPad?!? I mean gosh I even bought my iPhone off eBay used....

ILs bought ours (for DD1) or we wouldn't have one.

amberpro · May 2014

DS1 has been able to work an iPad since he was 1. We had a family iPad... It's his now. He plays games but also watches movies and Netflix (which he can also navigate on his own). So I guess I'm saying no, I don't think 2 1/2 is too young

. Let him figure out how to unlock and navigate it completely independently. It's a life saver on road trips.

ETA: just read all the other responses. I've read all the stuff about screen time. We got the iPad when DS1 was 18 months and played peekaboo barn. We then eased into a couple other things. Now he's a pro. I don't put limits on it, but I would if he abused it. He doesn't.

lp0 · May 2014

My cousin bought EACH of her two boys iPads when they were 2 and 3 1/2. I thought she was out of her mind (this was before I had kids). I changed my view on the boys using iPads but I would never buy them each their own.

swirl25 · May 2014

DD1 uses my iPad often...I have both educational apps and apps just for fun for her on there. I think it was around 18 months that she started using it...probably won't let LO really use it till around that age either - I feel like that's a subset of the "no TV" rule.

bty19 · May 2014

I show her videos of herself and I have a cause and effect app on my phone.....she doesn't care...she's always grabbing for my phone, not because she thinks its fun, because she's seen me on it since day 1 and wants it in her mouth.

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