Tablets/IT for the under 4s?

Sorry. whenim64 not iam

Oh yes we would iam64! (Be voicing our terrors fears about horrible happenings with water sports)

Imagination comes into play more with books. I think that's important. And books are more likely to widen their experience of the world albeit secondhand experience. And I have the feeling that reading might help develop their emotions more than tablets can.

My eldest grandson used Minecraft to learn about operating his own server for him and his friends. He's been on Minecraft conventions with his dad in France and the UK, and his ability to code and develop apps and games has enabled him to organise his work placement with a programming company, before he chooses his college and uni places. Our grandchildren leave us standing with their aptitude for computers. When little ones show their fascination for noisy engines or water sports, would we be voicing objections about impaired hearing or risk of drowning? I guess not.

I seem to be out of step here - if I am honest I am quite shocked by all the above posts indicating the level of usage amongst small children. My two DDs who live locally do not have these things in the house - my extremely brainy 6 year old GS uses the computer to look things up if he needs to and reads, reads, reads. Neither of these DDs would consider tablets till their children are much older. I endorse their position on this.

The other DD, who works full time (and I think that is relevant) allows her children to have them and, as I have said, it causes lots of aggro. The oldest boy gets so wound up by it that he hurls it across the room when he cannot achieve what he is aiming for - it winds him up like a spring and something has to give.

And as for the educational aspects of them - I always avoid educational games of any sort. This is the time when they need to develop their imaginations and explore what is out there.

My DGC watch quite a bit of TV, and that too is too frenetic; but they love the DVDs we have here for them - gentle charming programmes like Bagpuss and Ivor the Engine - they are entranced by them, and their behaviour is reflected in the programmes they have just watched - it is fascinating. If they have been watching a frenetic programme they start hurling themselves around the room and bashing each other up; a gentler programme is reflected in gentler behaviour.

A lot of the arguments against tablets (and such) could be used against reading books too much and yet we seem to think that reading is somehow superior and to be encouraged. My MIL was criticised as a child for always having her nose in a book, ruining her eyesight, living in a fantasy world, addicted to the written word, not getting enough exercise, etc. I think we have to move with the times and accept that computers have opened up the world in the same way that books did in the past. However, we have to get the balance right and that's where small children need guidance (and discipline) from adults. Tablets are great - in moderation.

Minecraft has been THE big thing for about three years now. All the GC are avid players either solo or with others. It can be played as an adventure or used as a design tool. Some grans use it too - though I haven't managed to get hooked yet.

Apart from those Leapfrog and V-Tech things. Where they learn a bit, of course.

I would try to keep very young children away from tablets as much as possible. Certainly not give them their own until about eight.

I sometimes wish the things had never been invented when they come on a visit.

Mobile phones. I presume that stuff like too much usage causes brain problems, is old hat nowadays?

So tablets causing brain development problems might be too?

I dont know as much about the very young and computers as lots of others do here.
But isnt the battle lost anyway at 5 because they have computers at school?

Ana. I dont know what OWT means.

My five older grandchildren play Minecraft. Last year the three eldest GD9, GS8 and GS then 6 all played together, even though they all live in three different states in Australia. DS set it up as they had the server so they could all talk to each other. They did start to lose interest a bit but now the next two GC both nearly seven have joined in too so there is a bit more interest again. I love that they can all play computer games online together and if I was visiting and they were playing I could hear them talking together.

I read an article which said surgeons who spent at least three hours a week playing video games made less errors.

Mishap I heard somewhere that the theory about fast moving images being harmful to younger children's brain development had been taken seriously by the French with regard to TV programs for young children.

I dont know if there is any conclusive scientific evidence about it but I cant help thinking it's not helpful for concentration.

I was amazed when I saw how fascinated DGS was by In the Night Garden when he was just 11 months old. It totally engaged him.

He is now 2 and does not get a lot of TV.
His parents take him into bed with them with Peppa Pig on their tablet if he is awake early and they want to snooze.

Just before Xmas had all five grandchildren in the house. Each had a tablet, either their own or their parents. Age of GC was 10 to 4. They all played together on Minegraft for a long time happily together, no shouting, arguments or disagreements.
The four year old started using an iPad before she could walk and has learnt all her letters and numbers on them. All the kids have great hand eye coordination.
The treat in both homes is loss of Ipad, Kindle or Nexus if ill behaved. The elder two DC have Internet access but it's strictly controlled by the parents and time locked.

Meant GD! Sometimes the I pad controls our spelling! x

My 5 yr old GS uses her mother's I pad and the school ones. Yet on Boxing Day she spent most of the day in a huge cardboard box playing imaginatively. She had turned it into a vehicle and was off on her travels round the world!

We have now bought her a simple globe, next step is to find a suitable child friendly geography ap for the I pad.

As with all things we have to move forward sensibly. X

My DD also rations the amount of time her children are allowed to play on the iPad. She has downloaded games for each of them. The games are fun but also educational. My GS who is 2 tries to swipe pictures in books to try and change them!!

Three year old grandaughters play with an iPad as well as pretend play and using their toys and books. One has learned to tell the time of her own volition, and can demonstrare what she's picked up in a game on the iPad by placing fingers correctly on her toy clock. It distracts them if they're a bit tetchy and they enjoy looking for games and nursery songs. My four year old grandsons were used to iPads by the time they started school, and they have them in the classroom. They don't play outside with iPads, at nursery or in the swing park. Variety and choice is the thing - iPads are handy for us adults and children soon pick up the idea that they'd enjoy them, too.

Perhaps not a gadget of their own at that age, but most very young kids want to know what their parents are doing when they use a gadget, whether it's a bunch of keys, a hammer, or a modern tablet device. Normal learning: take an interest in what the other people in your world are doing. As I see it, the only way to prevent a child from wanting to use an IT device, is not to let them see you using one. Seems a bit unrealistic to me to say categorically that they "must not have IT" until they are older, unless that just means not their own personal IT gadgets.

There are some nice games for young children on tablets nowadays.

My DD bought my DGS a tablet when he was 3 years old, last year because he wanted to play on her laptop and she had to give it up to him at times.

But then she always seems to have children's tele on 24/7 whether they are watching a particular programme or not, it's just on.

What happened to craft time, cooking together, going swimming, parks?

She doesn't even take them to the supermarket so they are learning nothing about food and where it comes from geographically or from which animal or how it is grown etc. It's a wealth of knowledge going food shopping. It's called time and patience. Doh!

Four of my six GC were given their own tablets for Christmas, including the youngest who only turned three in November. They had been using their parents iPads or phones for games, none are addicted and have many other things they like to do. GD3 has been playing educational games since she was tiny, she also spends a lot of time outside, loves her bike and scooter, likes to paint, dress up, used to play with play dough more than anything else for months.

On the other hand DIL and DS said their boys didn't need tablets, they were concerned eldest GS age 8 wanted to spend too much time playing games on the computer. Plus they have many computers, laptops and an iPad, DS works in IT. GS would not want to go out with them because he might miss out on playing games, even though he was restricted to the time he was allowed to play. They finally decided both boys could have an hour playing games if they earn a token for half an hour practising on the piano or other school work. It's worked really well, GS8 is now relaxed about his time on the computer, his piano playing which was very good has improved and GS6's reading out loud has come a long way since they started with the tokens. Also the boys play other games together and have many other activities.

GS's neighbours, boys recently turned 8 and 6 are not allowed to play computer games at all. When they come to GS's house to play the first thing they want to do is play on the computer. I will be interested to see who in years to come, when there is no parental control, will spend the most time on computers.

One thing I am very much against is allowing children and young teenagers to be on social media sites.

MY GC who have these things play with them with a frantic fervour and concentration to the detriment of inerteraction with those around them. And woe betide the parents who try to get them to stop to come and eat their tea!

I really do believe that the speed of action on these games is bad for developing brains which are not wired up to be exposed to such agitated activity. I hate seeing little ones with them. These new young brains are busy making connections that will affect the final product, so to speak, and it is not natural to be bombarded with such high intensity visual and emotional stimulation.

Maybe I am a Luddite!

It would be interesting to see what a neurophysiologist might have to say about it. I will look it all up - tomorrow!

soontobe, it won't damage their eyesight, any more than sitting too close to the tv will! Another OWT.

The New York Times article which was part of the link that Grannyknot posted included some interesting points. The writer said that he had met a number of technology chief execs. who agreed with Jobs' view about the dangers of children spending time on screens. The former editor of Wired said "We have seen the dangers of technology first hand .... I don't want to see it happen to my kids."

The dangers he referred have been said to include:

exposure to harmful content
bullying
addiction to devices
reduction in empathy levels and social skills

Could Steve Jobs or the former editor of "Wired" really be described as Luddites?

My GC have been using a variety of tablets since they were 18 months. Ipads, Kindled, Leap Pads, etc. The oldest taught the next oldest and she taught her cousin and so on. They play a variety of games, some educational and some for fun. They stream allowed material onto them such as children's films and TV programmes.
They are NOT allowed to buy in game apps. There are grandparents controls in place.
Use is strictly time limited and any reluctance to close down the tablet results in the privilege being withdrawn.

I've been very pleased with the quality of some of the programmes and apps. My now 8- year old could tell the time in analogue and digital by the time he was 5. I wish his mother had had access to such an app when she was his age as she took forever to grasp this concept.

Of course they play out, go out, play inside, bake, paint, dress up, etc as well. This is just another tool in the kit and one which is very welcome on cold, wet, winter days.