Tablets/IT for the under 4s?

DS 39 started off with those hand held games and played Mario Bros when he was around ten. Then we bought a PC, he would have been mid teens. He spent many hours holed up in his room on the computer or over at the high school on their computers. He is now a Network Engineer and at the moment he has just completed a nine day intensive study course. He has estimated he needs five to seven hundred hours of study besides working full time to get a higher qualification which is being paid for by another company who want him to work for them. DS had intended to study for the qualifications anyway. Spending a lot of his free time playing around on computers didn't hurt him and he does spend most of his spare time with his children. DIL said last year the boys don't realise how lucky they are to have him for a father. Maybe DS is very balanced because he didn't have so many restrictions, though by the time he had a computer he was a teenager. GS 8 does have restrictions on his time using the computer and often says he can't wait until he grows up. I have noticed though over the school holidays when the restrictions have not been so controlled he does play for an hour or so then goes off and does something else. I think for him it's the "not being allowed" that bothers him.

Anya, what is that if not simple calculation? There is more to maths than numbers.

I have no concerns about children learning about technology - and using it. Reading some of the posts we sound like a group of people disputing something we are actually all agreed on.

Technology is great and necessary but access, particularly for young children should be controlled.

Your definition of 'calculation' and mine must differ Flickerty but be that as it may, I think we probably agree in general about this.

DGS got a tablet for his Christmas, we can't actually find it, he was so uninterested he has stuck it somewhere in his bedroom???????? he likes to talk on Skype and does a few games on his Mums phone when we are out and thats it.
Seems like a lot of money and he prefers his wooden train set, age 3 next month and very PC savvy.
Perhaps if it is not made a 'big thing of' they really don't worry that much.
We watched the original Cinderella (1950) tonight, he just loved it, and took that over Kung Foo Panda.
Must say Shrek is a good one for both of us.

Our dgc 4 and 7 have their own iPods. No bother getting them to stop. If they don't stop as soon as told to do so, they lose the privilege for a week. It happened once. When they realised mum and dad meant it...... No bother.

My three year old granddaughter looks at Youtube on my phone. She is able to find Frozen, and Playdoh clips, without any help from me. It is useful when you fancy 10 minutes of quiet time!

We were out for Sunday lunch last week. A family sat beside us. Each child had a tablet and they were watching individual films suited to their age. The youngest child was about 18 months, the next about three, and the next about five. The parents were able to have their meal in peace. So I have mixed feelings about these gadgets. Should children learn to sit quietly during a meal out? I think it's very boring if they've nothing to do, so on balance, I think the tablets were a good idea.

I think the image of three young children glued to their tablets during a meal out is a quite depressing one. I agree that parents ought to be able to relax in a restaurant but if the only way to get your children to behave is to rely on technology to placate them, I think that's worrying.

I would have hoped when my DC were young I would have used a sitter for them if I wanted a meal out with DH and if it was to be a family meal we would have engaged them in the conversation as a way of teaching them how to behave in a social situation. I have had more than one meal out ruined by children who do not know how to behave in a restaurant.

The image of those children glued to screens in a social situation is a bit chilling.

When we go out for a family meal, with DGC we talk among ourselves, all of us including the children. That is what a family meal is about.

One night when out, a year or two ago I watched with fascination a family of four, grandmother, parents and a boy of about 14. They sat at their table for 45 minutes and apart from ordering the meal didn't say a single word, certainly not to each other. The strange thing was although they did check their phones once or twice, most of the time, when not eating, they just sat there vaguely staring into the middle distance. They did not look unhappy or if they had had a row. I was out with DH and DD and we were talking to each other 19 to the dozen.

I don't mind the tablets at the table. For us - it was books. Colouring books to start with, board books then reading books. Micro machines ended up on the floor giving an excuse to get under the waiters' feet. A tablet encouraged DGS to read, he wanted to be able to understand instructions onscreen.

We had lunch with 5 children yesterday, we were there for three hours. Ages 3 to 15. (oops, almost included my 19 yr-old in with them! ) They started off by colouring in and playing the games on the backs of the menus - all of them. They chatted and talked. The meal arrived. They ate. They chatted and talked some more. The coffees arrived - the tablets came out. It was blissful. It was the least stressful meal I have ever had with so many children before - ever. All down to tablets and phones.

It is not the technology that is the problem it is the management of it. Sensible and thoughtful parents will make sure that access to & use of IT gadgets is part of a wider repertoire of experiences! As janerowena points out in her post.
A child who just reads /watches TV or just plays on a bike or just kicks a ball or only plays with Lego etc is having an unbalanced play experience. We all need a bit of balance! Parents need to be parents and set boundaries as well as having fun. My 2yr old DGS can use the ipad to play some games..great hand eye communication development but he also likes his scooter, going swimming, singing, playing make believe..only this afternoon we went 'to the forest to make a camp fire' with all the cuddlies!

meant to add if it is seen as a 'banned' item and disapproved of it can make it all the more attractive! Also can make kids feel left out! I had a family at a school where I worked who did not allow any TV. It did make it hard for the kiddies to 'connect' with lots of the games the children played.
A little of what you fancy does you good!

I don't know what all the fuss is about. Mine just use them like any other toy.
I'm more worried about my DGDs love for Harry Styles. Lol. We are not allowed to speak when she brings him up on the TV.:-(

Exactly!

And - I never thought I would hear myself saying this, but - I found myself looking at DD's floor and saying, 'they don't need all this plastic rubbish. Get rid of the cheap plastic toys that they only spend five minutes a day with and let them have an extra half an hour on the tablets!'

Totally agree petra! To kids they are just another amusement! Give them a good diet of activities/toys and choice and they'll be fine!

my little one throws the I pad to one side when I go to take her out

FlicketyB. You watched a family of four with fascination for 45 mins in a restaurant? I think that was actually quite rude

Both GDs are a couple of chatterboxes and often at the table are told to stop talking so much, eat your meal and do not speak with your mouth full