A new study has posed an awfully contentious conclusion – giving babies an iPad to play with is tantamount to child abuse – the equivalent of playing ‘Russian roulette’ with their development. Love them or hate them , devices such as tablets and smartphones are a large part of many small children’s lives, which has a UK child development specialist very concerned.
Dr Richard House, says the trend for babies and young children using iPads is “deeply disturbing.” He believes that introducing them to“techno-magical worlds” may affect their development.
He feels that the real, human-relational world is challenging for all human beings to understand to begin with. Furthermore, he believes these virtual world confuse children, who are just beginning to get a handle on this world. “It is surely an absurd reversal of the natural order of things,” he says.
Parents worry about every aspect of their children’s development, so these comments give pause for thought. Surely children are the most adaptable of human beings – they are able to learn multiple languages with an ease that is hard for many adults to replicate. They have open minds which are yearning to be filled with knowledge, and they seem to have an innate understanding of technology – perhaps because they accept that it just ‘is,’ rather than trying to dissect each part of it.
The world is full of things that could be described as an ‘absurd reversal of the natural order of things’. Air travel. High rise buildings. Hotels under the sea. Not all absurdity needs to be damaging.
That is not to say that children should spend all day on devices and ignore the real world, but for the foreseeable future, technology is here to stay. There have been other studies that link excessive screen time with poor eyesight, poor verbal and decreased social skills. Then, there have been others entirely at odds with this, stating technology can help with memory and problem solving. Both sides will have valid points.
Children should surely be taught how to use devices constructively, as well as developing good physical and interpersonal skills.
The danger comes when children are unwilling (and in some cases seemingly unable) to part with their tablet or tv.
Like everything in parenting – and everything in life – moderation is key. Most children are given rules about the food they eat, the people with whom their spend time, their activities and the amount of screen time they have. We love our kids and we’re doing our best – which is largely about following our own instincts and common sense.
Please comment below about how you feel about your children and grandchildren when it comes to technology.