It’s tricky because using technology can be kind of addictive and that takes away from other beneficial activities like playing outside.

I would set limits on how much screen time they have.

I’m sure your baby doesn’t actually know how to use your iPhone, she just grabs it and pushes buttons without actually knowing what it’s doing. I’m torn too, how much is too much?

it is fine
they will have a step up for when they go to school

At that age they are attracted to colour and as they touch things it changes what is going on the ph as well as sound. Keep it up when you put it some where and don’t let bub have the chance to be able to get it to be able to play with it as it is easy for screens to break and not safe for little ones and just give them toys for there age group and let bubby be a bubby as it has nothing to do with the times or evolution at this age. Touch phones are so easy to touch some thing and get into different apps and such. My way of thinking is that is why you can get toys that are fun and full of colour and developes different motor skills and such. You can buy toy phones that make sounds and things when you press the buttons or pictures and these are made for little ones and most important are safe for them to play with. I like kids to be kids while they can.

It does seem to be part of evolution and our now Culture of the 21st century. they say monkey see monkey do; so its important that you baby’s see you reading books and not just playing on the phone. And its not just the mothers role also the fathers. Its great to let children play with tablets as they are apart of education, just be sensible on time restraints.

It’s good for her to know how to use modern technology as this will help her a lot in the future. However, I think that at this age she should be playing more games that are creative, to help her develop. Too much of anything is not good

unfortunatley this is how it has always been there have been computers etc just they werent as portable back then as they are now i was against my children having ipads ipod etc but now they have ipods and we only use them when they have been doing other things and their choirs are done but at 8months keep it away and get her other things to play with reccomended for his/her age also my kids arent allowed ipods on school nights either

It definitely the way the world is going. My daughter now 3.5 had learnt how to use my smartphone at a very young age. She now has an old smartphone with game on it. But she is only allowed to use it as a treat. I make sure she still does many of the ‘traditional’ things we did as kids, such as crafts playing outside and playing with friends. She is only allowed to use the phone on long trips, or as a special treat if she has done her little jobs. It is definitely not a daily thing. I do know her preschool also uses a tablet filled with educational games for the kids who have been behaving as a special treat also. All in moderation. Don’t use it as a babysitter!

My daughter (currently 3) learnt how to use the Ipad, when we upgrade to our android tablets she took over the ipad. I filled it up with games and put ABCiview on it. She uses it on a daily basis has even taught herself how to use youtube (gets who ever is around to search for her). I was raised in a technology household as dad was a computer programmer (this was before computers were a common thing) and could type my name before I could write it.

I don’t see children learning as a bad thing. At 3 she has more respect for things than my stepsons (who are teenagers) even telling me to be careful with her pad. She understands that if it breaks that’s it she doesn’t get another.

She has a concept of money (even if she tells me sometimes just to buy more off the computer (still trying to find the ebay sale for that one.)) as she knows some of her games are free and some cost money.

And the biggest advantage is she will be technological minded in a generation that is run by technology. An understanding on what is trying to control us helps to prevent us to be controlled.

There are to many kids today who think to communicate you need to text. I see them sitting next to each other when they go out to see friends and still be texting. They let technology control them and become in my opinion a ‘stupid’ society as they can’t think for themselves and have trouble even holding the most basic conversation. By teaching my daughter technology now, I am teaching her to be smart and technological but to also look up from the screen and see the beauty of the world around her as well.

We have had the grandparents let my 2 year old daughter play with their ipad & it become a issue, she would get angry & was the only one allowed to touch it. I have an older style phone & she tries to slide it like an iphone. I am against young children playing with expensive items so we purchased a Y-pad for her which is a plastic toy that resembles a ipad with sounds & flashing lights. I have heard to many stories of kids smashing screens, not to mention the news stories you hear today about technology killed my child because they couldn’t keep there eyes off there phone.

Unfortunately this is the way the world is going, trying to avoid it won’t help as they use them at preschools, schools etc, so teaching them
At home with educational apps is a good thing, my 2yr has learnt so much more quicker then my other 2 children just by having those apps available for hi
To use, also teaching them young teaches them to look after it better, my 2yr old is more responsible than my 7yr old with the iPad, he’s more open to listening if he wants to play it were the 7yr old just plays it to it’s dead and doesn’t think to put it on charge, cause then no one else can use it he thinks. Moderation and supervision is always recommended we limit time spent on them.

My daughter is nearly 3 and she loves playing on the ipad and she learns numbers colors etc

ive just started letting my 2 yr old use her sisters ipod i think it out of our control as i no alot of schools now require kids to be able to use an ipad for prep classes

It’s crazy how they know exactly how to turn it on swipe and all at such a young age!! My 17mnth old gets into my phone all the time. I think it’s an important part of life and the world today- obviously limiting use is important as well though, a child should always prefer outdoors to inside with technology I think.

if you don’t want them to grow up addicted to technology i would try and swap it for something else, i just reckon kids should grow up being kids just like we did, but that doesn’t mean to cut out all technology, but i rather have my kids playing

It’s the sign of the times. Kids will be using this type of technology for the rest of their lives. Don’t stress.

I think any parent that thinks they are going to keep technology away from their child is crazy, its part of everyday life and no matter the age i think its going to happen so why not make it a family fun time with your child.
We set aside 1 hour a day and our 4 year old gets to play on the ipad and we have a great time playing on it together.

They need to learn the technology, don’t stress to them this is normal, like us a home phone and a big chunky TV was normal and to our parents Black and white TV was normal.. as long as you still teach them the basics, reading writing , manners etc they will be very well balanced

I am torn too – I do not want 3 yr old falling behind at school when every other kid knows how to use these things, but at the same time I don’t want her hooked on them now, plus I cannot afford to buy them!