Technology use in Toddlers.

[Breeelizabeth]

Ok, I'm wanting to get a gauge on how people feel about letting their toddlers use technology.

I'm looking at what to get my LO for her second birthday present, my OH suggested I get her an iPad or a TV and a DVD player for her room. However I don't know if I quite agree with a two year old having their own iPad or having access to tv 24/7. I don't mind her playing on my phone for short periods or letting her watch kids shows on tv for a short period. OH has two girls (nearly 4 and nearly 3) and they have both iPads and Tvs in their rooms. They're not addicted but won't even go to bed or take naps without having tv on as they're just used to it being that way. OH said I'm causing DD to miss out on finding things she likes and interacting by not allowing her to have technology 24/7. I know that it's up to me to police how much she uses technology even if she has these things but She's at an age where she's getting used to routine and if I allow technology it will become part of that routine (I've already noticed it with music - I'll play music while she's eating breakfast and now she'll only eat food if music is playing)

So what are your thoughts and views?

 

[StillPraying]

I had the same struggle. I compromised by getting dd1 a leap pad tablet. I chose the one with no Internet option as I disagree with little ones having access to Internet. But she loves her tablet and the games are mostly educational.

 

[SarahBear]

Absolutely no TV in the bedroom. Also, there's no reason for a small child to have her own iPad. Violet is 4 and she's been using a touch-screen computer since about 2.5 years old. We let her play learning games on it. She also watches shows on my husband's computer. We have no TV, so computer is the only place to watch. She definitely gets her share of screen time and there have been phases of her life where there was too much screen time. But, she does not own her own screens. She has no need for her own screens. Leo is closer to your daughter's age. He will be two in March. He is just starting to be interested in watching things. He doesn't have much attention span for it though. I guess I'd say that by 2, most kids are using screens in some capacity, so the use of an iPad isn't so out there, but owning her own iPad would be a bit excessive. At this age you can get away with giving your kid a balloon for her birthday and she'll be thrilled.

 

[Zephram]

TV in bedrooms is totally unnecessary, seriously. Even for adults I am anti tv in bedrooms. OH may slightly hate me because I refuse to allow him to get a TV for our bedroom. I also don't see why a 2 year old would need their own tablet. A family tablet they get a small amount of time on, sure, but not their own.

 

[AngelUK]

There are lots of studies showing that screen time can be damaging for little brains. We only allowed 30 minutes of tv at that age but they did get a leap pad at almost 3 for Christmas. They were not very interested in them at that time however so their screen time was not significantly upped by it.
Like others, I am utterly and fiercely against tv in bedrooms. I see no benefit and only downsides to that idea. Less screen time and more time for imaginary play time is definitely better for little brains.

 

[_Meep_]

Mine hardly gets any screen time now. A while ago, she was slipping into a habit of wanting to watch cartoons all the time, so we just didn't bother to renew our TV licence. Problem solved. She will now ask to watch a DVD occasionally and I've no problem with that if there's something else I absolutely have to be doing, such as making her lunch. If she's feeling quiet or agitated and won't settle on an activity also, we'll occasionally sit together and watch something until she says she is tired.

She has no idea how to use a smartphone. I don't think she's ever seen an iPad. When she's older and it really matters to her, she can have both, but right now there are so many things that bring her joy and occupy her time whilst also giving her a chance to use her imagination, and I much prefer that.

She has definitely slept better since the TV went out of use too.

 

[JumpingIn]

Oh my god. I think giving a 2 year old their own TV would be nuts to be totally honest.

Paediatric guidelines state no screen time at all until age 2. After 2 the main activity (say 95%+ of the time) should still be screen-free play, and bedrooms need to be clearly defined aa relax spaces and places to sleep.

I don't get your husband's point of view at all. I'd be buying a 2-year-old a set of blocks, a train set, a slide, a new ball...

Gifts are a chance to promote qualities you wish to develop in your child. So things that encourage activity, gross motor skills, creativity etc are all good picks

 

[.Mrs.B.]

I agree with the others, I have seen kids as young as 2 addicted to to their Ipads and refusing other toys/interaction.

 

[Breeelizabeth]

Thanks for the input ladies!!
I agree with all of your comments. Especially about the bedroom being a sleep space. I have no toys in her room for that reason (all the toys are in a toy room) I spent way too long teaching her to sleep in her bed and through the night I'm not keen on backtracking or creating unnecessary sleep associations like watching tv until she falls asleep.

I'm also glad I'm not crazy. I think of myself as a fairly liberal parent and I'm sure there's things that I do that others wouldn't agree with but tvs and iPads at her age are just things that don't sit well with me. We were all raised without in-your-face technology and we turned out fine!

 

[cupcake23]

I agree with the others, my ds only got a tv in his room last year, he was 11, he doesn't even use t to watch programmes, just to play on his consoles.

A 2 year old won't miss out on something they have never had... Exposing tablets/ tv will just make it difficult in the long run, my dd is 6 and she has a kids kindle fire (given last Xmas) and a family iPad she can use, the only time the kids are allowed to use them is the weekends, and even then I feel they use it for far too long. My dd gets very upset with me when I restrict use, can't imagine dealing with a 2yr old.

 

[cat_reversing]

They have their whole lives to use technology, they don't need to start at 2.
DD is nearly 4 and uses my tablet sometimes to play games, she might get one for birthday but won't be using it all the time, that's for sure.

 

[c1403]

I'd admit, my two do watch dvds quite a bit but we don't actually watch the TV. Our tv is never on. They only watch what we let them and when. I have an I pad and they have games which I download.

I don't mind them watching the TV/playing on the I pad BUT we do need to limit their times on them. I find I give it to them when I have work to do and it's happening a bit too often.

We have said they will never get a TV in their bedroom, we don't have one either.

I know some people love their TVs but we could easily live without one apart from watching dvds and playing computer games.

 

[Boozlebub]

My son got a bit addicted to our iPad during my final weeks of pregnancy as hubby was working a ton and I was exhausted! (We also watched far too many dvds and are far too much chocolate!) I've found his behaviour was horrendous after using it or watching too much tv. We have now been iPad free since the middle of september and his behaviour is so much better. I've also limited his tv time to maybe one film or an hour of paw patrol or blaze a day and the difference is incredible.

So I totally agree that there is no need for her to have her own iPad or tv in her room. I wish I'd never introduced him to an iPad!

 

[Bevziibubble]

I definitely wouldn't allow a TV in a child's bedroom. My daughter bedshares with me still but we don't have a TV in the room.
My daughter got an iPad for her 4th birthday and I try very hard to ensure she doesn't have too much screen time on it as it's easy for her to just switch off and watch too much on it. I try to get out of the house with her as much as possible and when we are in the house we play games and read. It's hard though as she won't play alone!

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

We do not have tv

She sometimes watches older ones play on the ds

She does not really use much but because she is not interested. My son was on pc games at 3 and was excellent as thats how his mind works. She just prefers little fiddly toys and things.

 

[Twag]

My son (he will be 3 in February) uses my ipad in the morning when I am getting ready for work - he has apps that I have downloaded for him and he watched kids youtube - he has actually learnt a lot from the apps and kids youtube so I do not see an issue with it tbh - he is on it maybe an hour tops - he knows all of his colours, counts to ten, can name numerous animals and types of vehicles - his speech is amazing I do not think it has hindered him in anyway

I know I will probably be branded a bad mother now

I got him a leappad he mainly uses it to draw pictures, do puzzles or take pictures but uses that maybe 2 hours tops a week

He spends most of his day playing with toy cars or pretending to make tea & cake for people or doing his homework as he calls it when he is drawing

I think having a good balance is key because ultimately technology is the future

But NO TV in his room not until he is a teenager

 

[_Meep_]

I know I will probably be branded a bad mother now

Not at all - he's doing plenty of other stuff and only using the iPad for a little bit of time a day. I see no problem with that.

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

Not at all a bad mother x

 

[Bevziibubble]

Definitely not!

 

[CaptainMummy]

My girls are on phones/tablets way too much... but quite frankly if that's what it takes to calm them all down and stop me from murdering them (that's a joke btw) then that's what I do. They certainly haven't been negatively affected by it at all, we all need some time to chill out and they are busy all the time with school/nursery/toddlers etc so I don't think there's anything wrong with it.

Paige got a tablet for her 5th birthday, and Ella (a less expensive one) for her 3rd,although that one went for a bath a few nights ago thanks to Hannah and now no longer works!