Recently the wife and I have been thinking about getting IPad’s for the kids. We were wondering what is an appropriate age for kids to get a tablet. With the ever growing need for technology in most peoples lives my wife felt like they could use them for learning and as a way to keep them from just watching TV or YouTube.
I’m a little old school in that I didn’t think kids should get anything that expensive. However, I also want my kids to have everything I never had and hopefully that will give them advantages I never got.
With research I found that both statistics and science state that 2-years old is the YOUNGEST they should be. Based off the American Academy of Pediatrics, for children 2 and above you should limit media to 1hr a day at most. Using it together with them is recommended. For children 18-24 months parents should choose high-quality programming/apps and use them together with the child. Apparently using it together is because that is how they learn best. They say letting children use media by themselves should be avoided. Children younger then 18 months screen time is discouraged, with the exception of video-chatting. You can find out more by clicking this link HealthyChildren.org.
Honestly though, I think my biggest issue is that I’m CHEAP. Getting 3 iPads is more then I want to spend even it it’s a multi-holiday gift. Knowing them they will fight if we only get one or two. So I broke and we got Aaliyah (7), Dominic (4) got their own, and Jasmine (2) gets to shares with momma.
After deciding on getting the 3 iPads and having them for a few months, this is what I have discovered both the goods and the bad.
My 2 years old daughter usually only wants to use her iPad when her siblings are using theirs. As all kids her age want to copy their brother and sister She doesn’t really know what to do on it so she watches some stuff for a few minutes, or plays with a few apps like Crayola Color and Create. I usually help her because she’s still learning how to swiping while holding. I have found that a 2 year old will pick it up rather fast though. A good app for this is the Crayola one. It has puzzles that is 9-12 pieces and with help she’s learning how to hold and drag as well as how to do puzzles.
My 4 year old is learning coordination, problem solving skills, and patience by playing games. At this age they are learning from the educational videos we find. He especially likes ones about animals.
My 7 year old is very good with the tablet. She did have a computer for almost 2 years in school. Kindergarten was mostly all virtual with near the end of the year being in a classroom setting. The apps the school had them use was Epic! (For reading), reflex math (math games), and xtramath (more school setting style of learning math). I always suggest these as they all really helped my daughter. We also have an agreement with her where she gets 1 hr of YouTube on Friday night if she has gotten her homework done with no fighting.
Should get a tablet for your kid? It all really depends on your particular child and how they react to digital stimulation. Keep reading and you’ll find both pros and cons of having one for your kids.
PROS
The World Runs On Technology
Kids learning how to navigate tech early is beneficial. Everything is Tech based, the best jobs are those focused around technology.
Educational
There are so many great learning apps out there. Epic!, Reflex Math, ABC Mouse, Noggin, Crayola Color and Create, and others. There are even apps to teach kids html coding.
Gives You A Break
This device isn’t a babysitter but when you have stuff to get done or a zoom meeting you need to attend. This can really help.
CONS
Attitude
I’ve noticed my kids tend to have an attitude after watching Tv or something on YouTube. I haven’t had this issue with the tablet games with the exception from my 2yr old but I think that’s expected.
Time
If you don’t set time limits on how much they can have with media tablet included, you will find that the amount if time they spend in front of a screen can get out of control.
Lastly, I have a few tips to make the experience less of a battle and a more enjoyable experience.
Set Rules First
Letting them know what the rules are in the beginning is best. If they get them for a while and you then try to restrict speaking from experience you will have more arguments then if you put rules in place from the beginning.
My wife and I experienced with with the Tv. We use to let them use it whenever they woke up and if we were still sleeping they would watch tv in the morning.
We noticed every time they did, especially on school days, we had a huge battle to get them to listen. If we just shut the Tv off oh lord I’d get the same drama if I just threw the tv it in the dumpster.
It has taken us a while to put a stop the the morning tv watching. We resorted to hiding the remote and it’s worked. Now they don’t try to hunt the remote down, they’ve excepted the fact they don’t get tv everyday.
With the tablets, we put rules in place on day one and let them know these are not THEIR tablets they are ours and we dictate when they get them. If they argue they don’t get the privilege of using them the next time.
I have to say of the two ways of dealing with them, this is the way to go. No arguments and when we tell them to put them away they do so.
This Is Not A Babysitter
I know this may seem a given and at the same time we as parents are going “Then why am I getting this thing”. Yes we may be getting it as a reprieve from parenting, to get a break, let us have our coffee in peace, to get stuff done around the house, or to have a meeting with your boss without your kids busting in and screaming about stinky butts. See 17 OF THE BEST TIPS ON WORKING FROM HOME WITH KIDS for that wonder full explanation.
What I mean about using it as a babysitter, is don’t do it everyday, all day. Some days it’s tempting. I know there are days I just want to be left to my own to write an article that I’ve been putting off, to get fought up on emails, or because of zoom meetings. If there are days where it can’t be helped, find a balance where after you spend good quality time together with each kid. Go for a walk, have them help with cooking, or get down and play games with them.
Restriction Settings
Put time restrictions on apps that don’t promote learning. We have password protected YouTube on our Tv and put time restriction on the kids tablets. They can’t use YouTube before 9am or after 8:30pm, and only get an hour to use each day. I suggest doing the same that way you can let them still use apps like epic!, GarageBand, or ABC Mouse.
It can be hard to know if the pros will outweigh the cons on getting the tablet, All we can really do as parents is do the best we can. I find for my family that the tablet is fine for my kids even my 2 year old. I make sure I use it with her and with all three I try to make the stuff they do on the tablets is educational or creative in nature.
I’d love to know what you decided on and your opinion on the matter. Let me know in the comments below.
