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Iphones and kids - Page 2

post #21 of 65
7/11/11 at 9:49pm

i can relate to you kibba. not with that exact family but whenever i see kids using technology around me i feel sad. 

 

nothing to do with that particular family but it always reminds me of those kids who are plugged in and struggle to be plugged off. 

 

however i feel the sadness many times at different occasions. 

 

i see fast food as a symbol of how its affecting our diet today.

 

i see soda and i wonder why its even produced when its so bad for our health. 

 

why are we so surrounded by junk when we are such an obese nation. 

 

however one thing i do feel when i see toddlers with iphones. OMG they just get it. it just blows me away how much these 2 year olds know how to use the apps. how intuitive they are with technology. so at the same time i am blown away and sad. 

 

i guess i am sad coz i volunteer with teens and adults with health issues. and because of that its not parenting that i think of - its society at large that makes me sad. why do we, I let it happen?!!!

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post #22 of 65
7/11/11 at 10:32pm

So, we homeschool with a bit of a waldorf slant. We do less TV than average. I think smart phones are fantastic. 

 

I guarantee you that with no phones, no electronic games other than Simon and the gigantic Atari, which we were not lugging around in vehicles and restaurants, I had literally 10x the screentime that my kids do. And not good stuff either. Adult shows over my head and things too scary for me to handle. Stuff that just played in front of me, not things I could interact with or be creative with or collaborate or share with friends and family in any way.

 

DH and I have iPhones. The kids love them. They do plenty of interacting, especially since there's usually two of them and one of it. They take turns. They share. They decorate "cookies and cakes" on the phone and giving them to one another or emailing them to relatives. They take photos of what they see and love and send these to their relatives too. They write emails, the younger suggesting and the older typing. They draw with the drawing programs. If it's not a quiet setting, they turn on music or recordings of themselves singing and dance and sing. Math and foreign language drills, I don't love, but DD does, so okay by me! 

 

The older one *can* sit still and entertain herself. She's done weeks worth of no media whatsoever. She watches less than most of her friends. The 3 year old is 3 and a firecracker. He doesn't sit still, but I guarantee you no different parenting involving more stuff for him to throw like crayons and tchotchkes would change that, nor would it have if I'd done it from his infancy. Still, why should they sit still w nothing to do?

 

My older child did this stuff with crayons and paper instead when she was 3 as I didn't have such a phone then. Know what? It was a million times more of a pain in the butt for everyone. Keep the paper dry, then we're out of paper, then the super special paper that we have to mail to grandpa got crunched and oh the horror! Lets not even start on the shape of the crayons!

 

Media out and about with toddlers/young kids is not the issue in heavy media consumption. It's unregulated TV and computer use in the home, usually in private and by older kids. 

 


Edited by EviesMom - 7/12/11 at 4:59am
post #23 of 65
7/22/11 at 9:27am

We limit screen time. We have a portable DVD player, but it only comes in the car with us on drives longer than 4 hours. We have iPod Touches, but when they're in the car they're only for music, not for games. When I sit at the park, I might bring a magazine to leaf through if my kids are occupied and in sight, but I don't play on my phone (because I get more absorbed in it than I do in a magazine, and I worry that I might not notice as easily if my kids move out of sight). 

 

That said, there are times when I do break out the iPod Touch in a situation where I normally wouldn't. For example, I was shopping in a fabric store for things I desperately needed to buy that day so that I could make Christmas presents for some family members, and I really needed to focus so that I'd get all the right materials in all the right quantities. I had DD with me, and she was bored. So I gave her my iPod Touch and you know what? She was happily occupied for the 20 minutes it took for me to get all my supplies, and then we left the store and had a great day together, without screens. So if some mother saw us during that 20 minutes and got all "sad" for me and my DD, my eyes would roll all the way to the back of my head. 

post #24 of 65
7/24/11 at 12:19pm
It is no easy to judge but so hard to know the truth. DH and I were out to dinner with the kids. We each handed them a phone to play on. Looking on, you might feel "sad" for my kids. Of course, you wouldn't know that we were about day 10 of vacationing and doing activities with our kids, that we had just spent a long, hot day walking around a historical villiage learning about the 1800's. They were tired and the restaurant didnt have any crayons or activities for kids. You also might feel bad when you see my kids at the science museum with my DH on the phone or texting away. What you wouldn't know is that because of technology like his smart phone, he is able to watch them while I am at work and still work enough himself to support us. It may look like he is ignoring his kids when in reality he is able to spend days with them and do tons of activities, he just needs to be able to answer a few phone calls or respond to a few emails while he does it.
post #25 of 65
7/24/11 at 9:06pm
Thread Starter 


Like I said in my first post... " I don't have anything against kids playing them in general(but I think/hope it should be limited) "

 

 Also my post wasn't about having kids be good "without entertainment" I just remember when kids would color with crayons, play with a toy car, or hold a conversation. This also wasn't about me judging them. It was more about the general idea of kids playing with Iphones/electronic toys all of the time.

 

"

But there's still no reason to judge a mother in a different situation with different kids. After all, you might end up doing things differently when you have two kids instead of one, esp if your second child has a different temperament.

 

I knew a lot more about how other mothers should do things when I just had one quiet child. DD#2 showed up and I found out that you can do all the same things and your child can act VERY differently."

 

 

 When did this become about the number of children someone has? I was just talking about electronics in general.  Not all kids are the same, I think everyone realizes that. I don't need to have more then one child to know this. I'm sure I, or anyone with one would do things diffrently with #2 in general, I'm 100% sure an iphone/electronics usage wont be one of those things that change. ;)

post #26 of 65
7/25/11 at 8:49am

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by kibba View Post


Like I said in my first post... " I don't have anything against kids playing them in general(but I think/hope it should be limited) "

 

 Also my post wasn't about having kids be good "without entertainment" I just remember when kids would color with crayons, play with a toy car, or hold a conversation. This also wasn't about me judging them. It was more about the general idea of kids playing with Iphones/electronic toys all of the time.


So assume, probably correctly in the vast majority of cases, that the parents (who you are seeing for a miniscule portion of their day) do have limits about it. Problem solved, no reason to worry about it anymore. thumb.gif

post #27 of 65
7/25/11 at 9:29am
Just today, I had to wait at a place that wasn't child friendly with my 2-year-old, and I instantly whipped out my iPhone and thought about this thread.
post #28 of 65
7/25/11 at 9:47am

Let's get sad about kids who aren't getting dinner instead of ones playing with an iphone while waiting for one.

post #29 of 65
7/25/11 at 10:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by 4evermom View Post

Let's get sad about kids who aren't getting dinner instead of ones playing with an iphone while waiting for one.


Well said.
post #30 of 65
7/25/11 at 10:56am

You know, I wonder if there is a link between technology and the huge rise in obesity during the last 20 years in this country.  During that time, it has become the norm for every home to have a computer (or 2 or 3) or a TV in every room.  It's probably a contributing factor.  

 

http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/trends.html

 

Sorry for the OT.  I also like having the iTouch as an option when DD is antsy.  

post #31 of 65
7/25/11 at 11:05am
Quote:
Originally Posted by squimp View Post

You know, I wonder if there is a link between technology and the huge rise in obesity during the last 20 years in this country.  During that time, it has become the norm for every home to have a computer (or 2 or 3) or a TV in every room.  It's probably a contributing factor.  

 

http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/trends.html

 

Sorry for the OT.  I also like having the iTouch as an option when DD is antsy.  


The big three factors I've always read about are: TVs with continual children's programming available (and I think video games et al are a subset of this - it's like continual indoors electronic entertainment options in general), air conditioning (so people don't feel like going out as much), and people being afraid to send their kids out to play.
post #32 of 65
7/25/11 at 12:24pm

We let 3 yo DS play with DH's iPhone all the time when we are out to eat. It's literally the only thing that saves us from having a wild monkey jumping around disturbing the peace. I don't feel ashamed about it at all. DS does not like to go to restaurants and has a very hard time sitting still when it comes to something he really doesn't like to do. He is SO active, and sitting at a restaurant nice and quiet just doesn't jive with his explorative sense of adventure. LOL

 

I would hate to think there were people sitting next to me judging my parenting skills because of it or "getting sad" because my son is engaging some sort of technology. One the same note, I can't really expect DS not to be curious about technology considering he sees me and DH on our computers and phones several times a day.

 

 

post #33 of 65
7/25/11 at 2:13pm

OT - obesity. there's actually another twist to this and i really do believe it is a v. strong contributor. so as factory farming grew the US started producing waaaaay too much food (read corn for food) and what were the industry to do. you know the big industrial farms? add it to as many foods as you can and encourage people to eat more. need i go on more. today physical exercise has become important just to beat this bad diet. in many cultures exercise is not stressed at all for kids below 5 and the kids play mostly around the mom not really exercising the way we are being encouraged to do so.

 

so really large portions, bad diet and lack of exercise to make up for the added calories are our issue here in the US. i mean look at the chipotle burrito.  

post #34 of 65
7/25/11 at 2:28pm

My 4 yr old is playing on my iphone right now, and my 6, 8, and 10 yr old kids each have their own ipod touches (and DSi's).  Heck yes they take them when we go places like a restaurant or anywhere where they will have to wait that is not geared towards kids.  It's a sanity saver, and I really don't care if anyone else thinks it's sad.  Believe me, they still engage with one another and us - I wish it were as easy as making them stare at a screen in order to not be arguing or interrupting.  I can still guarantee we will have a bit of drama (whining, fighting, crying, spilled something) when we go out to eat as a family - even when the kids have an iphone or similar to distract them.

post #35 of 65
7/26/11 at 5:40am

 

   Currently there's a search for green technologies as there's

a perceived need to use less oil etc.; the technologies being

sought to fufill a need; they change to meet our needs. I know

of no push by child psychologists, educators or parenting group

that found children's lives lacked something or needed something

that would be addressed by an iphone or that the things were

designed to make children grow to be better human beings.

   Another way to think of it is to assume we were in a child-

centered society. In such a society why would there be iphones?

 

 

 

post #36 of 65
7/26/11 at 6:30am
Quote:
Originally Posted by aparent View Post

 

   Another way to think of it is to assume we were in a child-

centered society. In such a society why would there be iphones?

But the point is we ARE'NT!!!! actually in a sense i feel we ARE. we always segregate according to age. we stop everything to take care of a child rather than just having a child enter our world. we try to change our world to fit the child in. in my books an absolute no. no.

 

which is why an iphone is 'important' as its something parents use and we do. why do we tell our children 'dont do as we do'. an iphone is a short time device. a parent uses it when needed and a toddler uses it when needed. as simple as that. if a parent uses an iphone a child is always curious about it too. while obviously you wont give your child a cigarette if  you smoke (there lies the dilema) how can you not give your curious child your iphone. 

 

in general many kids are plugged in a lot, i will admit that. but one cant make that assumption by looking at the child at the next table. 
 

 

post #37 of 65
7/29/11 at 5:59pm

There are 2 sides to every story. As soon as I walk into a restaurant or a crowded place I hand my 4 year old the Ipod touch. He has autism , very high functioning , but crowds, smells, and loud noises set him off huge. So, before anything happens to set him off he has something to distract him. An Ipod with headphones.

 

So while I understand where the OP is coming from, sometimes it is necessary. Sure I could sit and talk to him and entertain him. Which would last about 30 seconds, before everything is so overwhelming he can't function. You don't know the circumstances in someone elses life. Someone elses world.

post #38 of 65
7/30/11 at 8:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by aparent View Post

 

   Currently there's a search for green technologies as there's

a perceived need to use less oil etc.; the technologies being

sought to fufill a need; they change to meet our needs. I know

of no push by child psychologists, educators or parenting group

that found children's lives lacked something or needed something

that would be addressed by an iphone or that the things were

designed to make children grow to be better human beings.

   Another way to think of it is to assume we were in a child-

centered society. In such a society why would there be iphones?

 

 

 

 

Because they are exciting tools that interest many kids and adults.  There are a lot of things we have in our lives that haven't been proved to be necessary by a study (clothing in warm climates, restaurants, posters, tape, etc...)  but there actually are many studies about the importance of technology in the classroom.  It is hard to get a job these days if you aren't technology savvy and educators realize that.  Parenting groups often work together to get more technology into the classroom, and an IPhone is a technology that is widely used for work and play.  The PTO's in many districts have worked together to get the latest technologies into the classroom since I was a child (at least).  Many parents don't want their children left behind and they take advantage of opportunities to teach their children how to use all available technology from a young age so they will have an edge, since an IPhone is unlikely to make it into the classroom I think it is good that parents are teaching their kids how to use them.  I am sure that when computers first came out there were parents questioning why we would have them in a child centered society also.  Change is a hard thing for people to take in, especially when it comes so quickly with almost yearly advances.

post #39 of 65
7/30/11 at 8:43pm

My kids love iphones/ipods, so yeah, in a child-centered society, there would be tons of them! LOL. 

 

But, really, even speech therapists (and OT's) are using ipads now when working with their students.  Our schools have smartboards in every classroom.  Technology is something to be embraced, for the most part.  It doesn't mean no one is still talking to the kids, for goodness sake.

post #40 of 65
7/30/11 at 10:02pm

I'm surprised no one else has brought up the safety concern of children using cell phones. At our last well baby visit, our ped recommended that we remember to always keep cellphones at least a foot away from our LO.

 

"On 31 May 2011, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced its decision to classify cell phone and other types of radio frequency and microwave radiation as possibly carcinogenic to humans. Cellphones are now in the same category as DDT, lead, dry cleaning chemicals, gasoline engine exhaust, naphthalene, and a whole range of other substances you wouldn’t want to expose yourself to for very long."

http://www.spaceclearing.com/html/blog/2011/06/20/who-announces-cellphones-may-cause-cancer/

 

"The Russian National Committee on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (RNCNIRP) has been studying the effects of mobile phones on children since 2001. Their committee consists of 36 members, all highly qualified scientists and specialists, who are satisfied that there is serious cause for concern. In a resolution passed in March 2011 they state very clearly that the usage of mobile phones by under-18 year olds and pregnant women is not recommended."

 

"The Council of Europe cites long-term studies conducted in Sweden that have shown a substantially increased risk of brain cancer in people who started using mobile phones before the age of 20, and the report says, “In children, the amount of so-called stem cells is larger than in adults, and the stem cells were shown to be the most sensitive to RF EMF exposure, which may be one of the reasons why children are so susceptible to electromagnetic exposure.”

http://www.spaceclearing.com/html/blog/2011/05/15/council-of-europe-calls-for-classroom-ban-on-wifi/

 

Here is an article on reducing cell phone risks:

http://www.spaceclearing.com/html/blog/2010/05/12/reduce-cellphone-health-risks/