Is technology taking over our children?

[S]

Recently I went over my friends house and was shocked to find her 2 and 3 year old on Ipads. They had one each and were on it all day vegetating on the couch and had full access to the internet. What was more shocking was how they were able to navigate everything, very intelligent right?

However the 2 year old was watching this angry orange which I thought was violent and graphic

Is this the modern child? addicted to technology? I feel like my childhood in the 90's was a lot better quality. I had one games console to share with my brothers and only had new games at birthdays and Christmas, we went out to play A LOT , we were very active and learned how to socialise and make friends with neighbours. My mother provided traditional games and she took me to parks to play

These kids have facebooks created by their parents, and they can download free apps so the thrill of playing a new game at their disposal can be highly addictive and easily accessible. The parents sit them on the couch to play on their ipads and they never go out to play.

I asked my friend how long her children have been using the ipads and she told me since 18 months ( before they were able to speak! )

Is this right?

[pachousgirl]

Children need a broad range of activities that expand the mind and nurture patience and tenacity

When it comes totechnology and the Internet, children may be quick learners, but lacking wisdom and experience, they tend to be naive. So show them the dangers to avoid and how to avoid them. Consider online social networks, for example. Granted, such networks may allow young ones to express their identity and meet other young people, but the sites are also a “shopping mall” for sexual predators and others with bad motives.



Some children, says Dr. Mali Mann, may even “get diagnosed incorrectly with Attention Deficit Disorder [ADD] or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder [ADHD], or even be erroneously labeled with bipolar disorder.” Accordingly, some authorities recommend no television viewing for children under the age of two.

[Jimmy C]

It is called bad, lazy parenting. The parents give ipads as babysitters instead of looking after their children, so they grow up bored and inattentive with no social skills. It also stunts their neurological and physical development because only their hands are moving.

Sometimes I babysit two children whose parents leave them with ipads. When I get there the children are engrossed in the internet and have no expression. I put away the ipads, take them to the park where we play with sticks, we climb things, we throw balls, we find flowers and plants and the children start to smile and laugh again. They are so much better when they are outside in nature or when an adult is talking to them and playing games with them.