Liz Perle, Editor-in-Chief
Stranded by a thunderstorm, I sat in Dulles airport last week and watched how the little kids (under 5) coped with waiting. Of the seven in my immediate vicinity, two napped, one threw a prolonged temper tantrum, and three played with their parents' (or at least I hope they were their parents') iPhones. (The seventh just sat staring into space.)
There are no reliable statistics on how many toddlers and preschoolers play with phone apps. But I'm willing to bet that my unscientific survey (close to 50%) probably reflects a common reality. After all, 100% of the app-playing children were quiet and had relaxed-looking parents.
Since all media has an impact -- both positive and not so positive -- it helps to consider the pros and cons before letting your youngest children loose with your $200 dollar piece of electronics (OK, $99 if you let them have your old one...). Here are a few recommendations:
1. There are better teething devices than electronics. If your kids start to put your phone in their mouth, they're too young to use it. Find something else for them to chew, shake, or throw.
2. Pay attention to what they're doing. Make sure you download age-appropriate apps -- there are lots of them. Check out the apps before your kids do to make sure the subject matter is right for their age. Can they understand the words? Can they manipulate the game? Really young kids are still developing their fine motor skills, so unless you want a frustrated child on your hands, make sure that a game doesn't require lots of coordination to play.
3. Don't make phones a habit. Remember that kids quickly develop routines. If they associate going to restaurants or driving in a car with playing games on your phone, it will be difficult to transition out of the behavior.
4. Balance coping skills. Ultimately, we want kids who can amuse themselves without batteries. Make sure that your kids are equally comfortable with board books, music, and that old faithful -- the crayon.
5. Keep an eye on the phone. They can get dropped -- on the floor, in a toilet -- wedged in a seat, left in a seat pocket, etc. These things are expensive!
They can damage the phone pretty easily if you are not careful. Playing with it accidents happen they're are much better things that are easier on the teeth than a hard cell phone. http://www.prlog.org/10268926
Great post, what you said is really helpful to me. I can't agree with you anymore.
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No one in my family has a smartfone; in fact, the first person to get a phone in our family got one in december......call us non-tech-savvy, but that's just how we are! I don't think kids should be playing with 'rents phones, because, if you start at the top, where else do you have to go? These kids who start out playing with the best and greatest won't want their first phone to be a tracfone that only calls people, will they???
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I think kids under 12 years should not use Iphones because it can be effect their health and divert their mind and will consume their time on Iphones and they will not take attention on their studies. In China, China Iphones are very popular and cheap in price but in all over the world China Iphones are very popular, In china children below 12 year not use Iphones or Ipods. Thanks for sharing
my brothers and sister play with their moms and dads phones or if theyre not doing that theyre coloring if theyre not doing that theyre whining lol i have an ipod touch so im good.
when me,my husband,my daughter,son, and my husbands friend went to laughlin my son and daughter used the iphone alot and kept playing with the apps
1 - article is about letting your toddlers/preschoolers play with your Iphone, not buying them one
2 - People should stop thinking of the Iphones/technology as the evil and instead go to what 'apps' are used.
The article cites 'board books, music and playing with a crayon' but there are apps for that. I read interactive books from Starfall.com that are 10x better than most board books out there. They 'teach' and get kids enthused. I read ebooks and so does my niece. Once my daughter is reading, she will probably read via an electronic device since it stores more books, is interactive and you can carry all your books with you as you go. Die hards of 'paper' copies can read that way, but I'm a voracious reader, going through 1 book every 1.5 days, and for those of us who truly enjoy reading a lot, ebooks are an obvious choice.
Music - ipod feature on Iphone - I have Cinderella and Little Mermaid audiobooks ready to be listened to in the car on long trips, I have Dr Seuss, Roald Dahl, amazing radio plays from the 50s and 60s such as Peter Pan acted out or the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe with Dame Judy Dench and other fine British actors lending their voices to the radio play. Phenomenal! I bring it to the beach to listen to fun songs, and I listen to Sesame Street or 'Down by the Bay' with my youngest as we drive around. Music is part of many activities we do rather than just something we listen to now and then thanks to the Iphone.
I have wonderful 'Learn How to Read' apps, apps to teach my toddler to recognize her shapes, numbers, etc. Animal sound fun apps, Memory Game apps, puzzles, and pure silly fun apps. The apps are more fun than most of the toys out there for kids. The apps 'are' the toys. A Memory Match game where kids turn over cards trying to get 2 of a kind is the same whether it be in packaged board format or on the Iphone. Candyland is the same whether played with your friends online at Nickelodeon kids or as a board game. My daughters play together - air hockey - on my Iphone. My hubby and I wait our turn patiently. It's fun for the whole family, and it's interactive and something I do 'with' them.
And as for crayons, my goodness.....have you seen the apps out there....you can draw in Iphone 'crayon' and your doodles come to life! Or you can splatter and draw really cool masterpieces.
If those who are against 'technology' were exposed to the countless learning and fun opportunities technology offers, they might change their tune...then again they might not. Luckily society keeps moving forward despite protestations 'against' change and technological improvements....I remember reading how the telephone was going to be atrocious, making people stop writing altogether, but instead we now write to each other more than ever, every single day, through email. It's different, it's changed, and many of us would say it's better - I can now show my grandma pics of the kids on Facebook, talk on Skype with family all over the world, and have a video conference with my entire family out East in the blink of an eye!
My Iphone changed how I live, and it has changed for the better. I can now bring my toddler out to supper and she just watches Elmo or Cinderella when she starts acting up. I can entertain a bouncing 3-year-old and prevent meltdowns in lineups. I have my weapon of choice and it isn't sweets or punishment, it's my Iphone! And it works like a charm every single time.
Sigh...would have been nice if the people commenting on the article had read it, since it's not about GIVING kids a cell phone but letting them play age-appropriate games occasionally.
I do that with my 15-month old. I have a G1 (a "Google-phone"), and there's a free program called "Toddler Lock" that makes "ping" noises and displays shapes as you tilt the phone and/or push buttons. If you draw with your finger on the screen, it draws a line. And he only ever gets to play with it on the changing table--though I suspect if I were trapped in an airport for an extended period, it might come out again.
On the topic of RF radiation: Juries are still out on the whole topic, but "Toddler Lock" can be set to go into "airplane mode," i.e., no RF generation, if you're worried about that aspect. And frankly anyone could set an iPhone or G1 or whatever smart phone you want to be in airplane mode while it amuses the kids.
What's all this craziness with phones? I have an iPhone, but only because my company is paying for it. But, for kids? No way. They don't need to be in constant contact with their friends, i.e. texting or otherwise. Make a playdate, or go visit them at their house and play! I understand the attraction. I like video games too. But a "pay by the month" phone? Forget-a-bout-it. The only allowance I would make is if your child was going away to school in another state or country. But then again, take a few quarters with you and find a pay phone...
I have been using my iphone as an "in-a-pinch" entertainment device for my 2 year old for almost a year now (she is almost 3 now). I have found it amazing how natural the interface is to her. She can slide through the pages to get to her favorite apps with little to no help. I have set up a page of particular toddler freindly apps just for her. Its funny that you just posted this because I just posted a review for a few good free toddler apps (some educational ones too ;o) that she really likes http://geekologyblog.com/index.php/2009/07/iphone-or-ipod-touch-applicat...
I think the maturity of a child comes into play when allowing them to use or have a phone. My daughter has had an emergency tracking phone in her backpack since kindergarten. It had 4 phone numbers programmed in and a push button 911. She is 8 now and I upgraded her phone but got one that I could program numerous numbers but could lock the phone down so only the contacts can be called or call in. She asks if she download a game and we discussed costs etc. She uses it when she's waiting at daycare or camp. We also text. It is a good tool for communication with children if they are mature enough. The technology is constantly changing so there is no worry that they won't have anything to "graduate" to, because every year there are new phones. The radiation from cell phones is negligible. Different phones can have different power levels, but are FCC regulated. Since Europe depends more heavily on wireless comm. and they have more difficult design challenges as well as different regulatory systems, their phones may emit higher radiation levels. But Chernobyl exposed everyone in Europe to more radiation than any cell phone will, even if you had it to your head all the time. As great as wireless technology is, board games, cards, crayons, markers, I spy and other mind stimulating games should also be used to occupy children. I don't like seeing people handing their phones over to shut the kids up. But in prolonged situations where everyone's patience is thin...and you've exhausted all the other fun stuff...I see no harm in it.
My daughter plays with my husband's iPhone.
He has selected very nice applications and downloaded into his phone only age-appropriate ones. She plays games such as packman or a painting/ drawing game, but just occasionally. It hasnt become an obsession.
We follow the rules listed above, which we agree completely.
My husband and I both have iphones, and on more than one occasion, we've relied on them to amuse our children. I have (age appropriate) apps on the phone for both of my kids. I also have videos on for them. We were able to get through a relatively tear-free blood draw with my then 16 month old by letting him watch his favorite dvd on my phone.
There are downsides too - one day our toddler set a passcode on my husband's phone. Fortunately he set it to "9999" and my husband was able to figure it out before having to reset his entire phone.
I agree with this article. If the kid is content with messing around with the apps, and it keeps him or her busy, fantastic.
Kids should get a cellphone when they start walking home from the bus stop or from school...when going out with friends becomes more of a common activity...When the parent feels like they should give their child a little more free space. Depending on the kid (or parents, for that matter), that could be anywhere from ages 11-15.
I'm still a teen, but I like to think that if I ever become a parent, I will give my kids as much breathing room as they want. I DON'T want to force them to do things they don't want to do. I WON'T force them to eat foods that they don't like. And if, for some reason, we're caught up in some kind of ridiculous line (at the airport, for example, as was described in this article), I wouldn't hesitate to let my child play a game on my phone *IF THEY ASKED FOR IT.*
Before anything, I would try to entertain the child myself before I let a material electronic device keep them busy. :)
I agree!!
I totally agree with you!!!!!!!!
No one in my family has a smartfone; in fact, the first person to get a phone in our family got one in december......call us non-tech-savvy, but that's just how we are! I don't think kids should be playing with 'rents phones, because, if you start at the top, where else do you have to go? These kids who start out playing with the best and greatest won't want their first phone to be a tracfone that only calls people, will they??? These kids, (not to offend anyone) are heading down the road to be spoiled!!
Our school has a nice CTP program where each student involved receives an Ipod touch (although its not really a phone i guess) for the entire time their enrolled in the program. I think its pretty neat that our school is taking advantage of new technology in this way. Otherwise, I don't have a "smartphone" but the one I have is probably just as powerful as one, paid for it myself as well and I'm enjoying it.
My parents give me and my sisters a phone only when we go out in public just in case we need the phone for an emergency.
I'm 13 and I swear I don't have a cellphone let alone an iPhone! My parents are too protective. But I think they're right even though I want a cell phone really badly.
And I agree with Just The Facts. We shouldn't let kids younger than 12 have cell phones! Were ruining the children's brains!
I haven't see anything wrong exposing the little kids into a modern facilities and gadgets, the earlier you expose them the better. They also need to be familiar with those devices for them not to be left behind by the powerful technology. Their social aspect will be nurtured. One of the popular gadget is the iphone. The iPhone update download will be made available at that time, free to all who own iPhones, but iPod Touch users will have to pay $10 for the update, which includes browser software and other updates, and for less than most instant loans. Apple devotees have been waiting in the wings for an update to the iPhone and iPod touch.
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This isn't an opinion, as much as a comment, but I'm in a K-12 school, and there is one kindergartner (going into first) who has an iPhone.
**Sorry that it is very random.
I agree, Last year, my parents got me an iPod touch. They later got an iPhone for themselves. But yes, I agree, if you re under ten, you don't need an iPod of any kind for your kids. Just put music on there that the little kids will like.
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i think that kids need cellphones and that my son jason got his first last year from the school program they started
listen just the facts i think you mean no cell phones under the age of 10 but it depands is your child responabolity well i say 4th grade and up i do say the phone is a game system has games but i am only allowed to buy 1 game a month but if the game is free as many as i want but no a little one does not need a phone you can give him your old phone without a semcard that would work and look for video games for your pre k kid that are rated ec
( early childhood)that are the games i played when i was 4 ecticonel games here is an example from my old game that my little brother plays oh no we need help to get across the bridge what number comes after 1 see my point and music i would sucest the jump arounds a little kids band
Children under the age of 12 should NOT be playing with cell phones PERIOD due to the health effects of RF radiation. In Europe there are public service announcements informing parents of the dangers of cell phones. They say NO CELL PHONES UNDER THE AGE OF 12. The wireless industry is just trying to get kids addicted to this dangerous technology at a very young age. Will it entertain kids, definitely. Should parents be letting their kids play with these devices definitely NOT.
My teenages do not have a smartphone. I think we rely too much on electronics to distract our kids. I was recently in a resturant and noticed a family there. The baby is probably just over a year old and in front of him was a portable dvd player to keep him distracted while the parents socialize. My kids are 15 and 13 now, but I remember when we took them out to dinner, we would entertain them by reading or coloring. My kids never leave the table or wonder around the resturant like I sometimes see. Parents need to go back to basic.