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Is the balance right between toddlers social interaction and technology engagement?

Having just returned from a holiday abroad, it struck me how many parents provide technology in the form of iPads and Tablets, to entertain their toddlers.


Whilst there is a time and a place for this, such as on a flight or journey, I was surprised to see toddlers sitting at the breakfast table watching a screen whilst munching on their Rice Crispies! I also witnessed twin 3 year old boys, leaving the dinner table wearing padded earphones, walking through the restaurant still engaged with their iPads, not looking where they were going, totally oblivious to other people and their surroundings.


The world has changed and technology now plays a huge part in all of our day to day lives. There is a balance for us all between actual social interaction and technology engagement.


Do you have a concern that the younger generation of today, particularly toddlers, are in danger of missing out on actual development of relationships and world awareness due to the distractions of technology? Daydreaming is your brain at its most productive … are young children given enough time to daydream or are they becoming overloaded with technology? If you are a grandparent, do you have to hold back your views or are you able to express what you think to your offspring? Is technology in danger of damaging our toddlers social development or enhancing their learning?


What do you think?


https://www.silversurfers.com/speakers-corner/balancing-toddlers-social-interaction-technology-engagement/


Created By on 23/06/2015

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dsr25
15th May 2017 09:29:38
1
Thanks for voting!
With all things, it is balance. As a parent, you have to juggle lots of things, and sometimes it is useful to have the children sitting quietly on their ipad whilst you get on with things..... However.... I do believe it should be managed.

No gadgets in the bedroom, and only access after dinner and homework done, for a limited time 🙂

I see too many children not getting enough sleep, and too many parents giving in to their children. And yes, they need to get out and do other activities too.
SageBrush
28th Jul 2016 02:56:24
-1
Thanks for voting!
We are in the 3rd generation of BAD PARENTING... I wont go into the whys of that..its deeply political and ideological....but BAD PARENTING IS THE BASE CAUSE OF WHAT YOU DESCRIBE..
Proper parenting requires you pay attention to your childs behavior at all times...when you are at home and out and about... Nowdays... people take their screaming whining busybody sugared up brats out to restraunts, grocery stores, public events, ect and let them ruin the ambiance and experience of every one else around them...its like the parents have no RESPECT whatsoever for
anyone ... they just let their screaming brats do what they want...and to heck with anyone else around them...
So its no surprise that they find something that is the equavilent of shinney... and pacifiy their ill raised misbehaved ill parented brats with it.... Ive learned that you cant fix the world... and god knows its broken right now.... so if giving them technology keeps them quiet...im all for it...LOL
boyracer
16th Jun 2016 17:45:07
1
Thanks for voting!
I am a grandparent and we have 2 grandchildren. When they come round to ours they bring their tablets and phones, so we all interact with them together. The one rule we do make is that there is no technology at the dinner table, so we can concentrate on food and actual conversation. They appreciate it and so do we.
caboodle
8th Sep 2015 09:10:10 (Last activity: 19th Nov 2015 14:46:14)
1
Thanks for voting!
I am a grandma and a former school teacher. The world has changed and technology has changed our lives and our habits, however, we are still human beings, and as such we have exactly the same needs as our grandparents did, before the age of mobile technology (or any technology for that matter). Social interaction is a basic human need and it occurs through phones, tablets, chats, skype, or two cups on a string. The differences are the tool, the method and the distance. But social interaction remains the same.
So I would say, toddlers are not in danger of missing out on "actual development of relationships or world awareness" because of technology; quite the opposite is the truth!
Our grandchildren have the added advantage of developing personal relationships and interaction with people from around the world, and our grandchildren learn how to adapt themselves to different methods of communication which can only broaden their horizons and teach them to handle new situations easier.

If you feel left out, and you are finding it difficult to interact with your grandkids because of the tablets and smartphones, I recommend you join them, find out what they are interested in, find apps that you can use together with your grandchild! There are many apps for reading stories together, drawing, playing games, you can even help your grandchild practice their spelling or math!

I highly recommend the following;

Kids Academy apps
Numbie apps
Cubic Frog apps

Enjoy the time you share with your grandkids, they appreciate it and will remember it always!
Response from Tatiana made on 19th Nov 2015 14:46:14
Thank you for mentioning Numbie apps (https://itunes.apple.com/app/apple-store/id815096199?pt=10291399&ct=silversurfers=8)! We are firm believers that games can help bridge the generation gap.
poldoc
3rd Sep 2015 04:36:20
0
Thanks for voting!
One of the major problems is that the screens give off blue light, this suppresses Melatonin(which promotes the getting to sleep phase) production from the Pineal gland in their little brains. The effect of this is that these kids are dragged to see their GPs with sleep disturbance issues.....poor little blighters have no control over this.....poor parents have no idea that they are promoting the insomnia. It's the same with smartphone and TV screens. Received wisdom is to encourage other activities that don't involve screens from mid afternoon. There is a tiny programme called F.lux that I use on my Mac and PC. It cuts out the blue light emanating from the screen thus virtually eliminating the screen exposure/Melatonin issue.
bharatverma
7th Jul 2015 08:13:55
0
Thanks for voting!
If children are using this technology for the source of information then it is best for them, otherwise it would affect in your lifestyle and your children also. You can manipulate by yourself that whatever you want to show your child, its in your hand. Here I am suggesting a software i.e. Quick Heal.

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