Listen: Kids love iPads. They love them as much as you do,
probably more. There’s something about the crisp display, bright colors,
interactive touch screen and quirky noises that kids are infectiously drawn to.
There have been well-documented critiques of the idea of children being exposed to technology at too young an age (many of which are unfounded), but educational programming diminishing on the
tube these days, perhaps a tablet isn’t all that bad. That is, as long as you
are doing it with your child, or at least moderating their use. (Disclaimer: We are not endorsing the iPad as a substitute for a babysitter!)
But educational apps that
work with your child allow him/her to interact with the program as it guides, helps and corrects them, exercising and developing their cognitive function and improving response time. (The speed of the iPad forces your brain to think pretty quickly) Secondly, the
iPad allows interactive storytelling, which keeps your child more engaged than he/she would be with
say, a traditional book. Take for example this Parenting.com endorsed Pat the Bunny interactive book app. They took a classic children's book and made it more interactive and fun for you and your kid to explore and enjoy together!
Technology changes as often as the weather, and the past few
years have proven that tablets are the future. If this is potentially the way
in which your child will be communicating later in their life, why fight their early
adoption of it. Your child will love you for it and you will be impressed with
how quickly they are able to grasp it. There's something about the interface that is
just so intuitive.
Take the video below for example, of a very cute 2 -year-old
Bridger who is not only learning on and loving his iPad, but also interacting
with his father. He is using educational programs that are developing his
memory, creativity and responsiveness. A relationship with technology like this
is not only going to aid Bridger’s cognitive development but also his
relationship with whomever he bonds with while he's using the iPad. After all, since when is spending time with your
kid a bad thing.
So why not let your child embrace technology-as long
as you’re there to moderate their engagement (set up some guidelines first) and
more importantly bond with them, by being along with them the whole way. Enjoy!
