How much is too much?
Studies show that over 50% of US kids now have access to an iPad or similar touch-screen device. That means millions of kids are spending
millions of minutes interacting with apps and games and watching videos. And no matter how cool the app, every parent at some point wonders “is this good for my child’s development?”
iPads, etc. are great educational tools and entertainment devices – but despite the benefits, how much is too much? In this third article on technology and family I’ll be discussing a few of the problems with young children spending too much time with supercool tablets.
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Exposure to Marketing – through apps our kids are seeing lots of advertisements for various products. I recently played one of my son’s favorite apps – it’s a game that allows users to drop coins and win prizes. The game only lasted about 3 minutes, but in that time I saw 5 different advertisements – several of which asked me to respond by closing the add or opening it in another screen. That’s lots of advertising in 3 minutes.
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Exposure to inappropriate content – games and apps often lead to other content, which leads to other stuff, and eventually to YouTube. If you’re going to let your child use a device unsupervised (i.e. without sitting directly in your lap), then you really need to check your security settings. Turn off certain apps (YouTube, Web browser) and disable app downloading. You can always turn these back on when needed. For more info, check here.
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Delayed Bedtime – Many children are using devices just before bedtime, and even a 30-minute reduction in bedtime has been shown to correlate with a host of problems in kids – everything from attention-deficit problems, to mood swings and behavior problems, to learning impairments, and even an increased risk for diabetes. Sleep is critically important for children – make sure that they’re getting enough sleep, and when they go to bed, their room is device-free.
I absolutely love gadgets and technology, but as a father and counselor, I’m required to think about the impact of technology, and our use of technology, on my family. Please join me in thoughtfully considering how much is too much?
