iPhones, Apps, and Preschoolers

iPhones, Apps, and Preschoolers

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!

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