5 reasons why you should not give the laptops to your kid

Should I let my child play with an iPad?

This is one of the most common phrases you will hear any given day. Your iPad is probably already fondly reclaimed by your toddler or older kids. 

As a teacher, I know far too many – too many – of my students spending time on their parents' iPad, iphones or laptops. The following are the reasons why I think giving your kids wee-hours of technology is not a good idea at all.
If cooking and cleaning around the house, you would rather have your child engrossed in a “sit still” activity on the ipad than constantly underfoot and at risk of harm. It is also useful when you need a shower, or catch up on TV shows. Or when visiting friends without children, at the grocery store or on a long drive, a tablet device can hold enough entertainment to keep your children from boredom, mischief, and melt down. This reduces both their stress and yours. But the further I get into teaching, the more realize the iPad, or any similar device is just a distraction like any other toy or game, only more addictive and corruptive.

1) Children's brains have a hard time switching from electronic formats back to paper and pencil. Children who have been using computers, ipads and video games since they were less than 3 years old, cannot let go of the colourful glowing screens, comic faces and cartoony sounds. From angry birds to temple run, their brain fights the paper. They may pester you to buy them books but they cannot sit to read them for more than 5 minutes. They not only have difficulty concentrating but also their reading and comprehension skills are underdeveloped because of lack of practice. The world may be becoming more technologically advanced but this does not diminish the need to enhance your child’s literacy.

2) I don’t believe in “just because.” As in, just because every child today has an ipad or just because my child is demanding one does not mean that you have to compromise your parenting. You were raised without a tablet and you graduated with double BA and Masters. An average grade 3 and 4 student today has eligibly prints his/her with difficulty while when you were able to do dramatic calligraphy at their age. Pakistani students won one silver and four bronze medals along with two honourable mentions in various events at the International Science Olympiads 2012, held in Singapore, United States, Argentina and Estonia. Students in Pakistan http://dawn.com/2012/08/06/pakistani-students-excel-at-international-science-olympiads/

3) It is a multipurpose tool. If you are not observing your child and providing age-appropriate material with time limits, they can easily access anything their friends tell them to from the internet. The reality is that children as young as 8 and 9 years of age are coming across very violent, sexually explicit content and predators/stalkers. You may think that they are only playing games or chatting– what’s the big deal? Everyone has accidents with “bad” pop ups? Overtime, such materials will shape your child’s values, attitudes, beliefs and behaviour. It may incite your child to experiment with violence, increase your child’s social acceptance of high-risk behaviour, anger/tantrums, and obscene language, prematurely sexualize your child, and shape your child’s expectations in gender relationships, shape your child’s expectations on physical appearance and dress.

4) Technology does not replace human interaction which is so very important: Both parent/child and peer group or sibling interactions are extremely important. “Mommy and Me” time is always a priority. If your child does not learn his/her religion and manners from you, they will learn it from apps, games and movies. Worst, they will develop an introverted personality, making it very hard for you to know and communicate with your child when they become teenagers.

5) It does not provide exercise or gross motor development: Weight issues are a concern for our young sedentary population. Your child can be a FIFA champion on the tablet but won’t know how to kick a ball in real life or have team spirit.