Tech-savvy Toddlers

When I first got an iPhone I suddenly realized how far we’ve come in the evolution of technology. I can’t imagine life without my iPhone, nor could I ever get a different phone ever again. Currently my iPhone contains 51 apps- because if I need to look for a good restaurant in my area, or want to listen to free Pandora music, or want to convert length to distance, or want to hang a picture up straight on the wall, or want to learn Italian, or want to watch you-tube videos, or want to find my way by a GPS- There’s definitely an app for all of that. The iPhone has influenced a revolution in technology and telecommunications. It has become one of the most popular and best selling cell phones on the market.

Not only do adults use the iPhone- now it has become a popular toy for you children, especially toddlers and preschoolers. I was reading the New York Times the other day and read an article called, “Toddlers’ Favorite Toy: The iPhone.” The article talked about how more and more parents are using the iPhone as a “tool to mollify a fussy toddler.”

So what does a toddler do with an iPhone? Well, there are plenty of apps for that! Many iPhone apps on the market target preschoolers, which are usually labeled as “educational.”

There’s the app “Read Me Stories-children’s books,” which is a talking picture book, every day teaches your child new concepts, new words and how to say them. There’s the “Toddler Teasers: Shapes,” which asks the child to tap on a circle, triangle, or square. The Pocket Zoo, which streams live video of animals at zoos around the world. There’s also baby flashcards, which teaches how read and spell. The number of apps that are aimed at young children grow tremendously, everyday.

It seems iPhones are a great educational tool for young children, especially those in early learning development. However, this new “toy” is also stirring up some controversy many people. According to the New York Times article, “Along with fears about dropping and damage, however, many parents sharing iPhones with their young ones feel nagging guilt. They wonder whether it is indeed an educational tool, or a passive amusement like television. The American Academy of Pediatrics has long advised parents not to let their children watch any TV until they are past their second birthday.”

Sure, the iPhone is a favorite toy for many kids, but now the iPad is becoming the “it” accessory for young children. In the media, we see more and more children of celebrities playing with iPads. Even the daughter of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, Suri, was spotted playing with her own iPad.

Suri Cruise and her iPad

Although iPhones may act as a quick way to pacify fussy kids, I don’t know if it’s exactly the best thing for them. Personally, society is already disconnected in terms of human-connection; due to the dependency and addiction we have to technology. It seems unhealthy and unnatural for children to be technology buffs at such a young age. I think parents shouldn’t always rely on the iPhone to keep their children quiet and distracted. I’m not opposed to children using it, but they should not be playing with them for long periods of time.