https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 17 Apr 2026 18:04:38 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tablets-for-toddlers#post-524808 Thu, 24 Jan 2013 17:16:12 +0000 Grace 524808@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My SIL got her 4yo a tablet for Christmas because she figured that she needed to know how to use them for kindergarten. I agree with PP that I don't think it would take long for kids to figure it out and that the "practise" isn't necessary. I know how easily I got hooked on tablets etc. (as a 30 yo), so I want to limit that availability as much as possible. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tablets-for-toddlers#post-524801 Thu, 24 Jan 2013 17:08:08 +0000 Mrs. Superhero 524801@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We limit screen time a lot, and I would agree that I think they will figure it out just fine when they get to school, they are ridiculously easy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tablets-for-toddlers#post-524764 Thu, 24 Jan 2013 16:46:45 +0000 yoursilverlining 524764@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’ve been thinking about this a lot because my MIL keeps saying she is going to buy LO an ipad for her first birthday because she doesn’t want LO to be “behind the times” (lol, wut?) which I feel conflicted about. I am not anti-technology for kids; but I do HATE to see kids hooked to games on cell phones/tablets when out in public. It seems like a lot of the time parents just give their kids these devices to shut them up instead of teaching them they have to have some patience and proper manners when out in public. I would much rather see a kid reading to themselves from a real book; or coloring or doing something more “real” than just playing electronic games for entertainment. A little is fine; but a lot of kids seem less interactive and imaginative these days and just want screen time. I feel old fashioned and stuffy saying that, but it’s true. </p> <p>I wouldn’t totally object to LO getting an ipad for times like plane rides and as a special treat item for her to use on a pretty limited basis. LO is already obsessed with my iphone and tries to get it every time she sees it. She's already taken a couple pictures with the camera too! Sigh. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tablets-for-toddlers#post-524741 Thu, 24 Jan 2013 16:30:18 +0000 mamimami 524741@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with the AAP recommendation of no screen time before age 2, although I did fudge it a little at the end. My 2 year old loves to play with my iPad but I try not to give it to him because he doesn't ever want to give it back. He plays some games for his age, like shape sorter, animal sounds, body parts, talking tom, etc.</p> <p>My iPhone is for work so I always stay super close if he wants to look at it. Once he started to try and facetime a colleague when I was getting dressed!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tablets-for-toddlers#post-524732 Thu, 24 Jan 2013 16:21:02 +0000 FancyGem 524732@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My baby only uses my ipad for FaceTime (with grand parents), Mickey Mouse club house, and a baby signs app. He uses it with no issues. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tablets-for-toddlers#post-523844 Thu, 24 Jan 2013 09:50:58 +0000 KissMeCait 523844@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 18 mo. old niece uses a tablet every day. We’re a very tech centric family so they’re getting her started early. I personally don’t see the harm in it. She doesn’t spend all day using it, just a few minutes here and there. There are a number of educational games made for these devices so I’m not sure how the tablet is much different than the alternatives. </p> <p>One of the main daycares in our area is in the process of building a huge center close to my house. One of the benefits of sending your kids there is that it will have a fully equipped technology center. We won’t be using a daycare but if we were, it would be that center. I feel that technology is a great thing and getting your child familiar with it early can’t hurt. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tablets-for-toddlers#post-523803 Thu, 24 Jan 2013 09:19:27 +0000 Mrsbells 523803@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>personally I'm not a fan of young kids with tablets. I much prefer them to read a hard copy book, and play with physical toys than read or play on a screen. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tablets-for-toddlers#post-523798 Thu, 24 Jan 2013 09:16:05 +0000 Honeybee 523798@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD knows how to use DH's nook to read her e-books and get onto Netflix and watch Blues Clues. It really took her no time at all to figure it out, maybe a couple weeks. And she only gets access to it occasionally (once or twice a week). Kids catch on to these types of technology really, really fast. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tablets-for-toddlers#post-523781 Thu, 24 Jan 2013 09:11:32 +0000 T.H.O.U. 523781@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BelugaBean: If we are at home she can read books on the tablet. If we are out and about she's allowed to play an interactive app. If we are traveling a long distance (like for the holidays) I would let her watch a short video clip. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tablets-for-toddlers#post-523769 Thu, 24 Jan 2013 09:05:12 +0000 BelugaBean 523769@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bookworm: The cell phone thing gets me too. I got my first phone when I got my license at age 16 (almost 17) and now kids have them so young! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tablets-for-toddlers#post-523766 Thu, 24 Jan 2013 09:02:37 +0000 BelugaBean 523766@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Thehistoryofus: We were thinking of maybe interactive games and apps when she's a bit older but I didn't want it to be something she preferred over more face to face kind of activities. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tablets-for-toddlers#post-523764 Thu, 24 Jan 2013 09:01:40 +0000 Bookish 523764@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BelugaBean: Oh, if y'all both have them I wouldn't worry too much about it! She will have seen them and seen y'all with them, and eventually you could give her supervised time with it. Like @mrbee says, no learning curve lol! It's a tricky subject, all this new technology! My 8 year old nephew has a cell phone and I just think "when the heck am I supposed to give LO one??" It's a lot to think about! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tablets-for-toddlers#post-523763 Thu, 24 Jan 2013 09:01:38 +0000 BelugaBean 523763@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: That's good to know! Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tablets-for-toddlers#post-523762 Thu, 24 Jan 2013 09:01:37 +0000 T.H.O.U. 523762@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: I agree, especially on Apple products there is like zero learning curve!</p> <p>I have an iPhone and an iPad. We never use them to watch tv but sometimes will let her do interactive apps on there. I have a flashcard app on my phone and you can put it in spanish and I love that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tablets-for-toddlers#post-523761 Thu, 24 Jan 2013 08:59:31 +0000 mrbee 523761@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There is zero learning curve on how to use touch tablets/phones! Olive gets very limited screentime on a tablet and now she even presses that button to get out of an app! I wouldn't worry about it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tablets-for-toddlers#post-523760 Thu, 24 Jan 2013 08:59:18 +0000 BelugaBean 523760@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bookworm: I'm so glad I'm not the only one too! I didn't want to get her one (although we both have one so we wouldn't have to buy her one) but this morning it occurred to me that she might have to use it in school one day and it might be useful if she went in already knowing what to do. I just don't want her to get addicted to it and want it all the time though. She already loves my phone if she notices it just sitting there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tablets-for-toddlers#post-523756 Thu, 24 Jan 2013 08:56:44 +0000 Bookish 523756@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been wondering some of the same things! I personally do not think I will ever buy my under-elementary school age kid a tablet, just for the potential breakage and too much screen time factors. That being said, I do want to introduce technology of some sort at a young age because kids do seem to get it a lot in school. My niece's 1st grade class had a tablet that they all used, as well as computers. I'm sure that they instruct the kids who don't get it at home (not everyone can afford tablets and nice PCs!) but it would be nice for LO to have some idea of what they are learning. I'm very on the fence about it, and glad to know I'm not the only one! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tablets-for-toddlers#post-523746 Thu, 24 Jan 2013 08:43:38 +0000 BelugaBean 523746@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A lot of people I know give their toddlers tablets (or at least access to tablets) to watch television a large part of the day. LO isn't a toddler yet but as of right now, I don't even think to turn the TV on when we're home by ourselves (DH will turn it on on the weekends) so having TV and a tablet for her would seem overwhelming to me. She sometimes looks at the pictures on my phone but it's not often.</p> <p>Is this common though now? I didn't want her to have much screen time while she's little so I could encourage interactive play but should it still be introduced at some point? Maybe not in the next year or two but while she's still small and learning? My concern comes with the possibility that schools, even at young ages, might be using tools like this and that maybe she should know at least how to navigate one?</p> <p>That sounds dumb when I write it out because I don't know why she would need to work a tablet when she's a toddler. I was just looking for some insight and to see how many people here give their toddlers tablets for games/television on an incredibly regular basis. </p> <p>Also, will it confuse her if other kids similar in age to her have them all the time and she doesn't have one or has limited access? I still don't want her to have a lot of screen time, I'm just curious about this and of course I mean when she's older, not now since she's only six months old and completely content with her toys (sorry this was so long, it was just a rant and some questions that came up in my head). </p>