ICT addictions for preschoolers?

What do you think about allowing babies and toddlers to use tablet devices and phones?

I read this article in the NZ Herald today about technology addiction in children under the age of 5. In both the UK and the US reports have been made of  children being enrolled in expensive detox programmes when they get "increasingly distressed and inconsolable" when their iPad or smartphone is taken away from them. The article reported a recent UK survey that indicated  more than half of parents allowed their babies to play with their phone or tablet device. One in seven of more than 1000 parents questioned by babies.co.uk said they let them use the gadgets for four or more hours a day.

Now the validity of the research is not particularly evident and I would want to see some high quality research reports before I worried too much. As with many newspaper reports this one focuses on the negative and sensational figures. For example. although the idea of children using a smartphone or ipad for 4 hours a day everyday is disturbing, the UK survey also reported that 30% were using these devices for less than an hour a day and nearly one in four were using them only once a week. A lot less disturbing but not as interesting in a headline.

In the Blog reporting the survey 'use' was not defined. Were some babies holding and mouthing the phone rather than playing games? Not very hygienic but not really an issue otherwise. Was this something parents did to distract children at times such as doing up a car seat? Maybe the phone was  handy.Children want what we are using whether that is a phone, our car keys, a book or a pen and paper.

I wonder sometimes if we are too quick to get concerned about the use of such technology. Certainly in my own work I hear a lot of conversations about the students at the back of the room (and elsewhere) on Facebook during lectures. As long as they are not disturbing others is that really a problem? Is it any different from the passing of notes, games of hangman, noughts and crosses, and battleships that I recall in classrooms of my childhood - it wasn't me of course! In fact they are more likely to disturb a class because they require a partner.

Of course we all know how addicted teens are to their techie devices ( as well as many adults). Try taking a phone away from your teenager or restricting their access to Facebook if you want to see tantrums. Is it surprising that younger children who have learned to occupy themselves with the latest gadgets will also get upset if these are removed? Changes are always difficult. I suspect that parents who need to pay £16,000 ($28,800) for a 28-day "digital detox" programme in London, are  likely to be facing many other parenting challenges now and as their children grow older. I wonder if there is a hair straightener detox programme for teen girls to help them cope with the school camp where these wondrous machines are not allowed. Now there's a gap in the market.

So what do you think about allowing babies and toddlers to use tablet devices and phones?