Elevate Your Health Colorado Are iPads and other touchscreens learning tools or just toys for today's kids?

If you have a young child, and an iPad, tablet, or other touchscreen device in your house, you probably already know this: these new gizmos are amazing at occupying your child while you’re tending to something else.

Most of these devices also provide a fun learning environment for your child, so it’s possible you might feel less guilty about their use as a short-term babysitter. In fact, some kids are now learning their ABCs and solving age-specific puzzles while in the car or at a restaurant—thanks to these touchscreen wonders. 

So, it’s a win-win scenario for parents and children alike. 

Or is it? 

Who better to ask than Dr. Callie Gibbs Black, a board-certified pediatrician with Kaiser Permanente Colorado, an iPad owner and a tech-savvy mother of two kids, ages three and six. She sees, firsthand, both the pros and cons of this fascinating technology. 

“It’s a new trend, so not much research has been done on the impact of this technology,” she says. “It’s definitely growing, however. I’m seeing it at home with my kids, and as a pediatrician, I also see more of this technology interacting with younger patients, both positively and negatively.”

Captivating features
Dr. Black says the technology is quite mesmerizing for kids. She notes the glossy screens and intuitive nature make it a natural for smaller kids. She also points out that they grasp onto its navigation and instant feedback so quickly, and with such interest, sometimes they don’t want to let go, even in her own home. 

“Our family fights over the use of the iPad,” she says.  “As a parent, it’s something I need to closely monitor.”

On the positive side, Dr. Black sees the educational and entertainment value of these devices with young children, for their: 

• Advanced learning tools. Age-specific applications for large-display tablets and smart phones are continually being developed and updated. “There are downloadable programs that are suited just for my three-year-old that teach colors, numbers and letters,” says Dr. Black.  “For our six-year-old, there’s an application for him to build a train, then to build a track for the train. The variety and selection are remarkable—there are hundreds of programs available, specific for age, interest, and learning ability.”
• Interactivity. Most of these programs require children to act and react. While portable DVD players can entertain and provide some learning for children, they aren’t interactive. “Kids respond to the immediate feedback. They instantly know if their choice is taking them in the right direction or not, and they problem-solve along the way,” she says.
• Ease of use. Young children can quickly learn to navigate an iPad, tablet, or smart phone. “They can use a single finger to touch or swipe, instead of trying to manipulate a computer mouse,” explains Dr. Black. “It’s much easier and quickly rewarding, and it opens the door to learning for even younger kids. My three-year-old can turn on the iPad, select the app, and doesn’t need any help. It’s hands on.”

The downside
However, Dr. Black warns that no matter how engaging an on-screen program is for a child, it’s not the end-all solution for bored or antsy kids. 

“Regardless of how interesting an application is for a child, it should never replace real-world experience,” notes Dr. Black. “For instance, you can download a painting program that kids can use to draw and paint, but it’s not the same thing as pulling out the paints, dipping the brush, and even making a mess while painting. You lose the feel of actually painting.”

Other drawbacks of this new technology include: 

• Video overexposure. Kaiser Permanente follows the guidelines set by the American Pediatric Association of no more than two hours of screen exposure a day, which includes traditional television viewing, computer time, video games, portable DVD players, and now, touchscreen devices. Studies show that media overexposure can lead to childhood obesity in older children (among other things), so it’s important to set the limits while they’re young. “When your child is in front of a screen, think about what they could be doing instead, something healthier for them,” she suggests. 
• Inactivity. Even the most interactive program that fully engages a child still means he or she is engaged with a device, not another person. “Playing with other kids is fundamental to a child’s healthy development. It contributes to the cognitive, emotional, physical, and social well-being of a child. Outdoor activities are essential. This can’t be found in even the best apps,” says Dr. Black.  
• Parental overuse. “Electronic media is a poor substitute for child care and parenting and is not a primary way to educate or even entertain our kids,” points out Dr. Black. “These applications can be very effective learning tools for small children, but if you rely too much on them, you’re losing valuable time with your child, time you could be talking with them and helping them learn. You both end up missing out on wonderful opportunities.”

What to do?
Most of these mobile, touchscreen devices weren’t originally intended for kid’s play, but they’re finding a home with children nonetheless. Experts agree they’re here to stay, and can play a positive role in a child’s learning development—but with a strong caveat. 

“Moderation is the key,” says Dr. Black. “As an educational tool, these tablets, smart phones, as well as devices built specifically for kids, like the Leapster, can be positive and beneficial. But their use needs to be monitored so it doesn’t have a negative influence. We sometimes see it cross the line from entertainment to electronic overuse. The hardest part is to monitor the use to make sure it doesn’t become too time-occupying.”

Dr. Black understands how easy it is for parents to rely—even depend—on this new technology. “I’ll be the first to say it can be very helpful as a form of entertainment for kids when we’re traveling, or even when making dinner,” she says. “As a parent, I need to continually ask myself if a little time with the iPad is okay, or if they should be sitting down with a book instead.”

“We’re still learning about the long-term effects of this technology,” says Dr. Black. “But I have to admit, with that painting app, clean-up is a snap!” 

For more information on video screen-time limits for children, please visit kp.org.