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June 1st, 2011 at 1:16 PM EST | by

Toddlers and the iPad: Pros and Cons
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Toddlers today are more computer literate that most from generations past. Granted, toddlers need to have time outside to burn off their energy and get exercise, but time is also needed to allow them to use their creativity and imagination. For a limited amount of time each day, a parent should feel free to give their toddler supervised activities on the iPad. The number of both fun and educational game apps continues to increase.

The Pros
After a quick search on my iPad, I found there are over 2,100 apps for toddlers that are free of charge. Granted, apps will need to be evaluated by the parent before giving them to a toddler to play. Since I do not have a toddler of my own, I had a friend’s permission to work with her toddler to review children’s apps for the iPad. The young child was given the lecture that he needs to be very careful with the device. He was shown a couple of different apps that he spent more time than I expected playing games. He also figured out by himself how to switch between a couple different games that he decided were his favorites. He even decided that he preferred drawing with a stylus than his finger.

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The Cons
An iPad is an expensive object that a child could quite easily figure out how to damage, even under supervision. One strong thrust and it could be damaged and information can be lost. If you allow a child to use your iPad, make sure you have a backup saved in iTunes so you do not loose important information. The iPad allows came across to me as a one toddler at a time activity. When one toddler was by himself, he enjoyed himself and sat quietly by himself. The second toddler wanted to join in, and it began a tugging war between them. It was rectified quickly because they were being supervised, but this does put the iPad in harm’s way.

 

This big con that I found while watching the toddler play with my iPad was the amount of in app screens the toddler had to bypass in order to get to the game. This toddler was so excited to enter a specific game, but I had to get past a couple of game center screens that come up for internet play that I had to cancel out of. Then, there are other buttons next to the play button that is to purchase the full version. The toddler clicked on this button and it takes them into iTunes. I was not worried about in app purchases because I know this setting can be turned off. However, when he was taken out of his game, he was not happy and started to click around in hopes it would take him back into the game he wanted to play. Children’s apps should not have any of these settings, full or free version, that would take them out of the game play. There must be a way to hide these in the future.

I definitely suggest that the games were both fun and education, but are not to be used without supervision and definitely not as a babysitter. If developers can find a way to get rid of the ability to be transferred out of a game, I definitely see potential for toddler’s games.

By Andrea Altenburg

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