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MONDAY, JULY 4, 2016
Page By Lisa Ferentz
R
ecently, I saw a television commercial that both intrigued and horrified me. It showed the close-up faces of concerned parents lamenting the fact that their toddlers were spending countless hours zoned out and exposed to inappropriate imagery on iPads and smartphones. And more importantly, they felt powerless to do anything about it! They described what amounted to “withdrawal symptoms” of angry tantrums, tears, and meltdowns when attempts were made to either limit or cut off access to these electronic babysitters. What I felt puzzled by was the apparent helplessness of these parents who seemed genuinely overwhelmed by the problem and completely in the dark about what to do. Why do babies and toddlers have digital gadgets in their hands in the first place? I understand there is a temptation to “distract” an antsy toddler with a game on a smartphone or iPad. But parents need to understand that young children are intrinsically antsy. They have short attention spans. It’s unreasonable and unrealistic to expect a small child to sit still for long periods of time. In fact, they need to be able to explore the world through physical activity and movement. And they require
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Foundation connection, attachment, and emotionally available and responsive relationships to help them navigate abrupt shifts in mood and experiences of stimulation overload. The use of digital gadgets is sedentary and solitary: the antithesis of
indicate that 70 per cent of parents allow their toddlers to use their iPads. Researchers at Barnard College found that preschool children were so “zoned in” with iPads that they didn’t respond at all when repeatedly called by
There is something fundamentally wrong with an 18-month-old whose greatest source of comfort is their parent’s smartphone. what small children need to developmentally thrive. Common Sense Media says 38 per cent of babies less than two years old use tablets or smartphones. That number is up from 10 per cent in 2011. The American Academy of Pediatrics has repeatedly stated that children under two should
not engage in any screen time. Yet several studies
name. However, once the iPads were taken away, the toddlers became more verbal and social and were able to interact more creatively with their environment. Further studies showed that when parents used their devices as
distractions to calm upset children, those children were less likely to learn how to calm themselves and control their own
behaviour. There is something fundamentally wrong with an 18-month-old whose greatest source of comfort is their parent’s smartphone. Additional studies tell us that children who spend much of their early childhoods interacting with electronic devices may have less thinking ability, smaller vocabularies, and poorer social and emotional skills than children who don’t. Did you know that in a typical day kids spend twice as much time watching TV and DVDs than they do reading or being read to? I believe it's not about distracting kids, it's about engaging them! I also believe that well-meaning and loving parents have the potential to create what amounts to an addiction in small children who cannot tolerate having gadgets taken away and only feel comforted and soothed when they are dissociating into virtual reality. Because I understand that technology is here to stay, in Part 2 of this series, we’ll look at some of the ways that parents can take back control. But I'd still like to go on record as saying there is something fundamentally wrong with an 18-month-old whose greatest source of comfort is their parent’s smartphone. (pyshology-
BY PAM MYERS & E C GORDON
(CONTINUED FROM SATURDAY)
1. Age appropriate medication
Since you never know when your children might suddenly come down with a nasty cold or flu, it’s a good idea to pack children’s Tylenol or another suitable painkiller. If you have a child who is prone to motion sickness, make sure you have Dramamine on hand (which is suitable for most children over the age of two). As a bonus, it might help your children drop off to sleep during a long journey.
2. Baby wipes
Essential not just for changing diapers but also for cleaning surfaces and sticky hands or faces, you’ll never regret packing an extensive supply of baby wipes. On hot days, baby wipes can also be used to cool sweaty foreheads.
3. Art supplies
If your child is old enough to enjoy drawing or even just scribbling shapes on paper, pack a sturdy pad of paper and a pack of brightly coloured crayons or marker pens. You can also use these items to create collaborative pictures or play games like hangman with older children. However, choose art supplies with caution, as you’ll want them to create the least amount of mess. In other words, washable markers are superior to pots of paint!
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4. Clothing for all eventualities
It’s wise to pack changes of clothing in case of spontaneous vomiting or food stains, and it’s also worth making sure you dress your children in layers that can be added or removed. For example, your children might be boiling on the way to an airport, but start feeling cold when sitting still at high altitudes.
5. Fun things to watch
Finally, a tablet or a portable DVD player is ideal for a road trip, especially if it can be mounted on the back of your seat. Bring some of your child’s favourite movies, cartoons, and music to reduce boredom, but also consider following the aforementioned tip about unveiling surprises to keep stimulation levels consistently high. (childdevelopmentinfo.com)