When taking care of a toddler, it can be difficult to balance spending quality time together while also managing other responsibilities. Playing games, reading books, and going to the park or indoor gym are all enjoyable activities to do with your little one. However, there may be times when you need to attend to household tasks, make phone calls, or simply take a break for yourself. This is where tablets for toddlers can come in handy. While they shouldn’t be relied on as a sole source of entertainment, they can provide a temporary distraction for your child and free up some of your time. This way, you can tackle your to-do list while your chatty and adorable toddler remains entertained.
Pros and Cons of Tablets for Toddlers
Are tablets good for toddlers? What are the pros and cons of tablets for toddlers?
This dilemma has caused you to consider using your tablet as an electronic babysitter for a small portion of the day. But you are concerned about handing over your tablet and are unsure if it will make your son or daughter less active and more reliant on electronics for entertainment. With these topics in mind, check out the following pros and cons to giving tablets for toddlers:
Pro: Tablets Help With Learning and Literacy
Your toddler can use your tablet to learn words, numbers, shapes and more. Download some apps like “Toddler Flashcards,” which helps your child learn the names and sounds of animals, and “Busy Shapes,” which lets your kid move shapes around in a series of puzzles. ABCMouse.com features more than 5,000 interactive learning activities, many of which are designed for the preschool crowd. While you are catching up on emails or sorting through a pile of bills on your desk, your little one can be close by on your tablet, learning beginning science, math and art skills.
It’s important to note that certain tablets like the iPad Pro allow you to “lock” your screen into a certain learning app. This feature lets you know that while you are taking a quick shower or making dinner, your kiddo will not be able to buy thousands of dollars worth of toys from Amazon or get into your email or other private areas of your tablet.
Pro: Tablets Don’t Need to Replace Traditional Learning
Just because your child has access to a tablet for short bursts of time does not mean he or she will never want to pick up a physical book again. On the contrary, studies have found that since 2010, the year iPads were first released, the percentage of kids who read daily has not significantly changed. In fact, a study by Ofcom found that in 2010, 29 percent of kids read outside of school and in 2014, 41 percent of children did. In other words, your tablet can be a supplement to your toddler’s vast array of learning tools, not the only one.
Con: It Is Easy to Get Hooked
Let’s face it — tablets are a lot of fun. Given the choice between building a tower out of plain blocks and playing a lively and colourful game on your tablet, your toddler might end up begging for your tablet.
How much screen time is too much for toddlers?
If you give in too often, your young kiddo might get more screen time than is appropriate. Keep tabs on how often your child uses your tablet and if it seems like he or she is always asking for it. If you think it’s too much, either go cold turkey for a week or two or set a certain amount of time your child can be on a tablet and provide plenty of other options.
Con: Tablets Interfere With Physical Play
While it is possible that your toddler will want to spend time on a tablet rather than playing outside, tell yourself that you will not let this happen. Moderation is key, so be firm that you are calling the shots with the technology rules. Letting your toddler play a fun app for 20 minutes while you make some phone calls will not mean he or she will have a problem with obesity and a dislike of exercise.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, tablets for toddlers can be both beneficial and detrimental depending on how they are used. On the positive side, tablets can provide a fun and interactive way for young children to learn new skills and concepts. Additionally, they don’t necessarily have to replace traditional learning methods. However, it’s important to monitor screen time and ensure that tablets don’t interfere with physical play or become an addictive source of entertainment. Ultimately, it’s up to parents to find a healthy balance and set appropriate boundaries for their child’s tablet usage.
What do you think about tablets for toddlers? Does your toddler or child have a tablet? Let me know any other pros and cons of tablets for toddlers. Please leave a comment as I would love to know your thoughts.
*Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.
Thanks for stopping by,
Love you all ❤
Franca 💋
Aspen didn’t get her first tablet until she was 8 years old. She occasionally went on our computer before that to do a program called Reading Eggs which she enjoyed a lot. She was so happy spending hours with imaginative play and never seem to miss not having a tablet or even a gaming device. April is not really into games or being on a tablet. She loves her iPod which she got when she was 8 and a half as she loves dancing and plays music all the time. She enjoys a little time playing mine craft when they link in together. Adam though loves games on devices. He doesn’t have his own tablet we told him he has to wait until he is eight like the girls were. But he uses Aspen’s a lot! He is on it way more than I’d like actually. It doesn’t seem to be causing any issues though, he is very bright and social but his number one thing is playing on our family Wii U. I think they have good and bad parts really.
I think they do have their pros and cons for sure. I do think that they can help with learning and literacy. But, I do think that some children spend way too much time on them as some parents get dependent on things like iPads to keep their kids quiet and occupied while they get other things done. Like I said some, not all. Thanks for sharing!
You make an excellent “con” point about the fact that tablets can take away from outside play. As a “pro,” the devices can help with learning and literacy, just as you’ve shared.
Hi Franca
Excellent points on the pros and cons for tablets for toddlers. I recently wrote an article on the best tablets for toddlers. Sharing your post on Pinterest.
Cheers
Hi Dan, thank you! I reallg appreciate that! I’ll have to look out fod your article too! 🙂 thanks again