Do you let your kids play with your iPhone? If you do, you may want to reconsider.
For months I’ve been using my iPhone as a distraction device during toddler/temper tantrum standoffs. As someone who questions whether or not even children’s programming (like Baby Einstein, for instance) is good for children, I’ve been pretty lax in this department and have absolutely bought in (figuratively and literally) to the iPhone App phenomena and all that comes with it.
But I have to wonder: Is the decision to distract him with my mini computer (so that I can catch my breath for two seconds) a bad one? According to pediatrician/expert Dr. Cara Natterson, it may be. Dr. Natterson says, “The only health risk I know of related to the use of apps is the risk of accidental injury because of not paying attention. A good example is seen among pedestrians crossing the street while staring down at their screen: the risk of being hit by a car increases when a person is not paying attention to their surroundings.”
Do you think there’s any harm in letting your toddler play with your iPhone? Will you go so far as to download apps, just for them?
Originally published on truuconfessions
