The first iPad came out just three years ago and further revolutionized mobile computing beyond expectations. It came on the market Jan. 27, 2010, and sold 500,000 units by the end of the first week. After Apple put a computer in the iPhone, who would have thought there would be room for another game-changer that lived in between the smartphone and the laptop?
Initially, only a few appreciated the difference. As it turned out, among those who appreciated it most were small children whose fingers were not yet coordinated enough to work a keyboard. Shortly afterward, touch-screen devices, especially for the young, flooded the market from companies including Nabi Kids, Vinci, VTech and LeapFrog.
According to a recent article in The Atlantic, the developing fingers of a toddler are much more suited to swiping a touch screen than finding and tapping characters on a keyboard. The touch screen is also much more intuitive, tactile and immediate. Some of the magic lies in Apple’s particular preprogrammed touch gestures.
Is it healthy for young toddlers to engage with technology to this degree? According to Michael Cohen LLC, proponents regard technology-handling skills as comparable to book-handling skills and consider it akin to early literacy development. Others believe that with careful instruction and curriculum resources, touch screens can accelerate learning and lower the achievement gap between children from different socioeconomic backgrounds.
Caregivers tout benefits related to independent play and entertainment.
Does swiping an iPad really qualify as independent play? Part of the equation relates to how much time children spend with a device. The White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity and the American Academy of Pediatrics attribute the epidemic of overweight youth, in part, to overuse of information technology.
The younger the children are, the more dangerous overuse of touch pads can be. Certainly under 2 years old, children benefit far more from interaction with nurturing adults. These human interactions are essential for early brain development including cognitive, social, emotional and linguistic skills. Even as children get older, the passive use of technology cannot be used as a replacement for active play or interaction with adults and peers.
Today’s young children can hardly avoid early encounters with information technology. Touch-screen computing serves to create ready access to the very youngest population. The key to safe and responsible use is to set boundaries that are conducive to a balanced lifestyle. Total screen time needs to be measured and limited, and content needs to be engaging, empowering, educational and, of course, creative.
Will the day come when our youngest start to wear Google Glass, compute by voice command and dispense with the use of their hands? Technology is here to stay. The key is to ensure that for our children it supports the wealth of health.
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Ira Zunin, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., is medical director of Manakai o Malama Integrative Healthcare Group and Rehabilitation Center and CEO of Global Advisory Services Inc. Please submit your questions to info@manakaiomalama.com.
