How many times does the word ‘ipad’ feature in this year’s mountain of Christmas lists I wonder? If you are a parent debating whether or not to take the plunge and buy a tablet for your child, then you might want to think again...
A recent study claims that we are more addicted to our devices than ever before. Not only that, but children who use them are likely to suffer sleep problems leading to poor health and even poorer schoolwork. Even a Little Lucy Willow children’s bed couldn’t fix that lot. Not great news eh?
Could our gorgeous Looby Lou children's double bed resolve your child's screen-induced sleep problems perhaps?
There are many good things about tablets however. They can be educational, fun and they are the king of babysitters that’s for sure. There’s just one problem. The route to ‘screen time’ is a one way street. Like dogs, they’re not just for Christmas...
The pros:
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As your children will no longer be going outside, your home will be free from muddy footprints and all wellies will remain pristine forever more.
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Your bargaining power will be greater than it has ever been. Think He-Man atop Castle Greyskull.
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You might get through a meal in a restaurant without too much hassle from the little ones (says me who hates children playing with devices in restaurants - until I am desperate that is. Double standards or what?!)
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You will learn much more about privacy settings (and twerking) after catching your children watching questionable music videos on youtube.
The cons:
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You will find yourself barking instructions to your children, ooh around 9 times, before you are actually heard (and only because the last time you bark, you have considerably raised the decibel level).
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You will have exactly the same argument every day about putting the device down when it’s tea time / bath time / bed time.
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You will bemoan the days before such technology existed as you stare out at your garden swings being slowly swallowed up by cobwebs.
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The sofa will be taken up by children whose souls now exist only in a parallel universe while you perch, unnoticed, on the armrest.
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The music accompanying a certain game will become the soundtrack to your life and you will find yourself humming it. Constantly.
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When you do finally wrestle the pesky device out of your child’s clutches, you will remember just how hard it is to entertain children. Your respect for your own parents goes up a few notches before you admit defeat and hand the blummin thing back again.
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Your own addiction to your smartphone will intensify and all communication in your home will be lost until you are reunited as a family by chronic ‘swipe-alitis’....
Ok so maybe that’s taking it just a tad far. But you never know! Personally, I think the key is to set a good example by reducing your own screen time to show the children that smartphones and tablets are not the be all and end all...Yeah ok, after I’ve finished this text...and checked facebook...and read the news...and checked the traffic and the weather and the tides and the night sky and done ‘elf yourself’ with the dog...etc etc.
Hmmm. Probably best to stick to good old fashioned children’s Christmas gifts for this year eh!?
