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July 4, 2011

iPads for Kids: a Necessity?

The Chicago Public Schools recently spent $450,000 to provide nearly two dozen schools with 32 iPads each. Judging from this article, the kids aren't really doing anything with their iPads that couldn't be done with a teacher. But school administrators are hopeful that this will prepare kids for the future.

Do your kids need an iPad? I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. Kids are very good at picking up computer skills whenever they're introduced to them. So if your kids don't get near an iPad until they're older, they won't have missed out on anything. But a 5-year-old who spends hours on an iPad every day is missing out on what 5-year-olds should be doing, like playing outside, making art and learning about the world around them. How about getting the basics (reading, writing, arithmetic) down before becoming addicted to technology? After all, technology is not the only topic our kids will need to be well-versed on.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I believe moderation is they key. A slower intro to technology than total immersion is probably better for little ones, as contrasted to five-hour sessions of screen starring.

Barbara Frank said...

Yes, but moderation in technology is so hard. Time flies when you're engrossed in a game or online. A parent has to be very diligent and determined to limit their children's time using technology. And would that happen in school? I wonder.....

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