Blogging NYT: So Young, and So Gadgeted

"Everyone knows that babies crawl before they walk, and that tricycles come before two-wheelers. But at what age should children get their first cellphone, laptop or virtual persona?"

Of course, when we were kids we didn't have cellphones or laptops (I sound like my mother!) so it's difficult to gauge when the proper age for these gadgets actually is. The article So Young, and So Gadgeted by Warren Buckleitner examines this question.

Warren Buckleitner states that according to child development experts, a middle ground is the best approach to take (neither too early, or too late) and he lists four age groups and what they are capable of -- and should/shouldn't be doing. He also invokes Piaget's four stages of cognitive development to back up his suggestions.

AGES 0-2: "...To work at this age, technology products must act like a busy-box, with lights or sounds that respond to a child’s actions...But even these activities should take a back seat to real experiences."

AGES 3-5: Children at this level can take real pictures with digital cameras, can play online video games on PBS Kids or Nickelodeon’s Noggin or with video game consoles.

AGES 6-11: By this age, children can search the Web and have an entire new world available to them. Buckleitner warns, however, "This is a time when parents need to keep an eye on the screen and steer children toward good sites..."

AGES 12 AND UP : Communication with peers is paramount as this age, as Buckleitner writes, "In fact, cellphones are now more or less mandatory for children at this age. Besides providing a social advantage, phones can reduce parental stress in a crowded mall, get children in touch for homework help, serve as a call to dinner — and be withheld as punishment that really works."

What do you think? Are children introduced to technology and gadgets too soon? Not soon enough? What is your take?

To read the complete article, visit the New York Time's Web site.

Comments (6)

We gave our son a computer when he was 3. He signed up for his own netflix account, minus the CC # when he was 4. He knows that is "bad" now. He now has my old laptop and surfs the web, blogs, and writes fan faction for shows he likes. I am sure we did not make a mistake. he knows more than my parents do about technology and he is only beginning second grade this week.

The sooner the better I say. After all, our kids are a part of this world, it's only right they become accustomed to it as soon as possible. We also have the TV on all the time. Remember it's what's on the TV that is important, not the fact that the TV is on .

I have a huge problem with thinking cell phones are "mandatory." If they are so valuable for keeping in touch with your kids and/or keeping them safe how can they possibly be "withheld as a punishment that works." If I'm that worried that I'm going to lose my 12 year old in a mall you can bet I'm not taking it away when he talks back to me. We survived many many years with rules like be at this location at this time or home by dark. Kids can live without cellphones. I find it disturbing. Kids are checking out, have too many distractions, sensory overload. And then we wonder where ADD and drug abuse comes from.

We have an almost 10 year old son and an almost 12 year old daughter. We got them both cell phones this summer more for our own peace of mind than anything else. We hand them out to them when we need them to have them. They hand them back in when we get home.

Both are fairly good with a computer and have their own email accounts.

2 of the biggest problems with technology at these ages are text messaging and instant messaging. Both of those help keep them in touch with their peers but often lead to trouble. We decided they could not do instant messaging or text messaging. Any unapproved text messaging comes straight out of their allowance and could lead to other loss of privilages.

My 2 year old already knows how to work our DVD player, turn the computer on, off, make screen smaller, etc and basically can use the basic functions on our cell phones and blackberry. It will soon be their world and the old fogies like us will be left waayy behind...

Our girls are 2 and 4 and they know about "the computer" since dad is a computer programmer who work from home. They also know that they can request music and he can make it come on the computer. They also know if they want to see a picture of something (for example a baby rabbit) and we don't have a book about it, then we all look it up together. They only know that the computer can be used for useful things at this point as they are blissfully unaware of games, networking, chatting, etc online. I hope to keep it that way for a while since I don't want them online all day or to value online interactions more that face to face ones.

We also don't have cable, so the only channel we get is PBS (which we love!) and that is used in moderation. They can both work the DVD player when we say it is okay to watch a DVD. My 4 year old can take pictures with a digital camera and with my cell phone. She also knows that the cell phone is used to call people (that is our only phone) such as Granny. I am sure any further functionality they were exposed to they would master, but I don't see the point. We try to focus on personal interaction with friends, simple toys such as wooden blocks, painting and coloring, and lots of outdoor time.

Our basic opinion on the matter is that if they can't surf the internet by the age of 6, it doesn't matter. I mean, my husband's entire career revolves around computers and the internet but he wasn't trained at age 4. Our friends just got their 3 year old an Ipod Shuffle. That is a little too much too fast for us, but maybe we are just trying to delay the inevitable.

Having the TV on all the time hinders communication. Children don't need to be entertained all the time. They need to learn to explore, observe, and use their imaginations.