Love them or loathe them, the tablet computer has made an impact on parenting. Invaluable, some would say, as a way to entertain children in an otherwise boring environment or as a way to present education in a fun manner, the tablet has also been accused of turning children into "zombies" and pulling them away from valuable social interaction. The iPad has only been around since 2010, so there's little scientific research to determine what long-term effect it will have on children. We examine both sides of the tablet debate.
The arguments for
. No one can deny the benefits of tablet computers. Relatively inexpensive when compared with a desktop or laptop computer, they open up a world of educational opportunities and are easily portable. Schools, colleges and universities in the UAE and around the world have been using them to teach students about everything from nutrition to history and mathematics, in a fun, engaging and entertaining way. Never before has a generation had so much information at its fingertips.
. Tablets have been useful in assisting the development of language in children with autism and a number of apps have found favour with parents and autism-support groups. A study of 61 children by researchers at the University of California Los Angeles (published in the March 2013 issue of Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) found that children using iPads, combined with speech therapy, had double the vocabulary of those without access to the devices. The study suggested that iPads allowed for repeated practice and encouraged a verbal response.
. Many parents will agree that a tablet computer can help entertain or placate children, which is especially helpful during potentially problematic situations, such as shopping or dining out. While the children are occupied by iPads, parents have more time to get on with chores or catching up with people. But are children missing out on important interactions if they're not tuned in to the world around them? Parents who use tablet computers to entertain their children, take note: experts suggest that it's more beneficial for their development to play games and apps than it is to passively watch videos.
The arguments against
. In April 2013, news broke around the world that a 4-year-old British girl was undergoing psychiatric treatment for iPad addiction. She was using the device for up to four hours a day and became inconsolable if it was taken from her. It sparked debate about what is considered appropriate use by children, with experts suggesting that too much screen time could affect children's abilities to foster relationships, develop social skills and understand boundaries.
. There's the risk that digital technology consumption (including gaming) diminishes capacity for empathy by limiting how people interact and engage with each other. Research in Scotland in 2009 and Australia and the United States in 2011 found that teenagers who have increased screen time are more likely to suffer loneliness, depression, withdrawal, anxiety and attention problems.
. Children who use technology unmonitored, or who have full access to the internet without blocks or filters, are at risk of being exposed to undesirable material, whether that's violence, adult content, bullying or simply junk-food advertising. Parents need to become tech savvy and take an active interest in what their children are consuming online.
. Children who spend hours using technology or watching television may suffer long-term health risks because of a lack of exercise. Research shows that increased screen time results in reduction of exercise, which is linked to obesity. Children may also be more influenced by junk-food advertising during this time.
The tablet debate
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