Postby Rodent » Mon Jun 22, 2015 1:32 pm
Geo72,
Firstly, the original poster specifically said she was looking for apps to use on a plane. This therefore has no bearing on her willingness or lack of, to read with their child. Its a short term temporary solution to keep a child happily occupied on a plane.
Secondly, if I could be bothered, I'm sure I could find an equal number of web links to promote the use of ipads for children, not just including the fact that most schools use them in many ways as learning aids.
Thirdly, from a personal point of view, I was diagnosed with breast cancer when my daughter was 11 months. I have spent a great deal of time in hospital waiting rooms and on occasion, I need to take her with me. I can't take an endless stack of books, stickers, toys, paper and pens. Being a cancer centre, there are plenty of people being given really awful news, and having a lively toddler in the waiting room can in some cases cause extra stress on these people. Ditto, when I am in an appointment with my own Oncologist I need to be able to give my full attention to understand what is happening to me and my treatment. Amongst the varying things I take to occupy my daughter is the ipad. From about 20 months onwards she has enjoyed playing games on it.
I make no apologies if that's how you see it then yes, I use it "to plug a dummy in my child's brain".
But, I can only speak for myself to say that the ipad is used sparingly for these occasions. Its not like its used every day for 2 hours a day, every day. Its useful, amongst other things, for her to do when being made to sit in a small room for sometimes, long periods of time, something that is well known to be against all instincts of a toddler.