How much time is too much time playing educational computer games?
I recently bought an iPad primarily for my 3-year-old daughter. I put nothing on it but educational apps and children's books. No YouTube, no Internet, no (non-educational) games. I've decided to let her use it as much as she wants, for now, and see how it goes. That was a few weeks ago.
So far she's been using the iPad maybe 2 to 5 hours each day. She still enjoys other activities -- playing outside, playing with dolls and blocks, interacting with friends, being read to, etc. And I think she might be learning a thing or two from the apps. Still, several hours a day seems like a lot. How do I know if it's too much?
I've searched the web, and there's lots of info on limiting TV time and video games, but I can't find any recommendations on limiting use if it's only educational games.
Relevant: Should I let my 3 year old play educational games on my iPhone?
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Back in my times I was out 24/7 and when I got back home I was too tired and went to bed... I don't even remember eating food, hell all I remember is hide and seek, tag and all other fun stuff we did back in my time!
Ipad? Kids? That is a bad combination, have them go out more often. It's more healthy for them to be fighting each other than to play on their IPads.
The more time they spend on their Ipads and computers the more attached they become and the more physical activity they will miss out on.
Bottom line, it's a health issue and honestly, I grew up without a computer, didn't get into computers until I was 14ish. Played games 24/7 and I regret it, if you want your kids to thank you when they grow up and wisen up, you will make them go out more often. Not having an Ipad doesn't kill anybody, having one on the other hand is a risk.
The American Association of Pediatrics suggests 1-2 hours of all screen time--regardless of content. The following link sites some of the effects it can have: www.mayoclinic.com/health/children-and-tv/MY00522
Also, beginning more than 1-2 hours of screen time at age 3 makes it more difficult to limit it when they are older-as it becomes something they are used to doing for 3 hours a day (to pick a random amount of time) and don't necessarily know how or want to find a way to occupy themselves after school, for instance if they get used to it.
Another study to read: www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100706161759.htm Although it is done on older children, habits are formed from an early age... and continue into adulthood. So, it is better to be wary than to find out in 3rd grade that had you done something differently it might be different now. Also, as one of the studies cited states: model good screen habits-don't spend too much time watching TV/playing video games either... that way as they grow up, they don't expect the amount of time to increase.
I found one more link which specifically addresses tv, video games of educational varieties in toddlers (which, imho is closer to preschoolers than grade 5-but the grade 5 studies show what can happen if it continues)... www.nytimes.com/2011/10/19/health/19babies.html This study also says to limit it. Note that the video industry says that a parent is the best judge... of course, they might just be biased (wanting parents $$?).
It would be better if your 3-year-old daughter will play with real toys like dolls or bricks more time than with iPad. She has to develop her cognitive ability, logic and knowledge about real world.
So far she's been using the iPad maybe 2 to 5 hours each day.
It is too much. 1 hour a day would be enough.
there's lots of info on limiting TV time and video games
iPad is almost the same as video game.
Also read book: “Kindergarten Is Too Late” by Masaru Ibuka
Screen time is something that should be limited for all children; at 0-2, it should be minimal or zero, as it does not support brain development in the same way that other kinds of (active) play do. It's similar to how you might learn a school subject.
Method 1: Listen to a lecture, with an overhead/projector showing some
slides.
Method 2: Listen to a shorter lecture, then answer questions about the subject
afterwards.
Method 3: Listen to a still shorter lecture, answer a few questions, and then
practice the activity for the same amount of time or more.
I think it would be easy to agree that method 3 is the best way to learn a new concept (listen, repeat, do). That's because just listening (and watching - anything passive) doesn't engage the brain in the same way that actively participating does. Completely cooperative learning is even better: you retain the memory of how to do things better.
The same applies to your child. They're learning how to do things (physical, mental, speech, etc.), and they learn best by doing. Passive content (like TV or videos on an iPad) are the worst way to do that; active content on an iPad is better, but it only can teach a limited set of skills, and unless your child is old enough to type isn't engaging them in conversation certainly. They need to be learning multiple things at once as much as possible - speech, vocabulary/grammar, emotional/social skills, motor skills. It's hard to get that from a screen; and this doesn't change as they get older (at least until a lot older). I would suggest that 2,3,6 year olds should all have the same amount of screen time per day, and so does the AAP: 1 to 2 hours per day (or less).
We have two children - almost 2 and 3.5 - and while we can't completely eliminate the almost-2 year old's screen time, we limit it to very little, probably an hour or two per week, and typically only when the older one is having screen time on the television.
For the older one, we allow no more than an hour a day, and do this largely on the iPad (which is his preference). He has 20 to 30 minutes up to twice a day (Before school and after dinner). We encourage him to use it on the toilet for one of those periods, initially as an incentive to try to poop when he was having trouble, but now as a way to allow him to be alone without his younger brother bothering him (they share a room, so it's very hard to get this alone time otherwise). He's responsible for setting a timer (we showed him how to use the iPad timer) and stopping when the timer goes off. He's not all that well behaved about stopping, but that's always difficult for children that age, and a good opportunity to work on it.
I agree that once you get past a certain point, content is irrelevant and that 5 hours of edu games has less to do with the content and everything to do with the lack of varied activity for a 3 yr old. i think even 2 hrs at a crack is too long, and i'm a pretty big tech advocate.
Now here's something that hasn't been mentioned... I'll bet that if she's played these games that much, that she's no longer playing the game, but has memorized the patterns. I'll bet the games are stale and she's just going thru the motions anymore. You'll be able to tell by watching her for just a couple of minutes whether or not this is the case.
From the range that you've given, i would recommend that you develop a daily routine of some sort, and slide it in there for an 60-90, 1-2x/day.
Toddlers should not spend much time behind a screen. IMHO the use of media is far more relevant than the content of the media, particularly if the time is quite limited. The very most I would consider is an hour a day, and I would not let it be at one sitting.
I've searched the web, and there's lots of info on limiting TV time and video games, but
I can't find any recommendations on limiting use if it's only educational games.
That should tell you something. The difference between "educational" media and regular media is marginal compared to the difference between real life and any media.
I'm not recommending that you let your toddler spend even 5 minutes a day on Grand Theft Auto, but don't rationalize multiple hours a day with the electronic baby sitter because the content is "educational."
Get the kid a puppy. Find a good playground. Find other kids his age and have play dates. Get Lincoln Logs or Knex. Read to your kid. Get dolls or action figures. You get the point ... you want active rather than passive amusement.
The Mayo Clinic says too much screen time is too much screen time, regardless of the device, the content, or the level of interaction.
Our household has a "scale" of electronics time, depending on age. As the kid gets older, their time limits are tied somewhat to responsibilities -- they do their chores to earn additional time (privilege). There is also usage associated with homework (our elementary and middle schools have Chromebooks for each students, and often assignments must be done online), which we treat separately from their free time (which is always, so far, spent on games with little or no educational value, by their own choice).
Every single one of them thinks that my restrictions are terribly unfair and prevent them from ANY FUN AT ALL. They talk about their friends who have Kindle Fires and laptops in their room and can play as much as they want (which, since I know many of their parents, I highly doubt). They sneak the tablet or laptop into their own room to play. They throw tantrums, they whine, they beg, they attempt bribery. My daughter recently cited insufficient technology time as the primary cause of her moodiness ("it's not because I'm a tween, it's because I don't get to play computer games for hours").
BUT, if I let them, my kids play on the tablet for hours at a stretch and only stop once they get very hungry and/or tired. They even take it into the bathroom. They watch over a sibling's shoulder while another child plays. Once the tablet runs out of power (or it's bedtime, or something other obligation interrupts) -- they are incredibly cranky and irritable. They're obviously not able to self-regulate (even the older ones), and so I'm completely satisfied with the rules we've established.
I've never seen anybody ask how much time is too much time spent reading, drawing, putting together puzzles, or playing board games. Yet as I see it, reading on a tablet is just like reading a book whose pages can never get ripped; drawing on a tablet is like fingerpainting that my daughter can do no matter what she is wearing; playing puzzles on a tablet is like putting together puzzles without the ability to lose pieces or mix them up with those of other puzzles; playing a game on a tablet is just like playing a real game but without having to worry about remembering the rules or keeping the pieces out of the baby's reach.
As for television, I'm OK with reasonably educational shows. If your child has to sit in a chair listening to talking for 5 hours a day, does it matter if it's in a school listening to a teacher versus in your living room listening to the TV? Of course "school" for toddlers
is generally a lot more engaging than the lecture-style classes of older kids, but it's generally not as educational either.
I prefer human interaction to watching TV, but there's no way I can compete educationally. For example, I can tell my daughter "Remember, look both ways before crossing the street!", but on TV they can write a catchy song, choreograph a dance, make a skit with props and dialog, and then repeat it 10 times a day all month long.
I don't like plopping my kids in front of the TV all day, but other people in their lives do and honestly, I can't say that it seems detrimental to their mental development. When my 2-year-old starts leading an imaginary marching band, talking like a pirate, holding a toilet paper tube up to her eye and calling it a "spyglass", or saying something in Spanish, I know it's because she learned it on TV. There's just no way I would even think to teach her all that stuff.
I know technology is a great way to get some space from the children to get on with things, however we have a strict rule about no-(screen)-technology with our children (6 and 3). It's labor-intensive parenting, that's for sure, no computers, TV etc. I believe that use of media does not impact their developing brains in the way that personal connection, nature, art etc. does. If you try to lessen the time your younger child spends on the i-pad, you will have to be creative to make sure s/he doesn't feel deprived (seeing no limits for the older child), and think of fun alternatives. Try puzzles, musical instruments, audio books on CDs, painting etc.
Am I right to be concerned?
I would say yes, most definitely. Kids can easily become lost in games for hours on end (I should know, I was one of them). I think my parents were thankful they had something to keep me occupied while they did.. whatever it was that they did while I was in my room. It was also something they could take away from me when I was in trouble.
I'm wondering what time periods parents are seeing their kids using ipads for??
Our daughter (almost 6 years old) gets about an hour block of screen time. With your youngest, I'd say that should be supervised time. This gives you the chance to interact and ask/answer questions. If you're looking for unsupervised time, I would recommend no more than 30 minutes. That's a decent enough time frame for you to accomplish whatever task (hopefully :) ) that you need to get done.
Establish the rules up front! Kiddos love structure (mine almost to a fault!) and will abide by the rules if you are consistent following through. We will say "You have 30 minutes until dinner is ready." On the weekends when outside play is out of the question, we'll ask her "Can you play on the computer while we clean the house? Then we can play something with you." This gives her something else to look forward to while not getting too hooked on the computer.
The world is changing. I think the advice on how much is too much is outdated. Screen time isn't what it used to be. I have a feeling my two year old will type his name before he writes it. I think he will learn to use a mouse or a touch screen before crayons. Even Leapfrog toys are having a hard time competing with IPads. An IPad is more engaging and interactive than listening to a musical toy or a stuffed dog that sings and dances. While there is nothing that compares to a wooden puzzle and a real book, I don't think there is anything wrong with a toddler growing up in the very real and changing technological world.
I think with any media product, its important to set up some boundaries as far as usage goes. IMHO, educational games would get a little more leeway, but still should have boundaries. Its a good opportunity to set some good habits for your child, let her start to learn the importance of self governing or at least, that limits do exist. This lesson can be extrapolated to many different things, TV, internet access, XBOX, Iphone etc etc.
Decide what is a good limit and apply that in a firm, loving consistent manner.
Good luck.
I thought I'd expand my comment into an answer:
Whether or not media is considered educational is a bit of a red herring. If a kid is going to watch TV or play a game, yes, it might as well be educational, but the fact that it is educational isn't going to change whether or not it's a good idea to be doing that activity for extended periods of time.
The concern is that you don't want to assume "It's OK" because it's educational. 5 hours of education TV is as good/bad for a child as 5 hours of Nickelodeon. It's the activity (or, with TV, the lack thereof) that is the concern. Sitting for 5 hours doing a passive activity is the concern...not specifically what they are watching.
To be fair, video games aren't the same as TV. As they aren't mentally passive. They are typically physically passive, but at least the brain is firing synapses when playing a video game.
I can't tell you how many hours a 3 year old should play on an iPad. I'd personally keep it to an hour a day at most, but that's just based on my personal opinion. And there are plenty of media options on an iPad that I think one could argue are not exactly the same thing as video game...such as ebooks or music, so it's a complicated device to form an analysis on, IMHO.
My main point, though, is just don't assume it's all OK just because the games are labeled 'educational'.
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