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 That's because just like parking kids in front of the television,
giving them tablets and smartphones to play games or handing them
digitally enhanced toys gets in the way of creative play and
interactions with caregivers that are essential for child
development, according to a clinical report released on Monday by
the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
"Physical toys (and books) support warm, verbally rich interactions
and quality time for the parent or caregiver and the child," said
report co-author Dr. Alan Mendelsohn of New York University School
of Medicine and Bellevue Hospital Center in New York City.
"The same is not true for digital toys, which actually impede those
interactions," Mendelsohn said by email. "There is little or no
evidence that screen time has any benefit for young children 2 and
under."
Under 2 years of age, children shouldn't have any screen time at
all, whether it's television or digital games and toys, according to
t
Too often, however, parents give infants and toddlers digital apps
and toys out of a mistaken belief that this can be educational,
Mendelsohn and colleagues note in their report, published in
Pediatrics.
One of the most important purposes of play during childhood -
especially for infants and toddlers - has nothing to do with ABCs or
123s. The point of play for very young children should to foster
warm, supportive interactions with caregivers and help kids develop
early social, emotional and behavioral skills, the doctors say.
When digital apps and toys do help children with optimal
development, it's usually because they're using the toys with
parents and caregivers, they note. When kids play alone, however,
there's no clear advantage to having smartphones, tablets or digital
interactive toys.
Ideally, parents should choose toys that are not overstimulating and
encourage children to use their imaginations.
Social, emotional and behavioral skills are developed and enhanced
when kids use play to work out real-life problems, doctors note.
Total screen time, including television and computer use, should be
less than one hour a day for children 2 years and older, the APP
recommends.
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Children younger than 5 years should only play with a computer or
video games if the games are developmentally appropriate, and they
should be with a parent or caregiver while they play, pediatricians
advise.
Doctors might give different advice to parents of children with
special needs than for parents of typically developing kids,
however. That's because children with certain intellectual or
physical restrictions might in some instances benefit from
technology that makes it easier for them to play.
Even if technology is necessary to help children overcome certain
impairments, parents and caregivers should play with kids when
they're using digital apps and toys instead of leaving children
alone.
"Psychologists have long urged parents not to simply plop a child in
front of a television set to stare at the screen alone, but rather
to practice co-viewing, stopping often to interact with the child
over content and ensure they are getting the developmentally
important messages," said Larry Rosen of California State University
Dominguez Hills.
"I am not suggesting that digital toys are worthless," Rosen, who
wasn't involved in the AAP report, said by email. "Quite the
contrary, I see them as a wonderful adjunct to allow parents another
way of pumping critical skills and information into their children
in an engaging environment."
But sometimes that old adage is true, and parents will find kids'
favorite part of the toy is the box it came in.
"Often parents may feel pressure to get their kids the newest,
digital educational toy for their children, but this . . . is not
needed," said Jennifer Emond of the Geisel School of Medicine at
Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire.
"Toys can be crafted from supplies available at home," Emond, who
wasn't involved in the study, said by email. "We don't need to spend
a lot of money on toys to help our children develop; simpler may be
better."
SOURCE: https://bit.ly/2QveIRX Pediatrics, online December 3, 2018.
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