Keeping children quiet with technology

However, there is a rapidly increasing and toxic parenting tactic I feel compelled to speak out against as it’s a dangerous and lazy approach to dealing with meltdowns or simply just keeping a child “quiet” and seen but not heard.

I’m talking about the modern day method of “electronic babysitters” when children are simply handed an iPad or mobile phone to play on as a way of placating them or keeping them occupied.

Don’t get me wrong, technology is a great thing and I think it’s wonderful our children have so much more at their fingertips than in my day.

When I was a child, playing a computer game meant feeding a cassette tape into a player and watching psychedelic colours slowly load up accompanied by a continuous screeching noise all for a basic game with limited graphics.

Children of today are so technologically savvy, the use of tablets and smartphones has quite simply become child’s play. Many can skilfully text, swipe and type before they can even walk or talk.

While this progress has obvious benefits, there are also major drawbacks – especially when technology is seen as an easy way out by parents.

I witnessed a little lad in a toy shop begging for a hideously expensive plasticky toy.

When his mum said no, he threw a major tantrum screaming and stamping his feet in rage.

His flustered mum promptly reached into her bag and pulled out an iPad.

Magically, peace was restored. But at what cost?

If electronic gadgets are used to soothe children when it comes to difficult behaviour, how will they ever learn to control their emotions?

I’m not saying there isn’t a time and place for technology and electronic games or that I’m some perfect earth mother – far from it.

Sometimes I’ll let my children watch TV while I get on with something else; on long car journeys they’ll play on hand held games devices and they have Kindles which they use sparingly as tablets.

The difference is, I believe technology should enhance childhood, not replace it.