For better or for worse, many parents swear by iPads and similar technology to keep their little ones occupied and entertained.
But one mother has banned her five-year-old daughter from using the device, claiming it has made her smarter and better behaved.
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The mother, who follows The Nicole World on social media, explained that in the three weeks since she banned her daughter from using her iPad, she has noticed a huge difference.
Apparently her daughter no longer asks to use the iPad first thing in the morning and when she gets home from school, as was common practice before.
“There is definitely an addiction and a desire to use a device while having access to it all the time,” Nicole said.
And now that she’s spending less time in front of the screen, the mother says her daughter is playing with her toys and using her imagination a lot more.
Additionally, she started asking more questions and “learning a lot more at home than she normally did.”
But it wasn’t just the iPad that was banned in Nicole’s house.
YouTube also got the axe, and the mother said the ban made her daughter generally “calmer” and “nicer.”
“She now does much more of what she is told to do, especially in the mornings, she sometimes puts on all her shoes without being asked.
She brushes her teeth “As soon as she is asked, she helps make her bed. She is dressed and ready the next morning,” says Nicole.
It’s no surprise, then, that the mother urged other parents to limit their children’s screen time.
While Nicole said she won’t just let her daughter sit in front of a screen or use her iPad again, taking a break has undoubtedly made a difference, at least for her.
The mother also indicated that now that her daughter is away from her iPad or YouTube, she will appreciate the iPad and YouTube series more if she does get some screen time.
Nicole’s iPad ban follows investigation published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics found that parents who give their children devices to calm them down during “emotional moments” often backfire.
The study focused on children aged 3 to 5 and lead researcher Dr Jenny Radesky said “calming device use” was correlated with an increase in emotional outbursts in certain children.
“When negative behavior is followed by something pleasant, it will inadvertently and accidentally reinforce the negative behavior,” she said.
Instead, the study suggested that parents should soothe their children in other ways, such as by moving them or hugging them.
Other parents responded to the reactions to Nicole’s viral post TikTok to share the results of the screen ban, and many agreed that they noticed a big difference.
“We banned YouTube and now notice much less aggression,” said one mother.
“My son has been off the iPad for a month now and he is doing great without it,” wrote a seconder.
And a third said: “We did it with our three year old, he just has his Nintendo “on the weekend for a few hours.”
How long should children look at a screen?
Dr. Amanda, an educator and child psychologist, provided general guidance for parents looking to limit screen time.
Age 1-3 years old
How long: 5 minutes per year of life at once
Dr. Gummer says, “If you really hope that your child will learn from the screen time he or she gets, the rule of thumb is that children can concentrate for an average of 5 minutes per year of their lives (so 15 minutes at age 3).”
Age 1+
How long: 1 hour per day
Dr. Gummer says, “For younger children, we find that about 1 hour per day is a reasonable limit to aim for on a normal weekday.
“When you add up the time you spend on mobile devices, TV, computers, and other devices with screens, it may not seem like much (and remember that kids get screen time in school, too).”
Age 2+
How long: 2 hours per day
Dr. Gummer says, “Several sources, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommend no more than 2 hours per day (for children 2 years and older).”
Children of all ages
More than two hours per day is excessive use
Dr Gummer says: “A recent study showed some harmful effects in teenagers who spent more than 3 hours a day in front of a screen and considered this as ‘excessive use’.
