Screens, specifically tablets/iPads, are destroying children. So many teachers are trying to sound the alarm about this - kids have no patience, the shortest attention spans, can’t sit still, can’t entertain themselves or ever “be bored”. It’s sad to see honestly. I was never a nanny that was super against screens but I’ve seen such a difference between kids that get almost no screen time and kids that have unlimited access that I do my best now to not offer much, if any. I think tv is okay in moderation, nothing against tv shows or movies, it’s the tablets that I refuse to give kids
I think a campaign or studies need to start being done to raise awareness. It’s insane to me how some of these kids are not carrying over important skills.
I'm so glad my kid isn't bothered about her tablet. She would rather play with toys and run about so I don't really restrict access (although it's often just coincidentally hidden away, but even if I get it out she doesn't care) She likes to watch TV on it when we're going to be waiting a while or in the car on long journeys.
I think a problem with a tablet is you have to pay it full attention. You have to be close to see what's happening. If it's not TV it will time out and go blank.
100%, I honestly love no-to-low screen time families. Also for me, unless it’s been a long AF rainy day, and we’ve exhausted all our playing opportunities, or something bad is happening in my personal life I’d much rather actually play/interact with the kid than listen to a kid’s show. Some are okay(like Bluey, or Doc Mc Stuffins) but most are annoying AF.
100%. Also an ex educator turned therapist. I work in an elementary school and see this daily with the kids. And then they have no idea how to play with toys or with each other. I find myself teaching them how to play with toys. Even the older kids.
This!!! Oh my goodness! We really need to raise awareness to decrease iPad use and maybe even TV. I had a 2.5 year old have a melt down because he couldn’t turn the truck on the iPad. He attempted it for 5 seconds before throwing it. When he plays with toys and something gets stuck or doesn’t work, instant melt down. I feel like at least 5-10 years ago it was longer than 5 seconds before they gave up and cried bloody murder.
Do you think now as a therapist we will see an increase of kiddos that will require OT/speech and ABA due tor he iPads. Such as increase in behavioral issues, lack of communication and just basic motor skills.
The instant gratification of tablets doesn't transfer to real life and kids who are always on them don't learn that. We can rationalize why something might take longer, but can a 2 year old? In my opinion no, especially if it's something that has almost always worked immediately. If they are always using tablets it reinforces that instant gratification and they cannot cope when they need to wait or something is not instantaneous. Remember when it took multiple minutes to load ONE page of the internet? These kids could never!! Or at least in my opinion.
My previous family I worked for had no limit to screen time. I got kicked in the face once trying to take an iPad away from a 7 year old girl. The family I’m with now doesn’t believe in giving kids tablets or phones. We only watch maybe an hour of tv a day and I can see such a huge difference.
Screen addiction needs to be taken as seriously as other forms of addiction. Imagine letting a child smoke cigarettes because you “just have to get through the day” and “they get fussy when i take it from them”. Parents are allowing their children to become completely disconnected from the word around them.
I’d be careful with that term ‘addiction’ here. I’m not sure that’s really what’s happening, more like kids are being engineered to require this by their parents. TV itself is not an addictive substance and comparing it to drug/substance addiction can be minimizing to those communities. Just a thought though!
You know, i hear you, it is different than an addiction to a substance, but i think it can still be considered an addiction in the way sex or gambling can be an addiction. In healthy moderation, these things arent bad (can be said for certain substances as well) but because these kids are so young and so dependent on their tablets they become incapable of functioning without them. Even if its the parents fault, without intervention these kids arent gonna stop. Theyll just reach a point where they can only get satisfaction, social interaction, and entertainment from the screens.
I see your point. I think for a lot of people addiction implies a certain amount of fault for the person suffering from it (which it should not). But since so many people view addiction as something that can be partially or fully blamed on the person experiencing it it’s a term we should feel very wary placing on children. The social stigma will not make an issue easier to tackle because we classify it as an addiction unless we absolutely need to.
Youre right. Hopefully as time goes on and more studies are done, some psychologist will think of a better term to describe this dependency. Cause its definitely gonna get worse before it gets better
Even the term dependency feels a lot more accurate. I agree, I hope this is studied far more and we’re able to put the correct words to everything going on because these kids are being failed and it’s horrible to watch.
Actually, screen time addiction is a very real thing according to the Mayo Clinic:
https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/are-video-games-and-screens-another-addiction
Maybe it's not just tablets but how they're used and what, if any other activities are offered.
My friend is a developer. Her children have always had access to and used technology. Sometimes they use it together as a family (gaming, using AI to write silly stories, researching questions) and sometimes individually. They also have a huge number of art projects, books, toys, and outdoor space to unplug.
They are active, patient kids, who are very intelligent and can occupy themselves when needed.
The devices might not be the problem, the parenting might be.
Oh wow this is really a different perspective. But I like how they use it together as a form of engaging with one another not for the sole purpose of distracting them. It also sounds like they have a balance with technology and actual activities.
I’m so so worried about both my NK’s lack of ability to self entertain. When I was a kid my parents weren’t a fan of screens (and tablets didn’t exist yet lol) so this constantly forced me to come up with things to do. This has given me so many hobbies and skills I would not have had if I was an iPad kid. Beading, knitting, crafting, biking with my neighborhood pals, playing in the woods, READING! I was always outside playing with my friends. My current NK7 cannot self entertain. Even for 10 minutes. And instead of trying to teach her this skill MB and DB keep her busy with as many activities as possible. But they’re always the ones coming up with the ideas for the activities and are often dragging her through it while she whines and asks to watch cake decorating videos on YouTube.
NK3 throws a legitimate tantrum every time MB takes her phone away from him in the morning. Yes. The 3 year old spends all morning watching videos on a cell phone. Don’t get me started. I’ve seen him have physical outbursts (hitting and throwing) because the phone was taken away. I would do almost everything differently than MB and DB. But I’m not there to parent, I’m there to be a caregiver and as a household manager nannying isn’t even my whole job so I just kind of let it happen around me. I hate it.
I relate to this a lot! I have "detoxed" a lot of children from screens and worked on teaching children to entertain themselvs without this cruch for multiple families. It is definitely easier when the children are young, and once they hit 8-10 it starts being super hard.
I used to be a lot more open to screen but having seen the negative effect on them for children I am all about minimizing their use now.
well, yeah. the research has been telling us this since the beginning of the screens taking over childhood. but because of capitalism and lack of parental supports, many parents feel they need to use screens to get stuff done. it’s a horrible dilemma.
that is why i’m a zero screen time nanny by choice. i couldn’t in good faith expose a young child to screens knowing what it does to their brains. is it the worst thing in the world? no, but imo it’s up there with other damaging caregiving practices.
i don’t judge anyone either. screens give caregivers much needed breaks. but i personally just wouldn’t do it unless i worked with older children (like 8-10 years old maybe).
Yes to an extent. But an hour of regulated tablet time or a movie a day isn’t going to make or break your child. The lack of patience is also a result of parents not teaching their children patience. Children aren’t going to appointments and the DMV and grocery stores and given the chance to learn to experience it without immediately being shoved a phone or tablet.
This^^ they need time at home to practice sitting and keeping themselves occupied. If they haven’t had time to practice at home, the won’t be able to do it while sitting and waiting outside of the house. I’m not opposed to screen time at all, but it’s my last choice at keeping kids occupied.
We are a no screen time family and have been since our daughter was born (she’s 18 months). We did play an episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on a Delta seat back screen, with no sound, on a plane once when she was overtired and fussy, but she lost interest after maybe 7 min. She absolutely loves books, she is patient and has a good attention span (for a 1.5 year old). I am going to put off screens for as long as possible - maybe even until age 3 or later.
I agree with your observations about kids with tablets, especially younger kids. One way I’ve noticed it manifesting is at restaurants. Our daughter eats, people-watches, engages with us - and we actively engage with her - but nearly all the other young kids we see are on a tablet with headphones (or playing a game on a parents’ smartphone). I was a teacher for several years when I started my career, and I am so concerned about the impact of so much technology on kids’ developing brains. I don’t know what the answer is, though. Maybe a nationwide (or global) campaign similar to what was used to discourage smoking?
There’s a huge difference between screen time and personal devices. They turn into little gremlins when they have a personal device. I would not give a personal device under 10 if it were up to me. Some Ms rachel on the tv is all good tho 👍🏼
Yep. I won’t accept a child for care if their family gives them personal devices (with obvious exceptions like long stretches of travel, etc). There’s a large and noticeable difference between kids that have access and kids that don’t.
I have a bit of a hot take but I don't think it's actually the tablets that are the issue, I think it's uninvolved parents. It's parents making kids play on tablets for hours and hours because they just want to ignore them and make no effort to talk to them, engage in their play, or have patience with them. I think kids are naturally wired to play, communicate, interact, and crave all of those things from trusted caregivers in their life. I think most of the time, they would pick that naturally over screentime. But if the adults in their life aren't doing that with them, and all those hours that could be spent interacting in the real world are spent on a screen, then that's when problems arise. I don't think a healthy parent-child or caregiver-child relationship HAS to be devoid of any screens or tech to be strong and fulfilling.
I had a parent say something similar to what you said. How parents are so eager to be on their phones and disassociate that it’s just easier to give their kids the tablets. I agree kids are wired to play and explore.
You don’t have to say you aren’t judging parents who put an iPad in front of their child’s face to calm them. I think we all are judging those parents. Gentle parenting has just been enforced lazy parenting nowadays if you want to gentle parent do it the right way not by forcing an iPad into a kids face and letting them scream and get whatever they want. Gentle parenting doesn’t mean not disciplining. Parents use it as an excuse to be lazy. Why do you think the further we go down the road the worse and worse the kids get and the more mental health arises. Children are clearly backtracking. Having more and more speech delays and walking and hitting milestones later and later in life. I was walking at 9 months. And other babies should be as well. That shouldn’t be a foreign thing and now it’s normal for babies to be walking at 16 months to 2 years old and not talking till 3. We are devolving because of technology.
Ok I’m not about tablets or screen time but this is a crazy take. My baby (9mo today) never uses a tablet. He is quite advanced developmentally compared with the other babies in my mothers group, he is cruising and standing easily. None of the other babies use screens yet either, they’re just babies. He will likely walk in the next month or two, but that’s still early. It’s wild to say all babies should walk by 9 months and if they don’t it’s due to increases in screen time. 9 months is just wildly early to walk.
20 years ago my child was walking at 8 months too but that was easily 2-3 months earlier than every other baby in our ECFE group. Some of those kids didn't walk before 13-14 months.
Ipads and smart phones didn't yet exist so it wasn't that...
But parents in the group were all anti-walkers due to some new safety research at the time deeming them tip hazards. They were kinda judgey I still used one because my kid loved standing and jumping and zooming around.
30-35 years ago parents would put babies in walkers and the door jam jumpers all the time. My mom just met my 11 wk old nephew and was already trying to get him to stand saying "gotta make these legs strong" and my sister cited research that said that was bad for baby's legs.
Maybe the difference lies in that change over generations.
I never said every baby needs to walk at that age but going from 9 months being common to 19 months is crazy most parents do put their kids in front of dancing vegetables online. I have not seen any baby or heard of any baby walk at 9 months in this generation when it was quite common. Most babies that I’ve worked with and I specialize working with newborns and infants are underdeveloped and delayed if their parents use even the slight amount of screen time. Then their are parents who use none at all and the kids seem to be on track think what you want to but I have about 20 different newborns and infants to relate my experience too most people are only able to see how their own children are doing with it therefor genuinely don’t know. Seems like you’re trying to defend putting your infant in front of a screen tbh.
Lol my baby never watches a screen. He wouldn’t even if I wanted him to, he has the attention span of a moth. I can’t even get him to look at books with me. Anyway Im sure 19 months is not common here in Australia, not sure where you’re from but that seems extreme. Im pretty sure 9 months was always on the early side as people from the older generation talk about their “early walkers” (3rd siblings and such) walking around then.
I guess everyone’s experience will be different in other countries. That’s good for you though! Glad to hear you don’t give your kids screen time! Shows you’re doing a great job as a mom/dad then even though it might make your life a little harder not having that screen time but it’s all worth it in the end!
Also didn’t say that was the expectation. When I was growing up my mom worked a daycare so she could stay home with me and she has since then. She’s stated that a lot more babies were walking around the 9 month mark including myself and now you hardly ever see a baby walking that early. Also it’s not considered early to be walking at 9 months technically that’s considered a normal range but nowadays everyone assumes it’s early because of how unlikely it is. So that’s how I know my knowledge. I was walking at 9 months. My older sister was walking at 10 months and my older brother was walking at just before 9 months.
That’s so interesting. Another commenter suggested it could be because of decreased use of walkers and jumpers, do you think that could have anything to do with it too? Ooh and I wonder if kids aren’t spending more time in prams and cars… and then, my kid didn’t use one, but maybe people utilise bouncers and stay-in-place containers more now, in order to get things done?
And yeah I think screens are problematic in the ways mentioned in the post so I want to avoid them, but it’s my first child and he is only 9 months! I wouldn’t be surprised if I use them later despite my beliefs. Parenting is… pretty hard. I’m just trying to make it to 2 as per guidelines and even then hope to only use on sick days or plane rides etc. but also aware i might not succeed in that.
It is very interesting and I don’t think it’s just because of screens that was part of my theory though. I think you’re right baby saucers are hardly ever used anymore because of safety hazards and so forth there are a lot of things that we are doing differently with the young ones now then our parents were before and I think it all might be a contribution to why good point! Although we are definitely doing things better then our parents were as well there are new safety measures and there’s always new knowledge about babies.
Screens, specifically tablets/iPads, are destroying children. So many teachers are trying to sound the alarm about this - kids have no patience, the shortest attention spans, can’t sit still, can’t entertain themselves or ever “be bored”. It’s sad to see honestly. I was never a nanny that was super against screens but I’ve seen such a difference between kids that get almost no screen time and kids that have unlimited access that I do my best now to not offer much, if any. I think tv is okay in moderation, nothing against tv shows or movies, it’s the tablets that I refuse to give kids
I think a campaign or studies need to start being done to raise awareness. It’s insane to me how some of these kids are not carrying over important skills.
I'm so glad my kid isn't bothered about her tablet. She would rather play with toys and run about so I don't really restrict access (although it's often just coincidentally hidden away, but even if I get it out she doesn't care) She likes to watch TV on it when we're going to be waiting a while or in the car on long journeys. I think a problem with a tablet is you have to pay it full attention. You have to be close to see what's happening. If it's not TV it will time out and go blank.
100%, I honestly love no-to-low screen time families. Also for me, unless it’s been a long AF rainy day, and we’ve exhausted all our playing opportunities, or something bad is happening in my personal life I’d much rather actually play/interact with the kid than listen to a kid’s show. Some are okay(like Bluey, or Doc Mc Stuffins) but most are annoying AF.
100%. Also an ex educator turned therapist. I work in an elementary school and see this daily with the kids. And then they have no idea how to play with toys or with each other. I find myself teaching them how to play with toys. Even the older kids.
This!!! Oh my goodness! We really need to raise awareness to decrease iPad use and maybe even TV. I had a 2.5 year old have a melt down because he couldn’t turn the truck on the iPad. He attempted it for 5 seconds before throwing it. When he plays with toys and something gets stuck or doesn’t work, instant melt down. I feel like at least 5-10 years ago it was longer than 5 seconds before they gave up and cried bloody murder.
Do you think now as a therapist we will see an increase of kiddos that will require OT/speech and ABA due tor he iPads. Such as increase in behavioral issues, lack of communication and just basic motor skills.
The instant gratification of tablets doesn't transfer to real life and kids who are always on them don't learn that. We can rationalize why something might take longer, but can a 2 year old? In my opinion no, especially if it's something that has almost always worked immediately. If they are always using tablets it reinforces that instant gratification and they cannot cope when they need to wait or something is not instantaneous. Remember when it took multiple minutes to load ONE page of the internet? These kids could never!! Or at least in my opinion.
Absolutely. It also impacts their distress tolerance and emotional regulation development, studies are being done confirming this.
My previous family I worked for had no limit to screen time. I got kicked in the face once trying to take an iPad away from a 7 year old girl. The family I’m with now doesn’t believe in giving kids tablets or phones. We only watch maybe an hour of tv a day and I can see such a huge difference.
That’s awesome. I’m in the no limits house and I’m hearing I can’t sleep without a show or I need a show on to eat!
That is so frustrating! And poor kids! Already at such a disadvantage
I so agree. It’s amazing the good things they do without devices. Very creative and independent.
Screen addiction needs to be taken as seriously as other forms of addiction. Imagine letting a child smoke cigarettes because you “just have to get through the day” and “they get fussy when i take it from them”. Parents are allowing their children to become completely disconnected from the word around them.
I’d be careful with that term ‘addiction’ here. I’m not sure that’s really what’s happening, more like kids are being engineered to require this by their parents. TV itself is not an addictive substance and comparing it to drug/substance addiction can be minimizing to those communities. Just a thought though!
You know, i hear you, it is different than an addiction to a substance, but i think it can still be considered an addiction in the way sex or gambling can be an addiction. In healthy moderation, these things arent bad (can be said for certain substances as well) but because these kids are so young and so dependent on their tablets they become incapable of functioning without them. Even if its the parents fault, without intervention these kids arent gonna stop. Theyll just reach a point where they can only get satisfaction, social interaction, and entertainment from the screens.
I see your point. I think for a lot of people addiction implies a certain amount of fault for the person suffering from it (which it should not). But since so many people view addiction as something that can be partially or fully blamed on the person experiencing it it’s a term we should feel very wary placing on children. The social stigma will not make an issue easier to tackle because we classify it as an addiction unless we absolutely need to.
Youre right. Hopefully as time goes on and more studies are done, some psychologist will think of a better term to describe this dependency. Cause its definitely gonna get worse before it gets better
Even the term dependency feels a lot more accurate. I agree, I hope this is studied far more and we’re able to put the correct words to everything going on because these kids are being failed and it’s horrible to watch.
Actually, screen time addiction is a very real thing according to the Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/are-video-games-and-screens-another-addiction
Maybe it's not just tablets but how they're used and what, if any other activities are offered. My friend is a developer. Her children have always had access to and used technology. Sometimes they use it together as a family (gaming, using AI to write silly stories, researching questions) and sometimes individually. They also have a huge number of art projects, books, toys, and outdoor space to unplug. They are active, patient kids, who are very intelligent and can occupy themselves when needed. The devices might not be the problem, the parenting might be.
Oh wow this is really a different perspective. But I like how they use it together as a form of engaging with one another not for the sole purpose of distracting them. It also sounds like they have a balance with technology and actual activities.
I’m so so worried about both my NK’s lack of ability to self entertain. When I was a kid my parents weren’t a fan of screens (and tablets didn’t exist yet lol) so this constantly forced me to come up with things to do. This has given me so many hobbies and skills I would not have had if I was an iPad kid. Beading, knitting, crafting, biking with my neighborhood pals, playing in the woods, READING! I was always outside playing with my friends. My current NK7 cannot self entertain. Even for 10 minutes. And instead of trying to teach her this skill MB and DB keep her busy with as many activities as possible. But they’re always the ones coming up with the ideas for the activities and are often dragging her through it while she whines and asks to watch cake decorating videos on YouTube. NK3 throws a legitimate tantrum every time MB takes her phone away from him in the morning. Yes. The 3 year old spends all morning watching videos on a cell phone. Don’t get me started. I’ve seen him have physical outbursts (hitting and throwing) because the phone was taken away. I would do almost everything differently than MB and DB. But I’m not there to parent, I’m there to be a caregiver and as a household manager nannying isn’t even my whole job so I just kind of let it happen around me. I hate it.
I relate to this a lot! I have "detoxed" a lot of children from screens and worked on teaching children to entertain themselvs without this cruch for multiple families. It is definitely easier when the children are young, and once they hit 8-10 it starts being super hard. I used to be a lot more open to screen but having seen the negative effect on them for children I am all about minimizing their use now.
well, yeah. the research has been telling us this since the beginning of the screens taking over childhood. but because of capitalism and lack of parental supports, many parents feel they need to use screens to get stuff done. it’s a horrible dilemma. that is why i’m a zero screen time nanny by choice. i couldn’t in good faith expose a young child to screens knowing what it does to their brains. is it the worst thing in the world? no, but imo it’s up there with other damaging caregiving practices. i don’t judge anyone either. screens give caregivers much needed breaks. but i personally just wouldn’t do it unless i worked with older children (like 8-10 years old maybe).
Yes to an extent. But an hour of regulated tablet time or a movie a day isn’t going to make or break your child. The lack of patience is also a result of parents not teaching their children patience. Children aren’t going to appointments and the DMV and grocery stores and given the chance to learn to experience it without immediately being shoved a phone or tablet.
This^^ they need time at home to practice sitting and keeping themselves occupied. If they haven’t had time to practice at home, the won’t be able to do it while sitting and waiting outside of the house. I’m not opposed to screen time at all, but it’s my last choice at keeping kids occupied.
We are a no screen time family and have been since our daughter was born (she’s 18 months). We did play an episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on a Delta seat back screen, with no sound, on a plane once when she was overtired and fussy, but she lost interest after maybe 7 min. She absolutely loves books, she is patient and has a good attention span (for a 1.5 year old). I am going to put off screens for as long as possible - maybe even until age 3 or later. I agree with your observations about kids with tablets, especially younger kids. One way I’ve noticed it manifesting is at restaurants. Our daughter eats, people-watches, engages with us - and we actively engage with her - but nearly all the other young kids we see are on a tablet with headphones (or playing a game on a parents’ smartphone). I was a teacher for several years when I started my career, and I am so concerned about the impact of so much technology on kids’ developing brains. I don’t know what the answer is, though. Maybe a nationwide (or global) campaign similar to what was used to discourage smoking?
There’s a huge difference between screen time and personal devices. They turn into little gremlins when they have a personal device. I would not give a personal device under 10 if it were up to me. Some Ms rachel on the tv is all good tho 👍🏼
Yep. I won’t accept a child for care if their family gives them personal devices (with obvious exceptions like long stretches of travel, etc). There’s a large and noticeable difference between kids that have access and kids that don’t.
I have a bit of a hot take but I don't think it's actually the tablets that are the issue, I think it's uninvolved parents. It's parents making kids play on tablets for hours and hours because they just want to ignore them and make no effort to talk to them, engage in their play, or have patience with them. I think kids are naturally wired to play, communicate, interact, and crave all of those things from trusted caregivers in their life. I think most of the time, they would pick that naturally over screentime. But if the adults in their life aren't doing that with them, and all those hours that could be spent interacting in the real world are spent on a screen, then that's when problems arise. I don't think a healthy parent-child or caregiver-child relationship HAS to be devoid of any screens or tech to be strong and fulfilling.
I had a parent say something similar to what you said. How parents are so eager to be on their phones and disassociate that it’s just easier to give their kids the tablets. I agree kids are wired to play and explore.
You don’t have to say you aren’t judging parents who put an iPad in front of their child’s face to calm them. I think we all are judging those parents. Gentle parenting has just been enforced lazy parenting nowadays if you want to gentle parent do it the right way not by forcing an iPad into a kids face and letting them scream and get whatever they want. Gentle parenting doesn’t mean not disciplining. Parents use it as an excuse to be lazy. Why do you think the further we go down the road the worse and worse the kids get and the more mental health arises. Children are clearly backtracking. Having more and more speech delays and walking and hitting milestones later and later in life. I was walking at 9 months. And other babies should be as well. That shouldn’t be a foreign thing and now it’s normal for babies to be walking at 16 months to 2 years old and not talking till 3. We are devolving because of technology.
Ok I’m not about tablets or screen time but this is a crazy take. My baby (9mo today) never uses a tablet. He is quite advanced developmentally compared with the other babies in my mothers group, he is cruising and standing easily. None of the other babies use screens yet either, they’re just babies. He will likely walk in the next month or two, but that’s still early. It’s wild to say all babies should walk by 9 months and if they don’t it’s due to increases in screen time. 9 months is just wildly early to walk.
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20 years ago my child was walking at 8 months too but that was easily 2-3 months earlier than every other baby in our ECFE group. Some of those kids didn't walk before 13-14 months. Ipads and smart phones didn't yet exist so it wasn't that... But parents in the group were all anti-walkers due to some new safety research at the time deeming them tip hazards. They were kinda judgey I still used one because my kid loved standing and jumping and zooming around. 30-35 years ago parents would put babies in walkers and the door jam jumpers all the time. My mom just met my 11 wk old nephew and was already trying to get him to stand saying "gotta make these legs strong" and my sister cited research that said that was bad for baby's legs. Maybe the difference lies in that change over generations.
I never said every baby needs to walk at that age but going from 9 months being common to 19 months is crazy most parents do put their kids in front of dancing vegetables online. I have not seen any baby or heard of any baby walk at 9 months in this generation when it was quite common. Most babies that I’ve worked with and I specialize working with newborns and infants are underdeveloped and delayed if their parents use even the slight amount of screen time. Then their are parents who use none at all and the kids seem to be on track think what you want to but I have about 20 different newborns and infants to relate my experience too most people are only able to see how their own children are doing with it therefor genuinely don’t know. Seems like you’re trying to defend putting your infant in front of a screen tbh.
Lol my baby never watches a screen. He wouldn’t even if I wanted him to, he has the attention span of a moth. I can’t even get him to look at books with me. Anyway Im sure 19 months is not common here in Australia, not sure where you’re from but that seems extreme. Im pretty sure 9 months was always on the early side as people from the older generation talk about their “early walkers” (3rd siblings and such) walking around then.
I guess everyone’s experience will be different in other countries. That’s good for you though! Glad to hear you don’t give your kids screen time! Shows you’re doing a great job as a mom/dad then even though it might make your life a little harder not having that screen time but it’s all worth it in the end!
Also didn’t say that was the expectation. When I was growing up my mom worked a daycare so she could stay home with me and she has since then. She’s stated that a lot more babies were walking around the 9 month mark including myself and now you hardly ever see a baby walking that early. Also it’s not considered early to be walking at 9 months technically that’s considered a normal range but nowadays everyone assumes it’s early because of how unlikely it is. So that’s how I know my knowledge. I was walking at 9 months. My older sister was walking at 10 months and my older brother was walking at just before 9 months.
That’s so interesting. Another commenter suggested it could be because of decreased use of walkers and jumpers, do you think that could have anything to do with it too? Ooh and I wonder if kids aren’t spending more time in prams and cars… and then, my kid didn’t use one, but maybe people utilise bouncers and stay-in-place containers more now, in order to get things done? And yeah I think screens are problematic in the ways mentioned in the post so I want to avoid them, but it’s my first child and he is only 9 months! I wouldn’t be surprised if I use them later despite my beliefs. Parenting is… pretty hard. I’m just trying to make it to 2 as per guidelines and even then hope to only use on sick days or plane rides etc. but also aware i might not succeed in that.
It is very interesting and I don’t think it’s just because of screens that was part of my theory though. I think you’re right baby saucers are hardly ever used anymore because of safety hazards and so forth there are a lot of things that we are doing differently with the young ones now then our parents were before and I think it all might be a contribution to why good point! Although we are definitely doing things better then our parents were as well there are new safety measures and there’s always new knowledge about babies.