Dear Mr. Dad: A few weeks ago, you talked about how bad technology is for toddlers. My wife and I generally like your advice, but in this case, we think you're wrong. Tech is everywhere _ even little kids are learning to code _and we want our baby to be as prepared as possible to survive in the world. And part of that means getting him familiar with smartphones and tablets. But we want to do it right. What do you suggest?
A: You're right, after thoroughly investigating the pros and cons, I came to the conclusion that parents should keep their children away from devices, including TVs, at least until they turn 2. That said, I'm well aware that we all need to make a phone call, take a shower or keep a hungry child occupied while we're stuck in traffic. In situations like those, giving a child a mobile device is an easy _ and very effective _way to achieve your goal. As long as these exposures are brief and rare, no harm, no foul. Unfortunately, too many people allow their phones or tablets to become digital babysitters.
For those of you who plan to allow their toddlers (and by that I mean kids as young as 1) to use your smartphone or tablet on a more than brief-and-rare basis, at least please stick to the following guidelines:
�� Your child must be ready. He should have a firm grasp of cause-and-effect relationships (I push the enter key, and something happens on the screen).
�� She must be interested. One way to increase the chances she'll be interested is to let her watch you work on your device or watch a movie together. Another is to let her bang around on an old keyboard (if you don't have one, you can probably buy a used one at a flea market for about $2.
�� Never use the television or device as an electronic babysitter. You must be willing to be there, with your child sitting on your lap, every time he's playing or watching something on a screen. When he's a little older, he can graduate to sitting next to you.
�� Keep it interactive. Talk about what you're seeing on the screen, why your child is making the choices she is, and so on, just as you would if you were reading a story or playing a game.
�� Have fun. At this age, the goal of exposing your tot to technology isn't to teach him anything, and it's not to boost his IQ or get him into an Ivy League school before he's out of diapers. It should really be just another way the two of you can play together. As with any other activity, pay attention to your child's cues. If he's bored or isn't interested, shut down the computer and go for a walk or pick up a book.
�� Never put a device or a television in your child's room.
�� Make sure you select good equipment. Common Sense media (https://www.commonsensemedia.org) has reviews and recommendations for apps, games, movies and other media.
�� Limit screen time. At this age, chances are that your toddler won't be interested in playing on a device for more than 10 minutes at a stretch. But if she's easily mesmerized, cut her off at 15 minutes per day.
