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ASHBURNHAM — The April 2010 release of the iPad was met with ridicule by some critics who could not see why anyone would need one. They complained about its inability to run Adobe Flash and branded it as “just a big iPod touch.”
Nearly four years later, tablets like the iPad have become a must-have for many kids, especially over the holiday season, but some parents may need guidance before handing over an electronic device to a young child, according to parents and technology experts.
“It’s all about balance and moderation,” said Ashburnham mother Katie Strand. Her 2-year-old son Gavin plays educational games on an iPad, even though originally she wanted to keep him away from tablets and smartphones as long as possible.
“The world is so into technology that they don’t pay attention to simple things anymore. You see a large majority of people crossing the street, driving, eating in a restaurant with their families and they are texting. I didn’t want to raise Gavin like that,” she said. “I read a story once about a girl who was always read to from a tablet. She knew how to swipe through the pages on the tablet but didn’t know what to do when handed a book.”
So what changed her mind?
Around his first birthday, Gavin was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and Strand said the iPad became the perfect distraction when he had to sit through cancer treatments or trips to the emergency room. She said she makes sure his use of the tablet is limited so it doesn’t become overwhelming.
“He has learned so many letters and colors by playing his educational games,” she said. Strand said the educational apps are easy to find and many have a demo version they can test out before they buy it.
Laura Shockley, 30, of Lowell, owns an iPad and said her 1-year-old uses it more than she does.
“I love the fact that they’re usable by kids,” she said, adding that device has made car rides go smoother.
Her 10-year-old son has trouble reading off a page, so she bought him a Nook tablet two years ago that she said has been a game-changer for his grades. The device reads books aloud to him, boosting his reading comprehension and speeding up his study time.
“It was a breakthrough for him,” she said.
Her son also uses the Nook to listen to music and play games at night. While some parents say they have problems tearing their kids away from the screen, Shockley said the parental control features can prevent those problems before they surface.
Eric DeHays is the technology coordinator for the Ashburnham-Westminster Regional School District and runs the district’s iPad program where elementary school students use tablets in the classroom. The iPads are not allowed to leave the school for insurance reason and he said there is no established minimum age kids need to be before they can start using tablets.
He said they start letting them access the Internet on the tablets as early as second grade. They also start teaching them about online safety, including the dangers of sharing personal information online.
DeHays said adults should monitor what their children are doing online and have access to any tablet, phone or computer they are using.
“You still need to supervise. We have that issue up to 12th grade,” said DeHays. “You never know what you’re going to run into online.”
In October the American Academy of Pediatrics released a policy statement urging parents to establish media usage limits for their families, including television, tablets, computers and smart phones, out of concern for what messages children were being exposed to. The same statement urged pediatricians to ask questions about media usage during doctor visits.
Pete Ingemi, of Fitchburg, who blogs under the moniker DaTechGuy and has a weekly radio show on WCRN, said tablets are a big investment and parents need to make sure their kids are responsible enough to own one.
“Tablets are roughed-up very easily,” said Ingemi. The touchscreen can be scratched if thrown into a backpack without a cover and the small size makes them susceptible to theft or being misplaced.
“You’re spending a fair amount of money. If something gets lost or damaged or has water spilled on it or something, you’re out hundreds of dollars,” he said. “It’s a question of responsibility.
“I’m a little more conservative than most people, but personally, I wouldn’t give a tablet to anyone under high school,” he added, unless they need it for something specific like a learning program. He said younger kids can look things up on a computer or communicate with their friends through texting on a simple cell phone.
Ingemi said that tablets, like all other computers, are hackable and parents need to make sure their kids are not leaving it vulnerable to online attacks. He said hackers can remotely access the camera on the device and use that as well.
He also recommended parental controls, and for parents to set restrictions on the Internet router itself. However, he said the router restrictions can be bypassed if the child uses the device on another network outside of the home.
Ingemi said tablet safety isn’t just for parents. He said more and more senior citizens are getting tablets and many of them are unfamiliar with Internet safety and may need help from their adult children in keeping safe from scams and data thieves.
Follow Michael Hartwell at facebook.com/michaelhartwell or on Twitter or Tout @Sehartwell.
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