iPad

I wouldn’t keep it hidden from her but I also (personally) wouldn’t let her use it. My kids get to watch tv although I’ve cut back loads on what they watch, if things get too much and I need a min I’d put the tv on as i don’t want them to have a tablet. I know when I have let my daughter use my phone to take pictures in the past she would get upset at giving it me back/me taking it back and can only imagine what she would be like with a tablet

I would keep it hidden…. After working in a daycare those things are just uncomfortably addicting to children. Even when parents would tell us “only let them use it for 30 minutes” once the 30 minutes was up and we took them back they would be in horrendous moods the rest of the day. Not just one kid either, any of them that had one for any amount of time. 🫩🥲 I’m talking horrendous moods like stomping, screaming, demanding they get it back. Or even trying to bargain for more screen time offering to help clean up only if we gave more tablet time.

Congratulations on having another one on the way! 🥰 I think it all depends on how your child is with screens. My niece has a tablet that she uses on car journeys and it doesn’t seem to affect her behaviour at all. She’s happy to put it away when asked and I never hear her ask for it. My son however would not do well with a tablet. He has a much more addictive personality and too much screen time really affects him. I wouldn’t get him a tablet purely because I think he would keep asking for it no matter how much time we spread out inbetween.

I think I read something about not calling screens a ‘treat’ so that you can try and reduce the child’s want for them. If you do get one, perhaps just download educational apps as appose to games and tv so that it has a different purpose?

I do also find with extra screen time for my son, his ability to play independently is affected, so if I were to use screen time to give myself a break, I’d actually be making it harder for the rest of the day!x

I’m a big advocate of doing what you need to do to get through the day. I really think it varies child to child, my oldest is 5 and can play a game on the iPad and then give it back happily whereas my middle is 4 and if you let him on a phone/tablet then he’s just a zombie and it’s a nightmare afterwards. All you can do is see how they get on with a limited amount of time and if you feel they aren’t reacting well then take the tablet away x