Steve Jobs invented the iPad but famously didn’t let his own kids use one. So why are we handing them to ours?
I say this with some humility, I gave my first child an iPad. But with the benefit of hindsight, and the research we now have, I’ve made quite different choices with my second and third children. This isn’t about criticising parents, it’s about learning and adapting as we go.
For children under 5, increased screen time is linked to:
- Reduced language skills
- Developmental delays
- Poor social and emotional development
- Disrupted sleep
Childhood should be a time for imagination, exploration, and human connection.
Research shows young children who spend more time on tablets often display higher levels of anger and frustration, making it harder to regulate emotions.
France has just banned screens in public spaces for children under 3, nurseries, daycare centres, everywhere. Brilliant.
Meanwhile, here in the UK, the Reception Baseline Assessment, a mandatory skills test for 4 year-olds, is moving mostly onto touchscreen devices.
We can’t expect to tackle screen addiction in young people if we’re encouraging iPads and tablets so early. These years are a period of significant growth and critical brain development.
Digital literacy can wait. Childhood can’t.
