Apple Parenting

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I’m an Apple parent.  There I’ve said it. A what? An Apple Parent – no, not the fruit but the large corporation.

My parenting has become reliant on Apple products. When my first was born she was rocked and walked and bouced to soothe her.

Eventually she discovered soothers and we discovered peace! She got musical pre-school toys, dolls and books.

Roll on almost 7 years and the soothers are gone and my house has two iPad’s and two iPhones.  Granted they are mine and my husband’s but we have fallen into the Apple Parenting trap.

When the need arises to soothe, calm, occupy or otherwise try and obtain some peace we offer not a soother but one of said Apple products. It is starting to get ridiculous as with three kids and only two iPads we now end up with iPad fights!

Fight for the ipad

Daddy, I’m nearly 2, I’ll fight you for it!

Of course Daddy has better apps than Mammy so then there is a fight over who gets Daddy’s iPad. The first words out of my kids in the morning are “Daddy, can I have your iPad?”.

It now seems to be a race out of bed to see who can get Daddy’s iPad first!

Which sometimes results in a “IT’S 5AM….GET BACK TO BED” response! I don’t think I am alone.

I see little toddlers in buggy’s watching a phone.  Children in restaurants watching an ipad or playing some app while their parents finish up a meal in peace.  It is a new parenting tool.

Love them or hate them (I have to admit to loving them!) if you let your kids touch them it is important to watch what they are clicking on.  My daughter clocked up over €200 on my husband’s iPhone when he first got it 3 years ago.  Eeek! Also with easy access to You tube and at times some not so appealing content parental supervision is essential!

That said, I have seen my little boy doing very difficult online jigsaws, colour online pictures and learn numbers and alphabets via the phone or iPad so it’s not all bad.

If we can harness the power of this new parenting tool to be a positive, educational device as lets face it by the time my kids are adults who knows where technology will be and iPads will probably be an essential daily life tool.

iPad Time

iPad Time

Where do you stand on the use of these devices in your house? Are you an Apple parent too?