In an article from Newsday http://long-island.newsday.com/kids/ipadding-toddlers-when-is-it-too-soon-1.3338586 you can read about ipadding toddlers and decide for yourself if there is good reason to hand over your device to your toddler. You can also read about what may be a future library program.
Jennifer Cunningham-Lozano of Patchogue plans to launch "The Book Nook Center" on the North Shore in the spring, offering "Mommy and Me"-type classes that incorporate the iPad into the 45-minute experience. Participants will first read a book together, then play with an app related to the book topic, and then make a craft. She'll offer classes for ages 8 months to 18 months, 18 months to 21/2 years, and 21/2 years to 4. "I think if you make it an interactive, educational screen time, it doesn't make them into couch potatoes," Cunningham-Lozano says.
What do you think? Should the library bring this kind of program to our patrons?
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I say we should be very careful about bringing this type of programming to our libraries. First of all, babies under 2 should not be having any screen time. (American Academy of Pediatricians). Studies suggest it may delay their ability to talk and recently it has been suggested that excessive screen time could be linked to Autism. This particular program is probably o.k., because the screen time is short and done with parental involvement. But parents might not make that distinction and might instead get the message that libraries think all screen time is o.k. For older kids, it is definitely getting harder to be a purist, but we would need to have some pretty good literacy-based reasons for incorporating ipad activity into our storytimes - it shouldn't just be a gimmick. And I kind of think this Mommy and Me Book Nook program is a gimmick (plus sounds like it might be a for-profit venture). I haven't seen any literacy-based or "good for brain development" reasons to rush to ipad programming - yet!
ReplyDeleteAfter further discussion with VB, I can now see that using iPads in limited amounts during storytimes for over 2s could give us a platform for talking about best ways to support early learning and literacy. We could also give recommendations about good apps versus bad and the best ways to incorporate technology into children's lives. I still wouldn't want it to be part of every storytime, but it could be a one of the tools we use to promote literacy and to market the literacy expertise to be found in libraries.
ReplyDeleteWe know that some patrons find the use of ipads very "sexy" and we librarians can help them choose the "best" way to make use of ipads with their children. We can research apps and show parents which we think are better and why. We can show at which point children will be developmentally ready to make use of certain offerings. They ask us to lead them to good books for their children. And we must demonstrate that we are ready to lead them to the best ipad apps for their kids, too!
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