An increasing number of toddlers and even babies have an uncanny knack of mastering new technology and can confidently swipe their way through the latest pre-schooler app.
Toy manufacturers are cashing in on the appeal with an explosion in the number of media, gadgets and toys aimed directly at toddlers and babies as young as six months old.
Disney Princess has a range of laptops that come complete with keyboard, mouse and cursor.
Fisher Price last year unveiled the Laugh & Learn Apptivity Case for iPad devices. The sturdy case sells for $35 and promises to protect iPad devices from teething, dribbles drool and sticky little fingers.
The iPotty debuted at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and will sell for about $40. The toilet training seat comes with a place to attach an iPad for toddlers to watch videos or play games while waiting for nature to call.
And while some will argue that smart phones and iPads can be excellent educational tools and motivators for children, the effect of new technology on children’s brain development is still largely unknown.
Dr. Jordy Kaufman, founder and director of the Swinburne Baby Lab is hoping to remedy that with more specific research in a new study.
Funded by Google Dr. Kaufman’s study is testing children ranging in age from four to six years old, examining their attention and problem-solving capabilities after using an iPad compared with using real toys.
Preliminary findings have shown that for some children, touch screens appear to motivate and enhance learning rather than hinder it.
Results also indicate that creative activities on the iPad, such as painting, were similar to their physical counterparts and didn’t seem to adversely affect children’s behaviour or attention in the short term.
So far it seems that the iPad is at least better for your children than television and Dr Kaufman is hoping the study will help parents make informed decisions about their child's technology use.
Dr Kristy Goodwin, Lecturer at Macquarie University and Director of Every Chance to Learn says while there is no doubt that excessive and uses of digital technologies can be harmful for a child’s development, children should not be banned from using technology.
"The genie is out of the bottle and technology will not be un-invented," Dr Goodwin says."So we need to teach children how to use it. It's important for parents to harness this technology and ensure that it is developmentally appropriate and that the technology their child is using fosters their creativity and problem solving skills."
Dr Goodwin says parents have been bombarded with educational apps in recent years and choosing the right technology that is developmentally appropriate for their child can be tough.
Her research reveals that 72 per cent of educational apps are aimed at toddlers and pre-schoolers.Dr Goodwin recommends the apps Kindertown and Kidsmedia that help parents to sort through the plethora of apps and find those that complement and enhance their child's learning.
"Parents should remain vigilant when it comes to selecting the right technology for their child but at the end of the day it's all about balance," Dr Goodwin says.
"It's all about ensuring sensible use of technology. Kids still need cardboard box experiences and the chance to explore their world."
Fast facts on Aussie kid’s technology use*
• Almost a third of children aged five to 14 have a mobile phone.
• 90 per cent of Australian children accessed the internet in 2012.
• Children on average watch more than 15 hours of television a fortnight.
*Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Children's Participation in Cultural and Leisure Activities survey
