Some of the new iPhone apps for children can be used to promote learning as well as providing a diversion when taking children out to a restaurant. Many restaurants provide crayons and an activity sheet, but that may not be enough to keep the little ones entertained through the whole meal. It would be easy enough to pack a few items in the diaper bag for your child, maybe a favorite book or their favorite toy. You want to plan for activities to keep children content as they wait for their meals, but it’s also important to teach children how to behave when eating out. Learning to handle being out with mom and dad can be fun and is to be encouraged. And, I’m not sure if we’re teaching that if all we’re doing is pacifying children or distracting them with novel treats?
I recently read an article about iPhone and iPad apps for children, which promoted applications for young children as a way of distracting children during a meal. Let me say that I’m not in keen on the idea of giving the kids an iPhone to play with at dinner, I see problems coming when children decide that mommy’s iPhone is for their usage at all times of the day.
Honestly, I’m not totally in favor of promoting too much technology with very young children, but some of these apps are pretty neat. And, I actually see one I want to play with for myself. But the first two? Not very appropriate, says this grandmother. The first one is called Bubble Pop, it’s a game consisting of bubble wrap, which makes popping sounds when you touch the bubbles on the screen. Period. I don’t want to be in the booth behind a 3 year old who sits there popping bubble wrap on his mommy’s iPhone the whole time I’m eating dinner. Do you?
The second one is called Scoops. “Is there anything better than ice cream? How about ice cream that doesn’t leave a sticky mess? This game of towering ice cream scoops lets you tilt your screen left or right to keep the ice cream from falling. Avoid the veggies and stack similar colors together for bonus points. “ Sure bet that junior avoids his veggies and begs for ice cream? Cute idea, but….
To be fair, there are some great apps there with educational value. Shape Builder, which is like Tetris for kids, First Word Animals, a drag and drop spelling game that allow you to name the featured animal, and Brushes, which is described as similar to Adobe Photoshop. That’s the one I want.
I know we live in a more technologically advanced age now and in a number of years we’ll do everything by computer or smart phone. I have an iPhone and am pretty attached to it. But, I’m an adult. And maybe my grandma stuff is showing here? I want my grandchildren to learn how to behave, because it’s what they need to do. The world is full of challenges and as adults we have to learn to wait and sit quietly sometimes. Hmmm… when I wait, I play Solitaire, on my iPhone! This might be one of those ‘do as I say, not as I do‘ moments.
What do you think? Kids in restaurants, young kids with iPhones?
photo from buzz.bishop @ Flickr.com
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