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IPhones and vacations with children

When my boys were small (30 years ago!) my husband and I would take them on vacations, usually by car and occasionally by train or plane. I would always pack up a surprise bag to entertain them when boredom or restlessness attacked. There would be small containers of treats (raisons, smarties and pretzels), some new tiny sized books, maybe a magnetic tic-tac-toe game, a sticker book, a Rubik’s cube…. you get the idea. We would play I Spy and Count the Cars and Spot the Items on the list. Sometimes we just sat and watched the scenery, or the boys would poke each other and bicker about who is looking out of whose window. It wasn’t always peace and quiet and jolly times. For more information click here. building toys for preschoolers

Contrast this to what I witnessed on a recent trip to Rome and London. Children as young as toddlers played on iPhones. My husband and I were in the Roman Coliseum and we were surrounded by families and lots of children. I heard very little bickering and that was a bonus, but I also didn’t hear squeals of awe. Kids were texting, taking selfies and playing iPhone games, but there was so very little verbal interaction. And the children were largely unaware of their surroundings. I saw a tourist family on the London tube. The young boy sat on his dad’s lap playing games on the iPhone. He didn’t notice the people around him, the sights, the smells or the atmosphere. Every so often he would try to show his mother that he reached another level and she had little interest. I wonder what he will remember about his vacation. For more information click here. construction toys for 3 year olds

There are advantages to this phenomena. Children were very well behaved in restaurants as they were focussed on their games. There wasn’t a lot of squabbling between siblings as they seemed to have their own devices. On the other hand, children were missing the excitement of discovering a new environment. They were lacking interactions with their family and locals. They were not aware of the unique cultural experience. They lost the opportunity to see the Sistine Chapel because they never looked up. For more information click here. fine motor skills toys for preschoolers

Am I exaggerating? Yes, but not by much. It’s all about moderation. IPhones and devices have their place but please have your children put them down and enjoy their family holidays


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