iPad for children?

We have a two year old and my wife is interested in an iPad as an educational/entertaining tool for her. I am not familiar with these things at all and at first glance see alot of apps that wouldn't be suitable for someone that young. Will be mostly used for car trips and for airplane rides. Is there stuff available that would make it worth the $519?

Thanks!

 

not for a 2 yr old, you shouldnt put them infront of screens all day that young either, messes up the eye sight and over stimulates, not to mention they will beat them up, slobber on them, spill stuff of them...

 

coming from someone who as a child was never even allowed to have a tv in their room, i don't know why a child would need an ipad. we always played cards or listened to music on car trips. . . . and the apps are what you download. so there are ones im sure made for kids and those would obviously be the only ones you put on there.

edit: oh snap i didn't realize it was for a two year old. . . NOOOO! lol.

 

I got my kids (5&6)a vtech innotab or you can buy a leappad
But a iPad would more for your wife than your child also you can consider kindle fire or vizio tablet $200

 

just about sums it up!

 

iPads are awesome learning tools.....but for a 2 year old.....leapfrog...

 

A little bit young to justify that IMO. Get her a leap pad or a Nintendo DSI. For the age a leap pad would be the best option

Edit: or him lol

 

My son is 20 months and we are getting him a Leapfrog. Kinda like a Ipad for kids and only $100.00 bucks. Let people make there judgements or say what they want its your kid and your decision.

I also put my son in front of the tv and play the "my baby can read" series. He loves it and he is actually saying a ton of words and some phrases that most kids his age and older cannot even comprehend.

I never wanted to be one of those parents that says his kid is the smartest or best or whatever. But with todays technology it can put them ahead of the game when they getolder if they comprehend technology at a young age.

Good luck with what you decide.

 

Your wife is just saying its for your kid, its for her!

 

i have to agree with everyone else. no need. im 22 and i still use an old school flip phone and it works just fine. I worked at an elementary school senior year in high school and a lot of kids had blackberries and iphones and such. i must say that i do not think it adds any value at that age

 

I had books and this and turned out just fine (well, at least scholastically). Save that money for college.

 

iPad has cool apps and there are some that are educational for younger kids. As long as you control what is on there (which is obviously the case if the child is 2years old) then it is okay. However, keep it for the occasional road trip etc. as mentioned. At home give them Duplo/Lego blocks etc. to develop the hands on practical thinking play process rather than sitting behind electronic toys like zombies. The first few years are very important for developing the brain's processes - mathematical/reasoning skills being one of those.

 

If you have one or got one for yourself and then allowed them to use it from time to time it would be worth it. I can't say that I speak from experience ( I only have a 2 kids under 3) and I don't want to sound like an old fart, but kids are no longer learning social skills and real life problem solving because they rely on technology for everything. Don't get me wrong, we like to have any and every gadget out there (not literally tech heads) and we let our 3 year old use ours from time to time when we see fit. It is great to let them learn how to use technology but you don't want their lives to revolve around it.

Just my point of view.

 

x2 and they tend to lose the ability to use their imigination which I feel is very important for kids.

 

An iPad wouldn't last a month, unattended.... with a 2 year old....a guy with 4 kids would know.

 

I used to play with a box and a gravel fill hill....

 

I have a 1 year old and already she is fascinated with electronics. Phones, computers, calculators and anything with a screen. My take on the whole thing is moderation. Obviously don't plop them in front of it all day, but use it to teach her. I feel that starting kids young on these electronics will help them immensely down the line. Our world is quickly becoming a tech world and it is mandatory to be able to navigate electronics for certain jobs. Now a 2 year old isn't getting a job in a long time, but it doesn't hurt to expose them early. Just have lots of outside time and limit the ipad to 1/2 hour or so a day.

 

Montessori makes apps for the ipad that children can use. I have used the Alphabet and Number app with my three year old neice and she loves them. There is also a read along story app that really captivates a young childs attention and is educational at the same time.

 

X2 My younger daughter who is 4 is totally computer literate, she can go on the internet and go to her favorite site, PBS kids and discovery channel kids and explore, shes been doing this for almost 2 years now but like SCRunner said moderation is KEY. the world is a techy world and they WILL need to know how to use them in the future, plus i dont know of a school that doesnt have some sort of computer class or computers in the class room, its a huge plus for learning and should be used that way.