Feel it is so sad

Had enjoyable hour at Book Bug in library with 22 month old DGS2 followed by helping him choose his new books, scan them - he can do it himself, then chase him round and round the bookshelves - everyone was laughing! Then Papa had to read them to him and DGD "gain" "gain" "gain"!
Libraries in Lothian seem to be well used as go to a different one with DGD and lots going on.
I do see some young people not interacting with their children and on their phone but if it is controlled technology can open up lots of opportunities for people. My mother is fiercly against it and indignant that she feels "not part of this world " but relatives older than her have gained a huge amount from use of messaging, internet, Skype, FaceTime which she has missed out on by dismissing it and moaning about it constantly.

I have a plan in place if GS's come over. The first 20 minutes they can use their screens. The next 20 minutes they teach me how to do something on their screens....it can be fun. After that, the screens are put away for the rest of the visit. This is usually met with some complaints, but they don't resist too much. I usually find a brief moment to tell them about life when I was a kid. More rolled eyes, but giggles too. Try meeting them in the middle.

I agree its gone too far. I visited a neighbour recently she showed me a video of her Grandchild who will soon be two years old, this child had her Mums mobile and was pressing keys pretending to talk making odd noises completely ridiculous how such young children catch on to this habit of being on the phone all the time for this child it is quite normal to see Mummy on the phone and children learn quickly. Its such a shame.

Working in a school we see the effects of this on a daily basis. Technology is a wonderful think and used properly, it can only enhance a child's experiences. However it is often used as a substitute for a parent/guardian's time. We have children starting school who cannot peak, older children wanting to be "You tubers"/"Gamers" when they're adults. Given free time, thy're bored immediately as they cannot amuse themselves. Language work suffers, as their imagination isn't as it should be. Unfortunately these things are happening more and more.

esspee I had a similar experience with one of my GS’s when he was about two. He got hold of a phone and he almost immediately turned into a zombie! He was impervious to my voice, showing no signs of having heard me, he was barely blinking as he stared at the screen and his body became absolutely rigid and still.

I found it quite terrifying and took the phone off him straightaway. He then reverted to his normal active self. Luckily, he doesn’t have much access to screens although he does ask occasionally to look at photos. That seems harmless but I’ve observed that even then, he doesn’t actually look at the photos, he’s just swiping constantly to the next one.

I’d also issue a warning to anyone with a pass code on their phone or iPad. The same GS made so many attempts to access his dad’s unguarded IPad that it locked itself down for three months! My son wasn’t best pleased about that and has been more careful about storing his tech since then!

Why do you think the people who invented this stuff ban their kids from using it. Nannies and home must be tech free.

Lizbethann, I totally agree with everything you say, it really is a sad sign of the times.

Helenlouise3 I had an eight year old boy at my house during a teacher training day recently. No technology for the children here!
After an hour he was bored and wished he was at home so he could play on his Xbox.
I stuck it out, showed him the different toys and games I had available, and in the end he said he didn't know what to play with next as I had so much stuff. He surprised himself!