I'm not having kids, but this always feels like such a missed opportunity to let kids do something more mentally stimulating on that tablet.
Drawing apps and eBooks are right there! Hell, set up Termux and Acode up for them and let them program a bit (or like, I bet there's a mobile version of Scratch they could use if they can't read yet). Let them take photos and make little collages. Get them some music Synthesizer App so that they can tinker on their own little beats. Literally just show them that they have the tools to make something great instead of just shoveling in mindless content all day..

[–] benjaminb@discuss.tchncs.de 17 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Totally agree!

I see the problem more in the parents. First, that these kids can use the iPad so much and second, that they can just consume on it. Like you said: Create, build and explore. Use the iPad, not get used by the iPad.

[–] SkyeStarfall@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

The thing that would scare me the most is that the parents don't even know that such things are possible on their devices

Maybe my opinion of others is low, but I find it highly unbelievable most would even realize that something like programming is understandable, or tinkering around with music, or other stuff along those veins. Maybe drawing is still realistic though

But that would just go to show that there's a lack of all of this in the first place, even for parents

[–] turtlesareneat@discuss.online 14 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I am the donor for a lesbian couple. I'm pretty involved in my son's life. I took him for his third haircut. Midway through, he was bored, and shooting me one of the angriest looks I've ever gotten from him. I took a pic and sent it to his mom.

"Oh god look how mad he is, give him your phone!"

What? He's being quiet and learning how to be patient while a haircut happens. Some parents think reality is a BAD substitute for devices, it seems.

At least one night a week, he comes to my house and plays without any screens. We talk and explore the world.

[–] mitch@piefed.mitch.science 11 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Makes sense when even adults use phones as a means to escape even a moment of boredom. How many adults use their phones while driving? That's one of the most mentally stimulating things I can think of, and people get BORED.

[–] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 7 points 2 days ago

i "use" my phone while biking, mounted to the fucker, to play music (so i don't have to use my bell as often, also music rests my brain) and the other day i passed a kid pedaling, holding his phone in his lap and staring into the thing and jesus heelslut christ he wasn't even wearing a helmet i'm still worrying about him

[–] Fiery@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

To be fair driving isn't stimulating at all (at least for me). Doesn't mean I use my phone while doing it though, because... I'm not an idiot

[–] mitch@piefed.mitch.science 5 points 2 days ago

Driving is honestly very stimulating for me. I have AuDHD and it is one of the few times I feel calm because I can actively engage all of my senses. Something about keeping an awareness in your head of what's around you and your car really keeps me occupied.

[–] CatLikeLemming@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Those are harder than the dopamine of brainrot content though. I struggle with it myself. I know programming is far more rewarding in the long-term, yet I often end up browsing lemmy instead due to the immediate dopamine hit compared to the delayed one.

These kids won't have any sense of self-control or understand why one is better for them than the other and the kind of parent that gives a child a tablet and just turns on YouTube does so because they don't want to actually parent. So while this is decent advice for proper parents, these kinds of parents aren't gonna do that, because it requires more work for them.

[–] SkyeStarfall@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 2 days ago

If you block any of the unproductive apps, and allow only the productive ones, and give the kid "free" access to what they have on the iPad, they will tinker with what's available

They might fuss around for a bit if they know there's other stuff, but ultimately they can't force your hand, and it should still be plenty fun to do the harder things

[–] Trainguyrom@reddthat.com 4 points 3 days ago

bet there’s a mobile version of Scratch they could use if they can’t read yet

And for older kids apple made a scratch-like game for teaching their Swift programming language!

Scratch also works entirely in the web browser

[–] Jankatarch@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

If I had termux with ghc as a child I would NOT stop studying math.

[–] KSPAtlas@sopuli.xyz 2 points 2 days ago

"just one more monad, dad"