With parents concerned their young kids don’t turn into adult Luddites, and kids shirking old school toys for new digital ones, a wave of toddler tech is hitting the market. But is there a downside? Childhood Obesity? Online predators? Violent games? From pacifier apps on the iPhone to an array of mobile devices to online virtual worlds and games to social networking apps, kids are increasingly being targeted with tech. This panel of kid tech developers, marketers, and academics tackles the question of when is it age appropriate for kids to tackle tech.
Questions Answered:
How old should a child be before they even touch an iPhone let alone own one?
At what age is it okay to leave kids unattended while surfing the net or exploring social networks?
Are parents doing a disservice if they don’t expose their kids to tech at a young age?
Is there harm in kids learning to use technology on adult devices? Playing adult games?
What role should government play versus parents having control?
Do online learning subscription apps for preschoolers like PBS KIDS PLAY even work?
Do kids really learn anything by taking care of virtual pets like Webkinz or is it just indoctrinating them into consumerism at a younger age?
Is tech and in particular video game consoles to blame for the rise in childhood obesity?
What kind of balance of tech and real world play should there be?
What is the impact tech has on cognitive development in kids?
Level:
Beginner
Category:
Education, Interface Design, Mobile Applications, Non-Profits, User Experience