You know, we often talk intergenerationally about what technologies did and didn’t exist “in my day.” It’s kind of the modern parenting version of walking to school “uphill, in the snow, both ways… BAREFOOT.” We tell the children around us how lucky they are that they have the miraculous digital toys that are widely available today, and joke with other adults about raising kids who never had a plug-in telephone in their house.
But rarely do we think about this topic from the child’s perspective. Here, a toddler shows us what happens when high-tech babies and old media collide…
these are great videos
but still I love too much Piano Briefs with the naked pianist 
Technology continues to shape even the youngest child–I remember the switch from a cabled TV remote to a wireless remote to the ability to zip through commercials because I’ve TIVO’d every show. Same goes for books–my kids read as much in physical books as they do on my Kindle. In some ways it’s sad to see a 1-year-old playing with an iPad (I’ll reserve judgement on those parents), but it’s also simply what is available today. That baby will figure out how to use a magazine too–just like she’ll tie her shoes and ride a bike.
This video is funny (even if they should have rotated the camera) and I can totally relate, having a 10-month old myself.
I struggle myself (as I assume most 21st century parents do) to decide if it is better to “prep” my baby for the “new world” or instill a bit of historical (paper and cardboard-based context). Oftentimes, I find myself switching between reading analog and digital stories and playing analog vs digital games.
He seems, at least for now, more interested and entertained by “tangible” things which makes part of me is really glad.
This is very funny, but to be honest hasn’t everyone found themselves trying to put your fingers on your computer to make the screen zoom in or to tap the screen of a non-touch screen phone to show a friend something on their blackberry? I have doubts I am the only one…but maybe
Human beings are so adaptable to their environments. I can type without looking at the keys, this would have been impossible for someone 200 years ago (yes, I know they didn’t have keyboards) but now I find it difficult to write with pen and paper. Not because I can’t but my writing is sloppy and my typing is so much faster.
It’s amazing how quickly people pick up on new technology (when they try, my mom still thinks ATM’s are evil). We keep growing and as we grow, so will our children. It is amazing to see a baby try to work a magazine like an ipad, but I’m in awe of how quickly my nephew learned to build with a pipe building toy set… I think it does make a comment about society, but I don’t think it’s a negative comment. The comment is this child is learning, differently than we did as children, but still learning and applying new information to her world. But maybe, just maybe this will leave her and others like her better prepared for their future.
Absolutely love this video and IMHO it completely captures where we’re headed.
I work for a company that creates interactive content for kids; eBooks and apps for mobile & tablet devices included in the offerings. We often have kids visit our office to test out our websites and online games – often the result includes watching kids struggle with controlling the mouse, not scrolling the page, and seeking the adults help to find content in general. In recent testing – hand iPad, watch interaction and try to keep from breaking out in giggles as the kids are doing themselves.
For this next generation touch technology is as intuitive as taking their first step, except they’re learning how to use tablets before they’re learning to walk. The next couple years should be interesting.
A decade ago when my two oldest boys were pre-K age, I was amazed, even slightly appalled, to see that television programming was aiming at a younger and younger demographic; the same was happening to computer games — some were catering to 2-year-olds. Now that those two are teenagers, they figure out faster than I can how to work MY tech gadgets. I have no qualms these days about giving my iPad to our 5-year-old for games and he can swipe his way around it as well as I can. I think keeping technology off our young kids’ hands is no longer an option. (Though I don’t necessarily agree with my husband introducing the kindergartener to Angry Birds on his Android. And since I don’t play it, the kid is already better at something than I am!)