Home learning - A parent's guide to ... tablets and mobile phones

Imagine the scene: a parent and child are sitting side by side in a restaurant, each of them with a gadget in hand. While the parent is accessing social media via a phone, the child is happily swiping the screen of a mini-tablet. A few years ago, this scene could not have taken place, but today it is fast becoming the norm. So how should we view this advance in technology, and more importantly how might it impact on young children's development?

FIVE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TABLETS AND MOBILE PHONES

1. Technology is here to stay

While there are some experts who take a very pessimistic approach to technology, the reality is that it is here to stay. Year on year, the number of children under five using tablets and mobile phones to play games and watch programmes is increasing. In 2014, the Childwise survey indicated that 42 per cent of children were using them; this year, it is up to 73 per cent. There are, no doubt, potential downsides to children having early access to screen-based technology, but expecting today's children to be living in a technology-free zone is no longer realistic for most families. Yet the new gadgets bring possibilities too. These include opportunities for children to use logic, develop problem-solving skills, and learn early literacy and numeracy skills.