Empty boxes can lead to full creativity
suggesting that heavy use of electronic media may interfere with children’s speech and language development, replace important playtime with parents and lead to obesity.
Studies also have found that more than 90 percent of U.S. kids have used mobile devices and most started using them before age 1.
The pediatricians’ group recommends no screen time for children up to age 2, and says total screen time including TV and computer use should be less than one hour daily for ages 2 and older.
“A little bit of screen time here and there is unlikely to have much harm if a child otherwise has other activity,” Mendelsohn said. But he added that screen time can overwhelm young children and is difficult to limit and control.
The academy’s website offers suggestions on ideal toys for young children, including balls, puzzles, coloring books and card games.
Shopping recently at Dancing Bear Toys in Asheville, N.C., a store that doesn’t sell electronic toys, Leah Graham Stewart said she supports the academy’s advice even if avoiding digital toys and games is tough.
She said she’s noticed her two young boys tend to misbehave after playing on an iPad she typically reserves for long airplane rides.
“We try to keep it as minimal as possible,” Graham Stewart said. “I just tell them to go outside and play.”
Erika Evers, Dancing Bear’s co-owner, said the store’s mission is to give kids an alternative to tech toys.
“Not that video games and electronic toys don’t have their place — in moderation, in our opinion,” she said. “But we feel like kids really need opportunities to socialize and interact with their environment in a way that is hands-on and tangible.”