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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/10767878/Infants-unable-to-use-toy-building-blocks-due-to-iPad-addiction.html

Infants 'unable to use toy building blocks' due to iPad addiction

The Association of Teachers and Lecturers warn that rising numbers of children are unable to perform simple tasks such as using building blocks because of overexposure to iPads

 By Graeme Paton, Education Editor

3:38PM BST 15 Apr 2014

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Rising numbers of infants lack the motor skills needed to play with building blocks because of an “addiction” to tablet computers and smartphones, according to teachers.

Many children aged just three or four can “swipe a screen” but have little or no dexterity in their fingers after spending hours glued to iPads, it was claimed.

Members of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers also warned how some older children were unable to complete traditional pen and paper exams because their memory had been eroded by overexposure to screen-based technology.

They called on parents to crackdown on tablet computer use and even turn off wi-fi at night to address the problem.

The comments were made after Ofcom figures showed the proportion of households with tablet computers more than doubled from 20 to 51 per cent last year.



Experts have warned that the growth is having a serious effect on children’s social and physical development.

Last year, a doctor claimed that rising numbers of young people – including one aged just four – required therapy for compulsive behaviour after being exposed to the internet and digital devices from birth.

Addressing the ATL annual conference in Manchester, Colin Kinney, a teacher from Northern Ireland, said colleagues “talk of pupils who come into their classrooms after spending most of the previous night playing computer games and whose attention span is so limited that they may as well not be there”.

He added: “I have spoken to a number of nursery teachers who have concerns over the increasing numbers of young pupils who can swipe a screen but have little or no manipulative skills to play with building blocks or the like, or the pupils who cannot socialise with other pupils but whose parents talk proudly of their ability to use a tablet or smartphone.”

Addressing members, he said the “brilliant computer skills” shown by many pupils was “outweighed by their deteriorating skills in pen and paper exams because they rely on instant support of the computer and are often unable to apply what they should have learned from their textbooks”.

The ATL backed plans to draw up new guidance to be issued to teachers and parents showing the “best way forward” when dealing with children who are “addicted” to iPads and iPhones.

Mark Montgomery, a teacher from Northern Ireland, said overexposure to technology had been linked to weight gain, aggressive behaviour, tiredness and repetitive strain injury.

He called on parents to turn home wi-fi off overnight to stop children staying awake to play online games on iPads.

“It is our job to make sure that the technology is being used wisely and productively and that pupils are not making backward steps and getting obsessed and exhibiting aggressive and anti-social behaviours,” he added.

“In the same way we can use a brick to either break a window or build a house, digital technology can be used for good or bad, and teachers can and should help their pupils make positive choices so they have positive experiences.”
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Offline happyg

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Re: Infants 'unable to use toy building blocks' due to iPad addiction
« Reply #1 on: April 16, 2014, 03:33:06 pm »
The most used toys in my home are the Lego building blocks I bought over 40 years ago for my kids. Every time they come, I have to pick up after them. The same when friends bring their children here. They head to the toy box, and opt for the Legos and other creating toys.

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Re: Infants 'unable to use toy building blocks' due to iPad addiction
« Reply #2 on: April 16, 2014, 03:50:14 pm »
 :laugh: :laugh: :beer:

I hate Legos - keep standing on them in the dark, which gives you some idea of how often they are used! I still have my Mechanno set, and that is constantly out - the kids adore it, not that it'd be sellable now - too sharp and too many small parts. Probably the most used "toys" in our house are my paints and charcoals though. Put a brush down for five minutes and one of the kids is painting. They know not to touch something I am working on - but hey, paints and the printer always has paper ....  :laugh:

Children adore creating. As a very wise friend of mine said to me - tablets and smartphones are for consuming, not creating.
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Offline alicewonders

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Re: Infants 'unable to use toy building blocks' due to iPad addiction
« Reply #3 on: April 16, 2014, 03:57:23 pm »
:laugh: :laugh: :beer:

I hate Legos - keep standing on them in the dark, which gives you some idea of how often they are used! I still have my Mechanno set, and that is constantly out - the kids adore it, not that it'd be sellable now - too sharp and too many small parts. Probably the most used "toys" in our house are my paints and charcoals though. Put a brush down for five minutes and one of the kids is painting. They know not to touch something I am working on - but hey, paints and the printer always has paper ....  :laugh:

Children adore creating. As a very wise friend of mine said to me - tablets and smartphones are for consuming, not creating.

I agree - kids love creating!  It was my favorite thing to do when I was a kid.  When I was asked to teach a Sunday School class of first and second graders, and later when I taught at Vacation Bible School,   I knew I was going to go heavy on the crafts!

The kids learned by making things based on that day's lesson - and they loved it!  I'm not sure how crazy the parents were about their kids getting glitter on their nice church clothes - but seeing those children run over to their parents and show off what they made really made me feel good (and I really enjoyed a chance to do it too). 

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Offline EC

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Re: Infants 'unable to use toy building blocks' due to iPad addiction
« Reply #4 on: April 16, 2014, 04:16:17 pm »
We are made in our Father's image. He seemed to have a blast creating the universe - kids get that. They make their own too.  :laugh:

If they get messy, well, that happens.
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Re: Infants 'unable to use toy building blocks' due to iPad addiction
« Reply #5 on: April 16, 2014, 04:32:45 pm »
[/Infants-unable-to-use-toy-building-blocks-

They can hire 'immigrants' for that.

Offline alicewonders

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Re: Infants 'unable to use toy building blocks' due to iPad addiction
« Reply #6 on: April 16, 2014, 04:48:06 pm »
We are made in our Father's image. He seemed to have a blast creating the universe - kids get that. They make their own too.  :laugh:

If they get messy, well, that happens.

You mean he got a "bang" out of it?

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Offline happyg

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Re: Infants 'unable to use toy building blocks' due to iPad addiction
« Reply #7 on: April 16, 2014, 05:00:25 pm »
I have stepped on Legos that hurt, but worse are those little army toys with tiny guns. You can buy a bag of them for a few bucks, and then, throw them away as soon as you step on one.

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Re: Infants 'unable to use toy building blocks' due to iPad addiction
« Reply #8 on: April 16, 2014, 05:09:56 pm »
You mean he got a "bang" out of it?

That cracked me up after a shitty day. Thank you!  :beer:
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Offline alicewonders

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Re: Infants 'unable to use toy building blocks' due to iPad addiction
« Reply #9 on: April 16, 2014, 05:18:14 pm »
That cracked me up after a shitty day. Thank you!  :beer:

You set it up for me!   :seeya:

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Re: Infants 'unable to use toy building blocks' due to iPad addiction
« Reply #10 on: April 16, 2014, 05:22:04 pm »
BFD!

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Offline musiclady

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Re: Infants 'unable to use toy building blocks' due to iPad addiction
« Reply #11 on: April 16, 2014, 05:27:47 pm »
Blocks and balls are all that an infant needs to develop creative skills and coordination.

Any thing else is superfluous.

But putting the superfluous in the hands of an infant at the expense of traditional toys is a very bad idea.
Character still matters.  It always matters.

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Re: Infants 'unable to use toy building blocks' due to iPad addiction
« Reply #12 on: April 16, 2014, 05:49:03 pm »
Missed the 3rd B.

Books.
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Offline musiclady

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Re: Infants 'unable to use toy building blocks' due to iPad addiction
« Reply #13 on: April 16, 2014, 06:10:23 pm »
Missed the 3rd B.

Books.

I was talking about toys and coordination.

Books are number one (obviously.....I'm the mother of four scholars), but blocks and balls are what's needed to develop physical skills.

Anything else is extra, and should never take the place of the basics.
Character still matters.  It always matters.

I wear a mask as an exercise in liberty and love for others.  To see it as an infringement of liberty is to entirely miss the point.  Be kind.

"Sometimes I think the Church would be better off if we would call a moratorium on activity for about six weeks and just wait on God to see what He is waiting to do for us. That's what they did before Pentecost."   - A. W. Tozer

Use the time God is giving us to seek His will and feel His presence.

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Re: Infants 'unable to use toy building blocks' due to iPad addiction
« Reply #14 on: April 16, 2014, 06:29:51 pm »
I was talking about toys and coordination.

Books are number one (obviously.....I'm the mother of four scholars), but blocks and balls are what's needed to develop physical skills.

Anything else is extra, and should never take the place of the basics.

Our Claire used to pull the encyclopedias out and use them to make steps to get to the cookies ....  :silly:
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Re: Infants 'unable to use toy building blocks' due to iPad addiction
« Reply #15 on: April 16, 2014, 07:31:33 pm »
Can you imagine how many word per minute they will be able to tap with their thumbs?  LOL!
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