Why using technology to entertain children is no bad thing

It's a new age-old argument. Technology is loved by children, and parents are increasingly turning to high tech ways to keep them entertained.

But traditionalists fear youngsters need more old-fashioned play to ensure they learn and develop, and claim technology is the enemy. But that's not the full story, says Holly Seddon, editor-in-chief at Quib.ly.

Dr Miriam Stoppard recently wrote: "I'm not a fan of using technology to entertain children. For child's play, newness and technology don't necessarily represent progress or improvement. A child playing alone with a smart device is functioning almost entirely in a virtual world with limited real social interaction.”

She made a compelling case but that doesn't necessarily mean it's accurate. And let's not forget she has a new range of toys out she'd like us to buy.

Dr Miriam's right that people often mistake ‘new’ for ‘better’, and that clearly isn’t the case. We used to walk to school and now we drive more. It new, but it’s not better.

I also agree with her that play is vital. It’s how kids learn, it’s how they share and connect to each other, and to us. Playing comes before language, along with cuddles and kisses, it’s the earliest way we interact. And that’s beautiful. But to suggest that technology replaces, eradicates or otherwise goes against ‘playing’ is bogus.

Too much of one thing (be that electronic toys or one genre of book only) is not a fully enriching experience. But to say that technology as entertainment is intrinsically bad does a huge disservice to children, tech-savvy parents and toy and gadget designers.

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Electronic toys aren't a threat

Dr Stoppard doesn't really have to stress the importance of play as if parents don't already know this. It's not as if babies and children are no longer playing (look around, they play with everything!) or as if electronic toys have somehow done away with all other forms of toys.

In my house, we have iPads, an Xbox, several TVs and numerous toys with flashing lights. We also have board games, jigsaws, Lego and innumerable soft toys. I'd wager most family homes have such a mix.

Dr Miriam went on to say: “Traditional favourites like puzzles might seem old fashioned next to the latest electrical toy, but they actually teach shape recognition and placement which are precursors to handwriting skills.”

I say this: “New favourites like Minecraft may seem faddy and non-traditional, but they actually teach children how to plan, collaborate, construct, review and deal with challenges”.

Combining new and old style play

My kids will happily spend hours making a den. And then they'll take time out to make something on Minecraft. Neither of these activities prevented the other, and they're both valuable, collaborative and - most importantly - fun!

In a 2009 study for the British Toy Association, Jeffrey Goldstein, Ph.D wrote: “All toys stimulate play and invite exploration and creativity. But electronic and digital toys also contain new elements – interactivity, modifiability, and complexity – that require new skills and new ways of thinking. So there is something to be gained from playing with the newest technology.”

Children won’t play with something that isn’t fun. And game, tech toy and app designers know what they’re doing. So much so that Rovio, the makers of Angry Birds, are working on a project that supports the Finnish national curriculum.

When I cuddle up with my youngest and we read together, sometimes the story is on paper and sometimes it’s on a screen. More choice, more interactivity, same bonding, same literacy exercise. Progress.

And yes, sometimes I do pass my child an iPad for 30 minutes purely because I want to cook dinner and have a little bit of head space. He uses that iPad to play, to interact with games, to read a story. I think that’s a more valuable 30 minutes than when my mum used to plonk me in front of the TV for 30 minutes to cook dinner 30 years ago. I also think she had every right to do that, she also read to me, bought me toys and provided me with a younger sister to fight/play with.

Modern parents are doing a lot and we’re largely doing it well and we’re using the tools at our disposal.

If Dr Stoppard wants us to add her new toys to our kids' Christmas stockings fair enough, but don't bash us over the head with an iPad to make the point.

How do you use technology in your family? Let us know over on Twitter.