A Pennsylvania mom noticed that something was off about her child’s behavior after having access to long hours on the iPad. As a result, she took the time to do a little experiment of her own. This mom took away all iPad access and watched something transform in her toddler.
Rachelle (@rachelle.katlyn) says, “What your mom said is true: The screens really are the problem.” She noticed her young toddler daughter struggled with a short attention span and outbursts in public. Her behavior was at its all-time worst when Rachelle decided to take screens away completely in her household. For two months, they refused to give their toddler an iPad device to watch and play on.
So, what changed for them? Rachelle shows her daughter having a meltdown in a store while she was still attached to her iPad. After two months, she re-records her daughter. Her daughter looks like an all-new, happier kid. She’s talking to them, sitting outside, and smiling. The life looks like it’s back in her eyes. Rachelle said the changes were beyond noticeable.
Rachelle did this experiment in the months leading up to a big Disney trip they were planning. Her daughter broke away from the iPad so easily that, even on their trip, they were able to leave the iPad at home and go on a plane without it. She never thought that would be possible. Rachelle said she understands every child has “different needs” and it’s not always an “easy transition” but this worked wonders for her daughter.
Rachelle cleared up some things over several update videos. In her first update, she said her children are not entirely screen-free because they use screens as a way to connect as a family. They watch movies together on select nights. They watch TV on their own time but she doesn’t let them “scroll” endlessly. She said she may be open to allowing more screen time in the future but it won’t be hours of scrolling as they were permitted in the past. She also tells her audience that times have changed drastically and she never actually had a smartphone until she was in college.
Commenters swarmed Rachelle’s post, with many offering words of encouragement and agreement. One commenter stated, “Being brutally honest, we all need our iPads taken away. Can you imagine how good it would feel to not be connected to our cellphones 24/7? To not be fed content in 30 second clips constantly? Might actually feel normal again.” Another shared her own big feelings on the matter. She said, “We didn’t have iPads when we were kids, kids don’t need them now!!”
However, others had varying opinions about technology, children, and the state of the future. One commenter mentioned that “having iPads in moderation helps.” They went on to say that these children’s generations are “built on technology” and stated the importance of not allowing your child to “be behind in technology” as the world around them changes. Commenters continue to share their opinions on parenting and doing the right thing for your kids in a technologically advanced world.
