Back in the day, people used to fret over parents who would plop their kids in front of a TV set to keep them occupied. The modern-day version of that scenario is taking place in back seats of cars and restaurants. Parents have been handing over their smartphones so their little ones can be entertained with a game or video. Some parents swear by the practice of turning over a device worth hundreds of dollars to a toddler to keep them from throwing a fit in a restaurant. About 40% of 2- to 4-year-olds have used a smartphone, tablet or video iPod, according to a new study by the nonprofit group Common Sense Media.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Using Smartphones As Babysitters
Back in the day, people used to fret over parents who would plop their kids in front of a TV set to keep them occupied. The modern-day version of that scenario is taking place in back seats of cars and restaurants. Parents have been handing over their smartphones so their little ones can be entertained with a game or video. Some parents swear by the practice of turning over a device worth hundreds of dollars to a toddler to keep them from throwing a fit in a restaurant. About 40% of 2- to 4-year-olds have used a smartphone, tablet or video iPod, according to a new study by the nonprofit group Common Sense Media.
