Babies' and toddlers' addictions to iPads linked to poor motor skills

British teachers are warning parents to limit their children's use of iPads and similar devices. The teachers' claim that the excessive use of tablets by infants and toddlers hurts the development of their motor skills.

“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,” said  Colin Kinney, a teacher from Northern Ireland.

Kinney's comments were made at a conference of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers in Manchester. At the conference teachers also warned that "some older children were unable to complete traditional pen and paper exams because their memory had been eroded by overexposure to screen-based technology."

©Mary M Conneely T/A Advocacy in Action