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Ask Slashdot: Android Apps For Kids Under 12 Months?
An anonymous reader writes "My kid seems incredibly interested in my Android tablet, but I'm not too comfortable with letting her play with my browser. I've been hunting the app store for apps that I could let my kid play around with, but haven't found much. It seems like most apps are targeted for slightly older kids and are trying to teach them words, math or whatnot. Has anyone found any cool apps for approximately 6-month-old children? I'm mostly looking for something that makes funny noises or where you just have to e.g. track moving objects on the screen."
Love and affection. At that age it is nothing more then a glowing rectangle that makes noise. Go outside and show your children the world around them.
Toddler Lock works nicely. Cool colours and sounds as they touch the screen. It temporarily replaces the home screen so it locks out phone/internet/other app access until an adult follows the onscreen unlock instructions.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=marcone.toddlerlock
Insane.
Put the phone away. Talk to the child. You know: teach human interaction? This is a child, not your personal experiment.
A review of the evidence in the Archives Of Disease in Childhood says children's obsession with TV, computers and screen games is causing developmental damage as well as long-term physical harm. Doctors at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, which co-owns the journal with the British Medical Journal group, say they are concerned. Guidelines in the US, Canada and Australia already urge limits on children's screen time, but there are none yet in Britain.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/oct/09/ban-under-threes-watching-television
Why would you substitute the acquisition of developmental language skills and the attendant ability to relate and empathise - with a fixation on shiny lights and noises?
I understand that this is Slashdot - but value of the concept cannot be completely alien...
"Flyin' in just a sweet place,
Never been known to fail..."
My toddler is very interested in my car keys, but I'm reluctant to let him drive my BMW. The iDrive system is somewhat complicated, and I think a RWD performance car might not be appropriate for a first-time driver - especially since here's snow on the ground and he can't reach the pedals. Can anyone recommend a FWD or AWD car with a simpler interface and adjustble pedals which would be appropriate for a sub-2 year old child?
This. This, times 1,000,000.
The world doesn't need children who connect better with machines than they do other human beings.
Are YOU using the TOOL, or is the TOOL using YOU? Think about it!
It may sound condescending, but really - 6-months old and you're asking about apps? All the kid wants to do at this age is pound things on the floor and slobber on them.
How about just giving the kid a colorful cardboard square and be done with it.
Self awareness - try it!
If there's one thing I can rely on Slashdot about, especially when no one here has ever met a woman, it's reliable parenting advice.