Laptops: New Chew Toys for Babies?

Kaylee · 15th December 2005, 08:46 PM

Quote:

See Baby Touch a Screen. but Does Baby Get It?

Jetta is 11 months old, with big eyes, a few pearly teeth - and a tiny index finger that can already operate electronic entertainment devices.
We own everything electronic that's educational - LeapFrog, Baby Einstein, everything," said her mother, Naira Soibatian. "She has an HP laptop, bigger than mine.
….

In a line of experiments on early learning included in a research review by Dan Anderson, a University of Massachusetts psychology professor, one group of 12- to 15-month-olds was given a live demonstration of how to use a puppet, while another group saw the demonstration on video. The children who saw the live demonstration could imitate the action - but the others had to see the video six times before they could imitate it.
"As a society, we are in the middle of a vast uncontrolled experiment on our infants and toddlers growing up in homes saturated with electronic media," Mr. Anderson said.

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ysabella · 15th December 2005, 10:07 PM

I was looking at some baby toys (I'm expecting a boy in April) and was thinking that a fake play laptop thing was actually kind of practical, as he will certainly be seeing me using one all the time. Similar thoughts from a toy mobile phone.

I can't see much point in software until a kid is a bit older, really. And I don't think drool is good for keyboards.

Bone_Vulture · 16th December 2005, 05:54 AM

Originally Posted by Shera

ETA: Link is to a New York Times article, you may need to register, but registration is free.

www.bugmenot.com

And yeah, I'm also concerned about the "electronic media saturation" mentioned in the article - not to mention the apparent trend of replacing human teaching element with toys.

Marc L · 16th December 2005, 07:38 AM

Originally Posted by Shera

ETA: Link is to a New York Times article, you may need to register, but registration is free.

My initial reaction based on personal experience is 'yes, everything is a chew toy for babies. Coffee mugs included (note to new parents-do not leave your coffee mug in reach while holding a seven month old on your lap at the computer. 'Reach' is defined as 'About six times what you think she can actually reach!).

Didn't Penn and Teller do a ******** episode about Early Learning?

Marc

Kaylee · 17th December 2005, 09:32 AM

Originally Posted by ysabella

I was looking at some baby toys (I'm expecting a boy in April)

Congratulations!

Quote:

and was thinking that a fake play laptop thing was actually kind of practical, as he will certainly be seeing me using one all the time. Similar thoughts from a toy mobile phone.

And they should be a lot more comfortable to chew!

Chaos · 19th December 2005, 05:45 AM

Originally Posted by Shera

Congratulations!

And they should be a lot more comfortable to chew!

My aunt - who used to collect anything related to telephones - has a telephone-shaped cushion for ther sofa. Maybe you could something similar laptop- or cell-phone-related?

kittynh · 26th December 2005, 07:48 PM

I know a lot of babies that love to chew on their parents cell phones. I have given a "baby" play cell phone to many babies! You push buttons and it makes noise, it's just like mommy and daddy!

Children want to copy adults. For a short while. Believe it or not the perfect age for the play kitchen is 2-3. When they are older they figure out mom and dad aren't cool.

David Swidler · 27th December 2005, 02:41 AM

I never figured it out. My parents, approaching 60, are still two of the coolest people I know, and I never thought otherwise. Even though they probably never let me play with the phone. And we didn't have a computer when I was that small.

Kaylee · 31st December 2005, 09:08 AM

Originally Posted by kittynh

I know a lot of babies that love to chew on their parents cell phones. I have given a "baby" play cell phone to many babies! You push buttons and it makes noise, it's just like mommy and daddy!

{snip}

Thanks for the idea Kitty! Its still Chanukah and last night I give one of my friend's daughter a play cell phone. She was very happy and her mom was too.

Just a few months before (when she was 18 months) she had accidentally hit the redial button on her mom's cell when she was out of the room. Her mother's friend picked up and reportedly both parties handled each end of the phone call beautifully!

Kids these days -- they are scary smart! (Maybe she even knew what she was doing when she pressed redial????

)

Kiless · 3rd January 2006, 07:26 AM

I found toy cell phones in Japan. Cute bright things.

Certainly would have helped my sister-in-law who had her real phone destroyed by the dribble of her 2 year old.

Wudang · 10th January 2006, 08:44 AM

Originally Posted by ysabella

I was looking at some baby toys (I'm expecting a boy in April) and was thinking that a fake play laptop thing was actually kind of practical, as he will certainly be seeing me using one all the time. Similar thoughts from a toy mobile phone.

I can't see much point in software until a kid is a bit older, really. And I don't think drool is good for keyboards.

Certainly not good for my alarm clock.

My 9 month old can't really differentiate between remotes and keyboards - they just seem to be curiously-shaped objects to her. She does love her toy keyboard and drum set though. This is (almost) her phone

15th December 2005, 08:46 PM	#1
Kaylee Illuminator Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 4,252	Laptops: New Chew Toys for Babies? Quote: See Baby Touch a Screen. but Does Baby Get It? Jetta is 11 months old, with big eyes, a few pearly teeth - and a tiny index finger that can already operate electronic entertainment devices. We own everything electronic that's educational - LeapFrog, Baby Einstein, everything," said her mother, Naira Soibatian. "She has an HP laptop, bigger than mine. …. In a line of experiments on early learning included in a research review by Dan Anderson, a University of Massachusetts psychology professor, one group of 12- to 15-month-olds was given a live demonstration of how to use a puppet, while another group saw the demonstration on video. The children who saw the live demonstration could imitate the action - but the others had to see the video six times before they could imitate it. "As a society, we are in the middle of a vast uncontrolled experiment on our infants and toddlers growing up in homes saturated with electronic media," Mr. Anderson said. ETA: Link is to a New York Times article, you may need to register, but registration is free.
Kaylee Illuminator Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 4,252	Last edited by Kaylee; 15th December 2005 at 08:49 PM.

15th December 2005, 10:07 PM	#2
ysabella Muse Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 701	I was looking at some baby toys (I'm expecting a boy in April) and was thinking that a fake play laptop thing was actually kind of practical, as he will certainly be seeing me using one all the time. Similar thoughts from a toy mobile phone. I can't see much point in software until a kid is a bit older, really. And I don't think drool is good for keyboards.
ysabella Muse Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 701	__________________ "The greater the ignorance, the greater the dogmatism." - Sir William Osler

16th December 2005, 07:38 AM	#4
Marc L Thread Killer Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1,739	Originally Posted by Shera ETA: Link is to a New York Times article, you may need to register, but registration is free. My initial reaction based on personal experience is 'yes, everything is a chew toy for babies. Coffee mugs included (note to new parents-do not leave your coffee mug in reach while holding a seven month old on your lap at the computer. 'Reach' is defined as 'About six times what you think she can actually reach!). Didn't Penn and Teller do a ******** episode about Early Learning? Marc
Marc L Thread Killer Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1,739

17th December 2005, 09:32 AM	#5
Kaylee Illuminator Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 4,252	Originally Posted by ysabella I was looking at some baby toys (I'm expecting a boy in April) Congratulations! Quote: and was thinking that a fake play laptop thing was actually kind of practical, as he will certainly be seeing me using one all the time. Similar thoughts from a toy mobile phone. And they should be a lot more comfortable to chew!
Kaylee Illuminator Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 4,252

31st December 2005, 09:08 AM	#9
Kaylee Illuminator Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 4,252	Originally Posted by kittynh I know a lot of babies that love to chew on their parents cell phones. I have given a "baby" play cell phone to many babies! You push buttons and it makes noise, it's just like mommy and daddy! {snip} Thanks for the idea Kitty! Its still Chanukah and last night I give one of my friend's daughter a play cell phone. She was very happy and her mom was too. Just a few months before (when she was 18 months) she had accidentally hit the redial button on her mom's cell when she was out of the room. Her mother's friend picked up and reportedly both parties handled each end of the phone call beautifully! Kids these days -- they are scary smart! (Maybe she even knew what she was doing when she pressed redial???? )
Kaylee Illuminator Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 4,252

16th December 2005, 05:54 AM	#3
Bone_Vulture Appealing and hollow Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 499	Originally Posted by Shera ETA: Link is to a New York Times article, you may need to register, but registration is free. www.bugmenot.com And yeah, I'm also concerned about the "electronic media saturation" mentioned in the article - not to mention the apparent trend of replacing human teaching element with toys.

19th December 2005, 05:45 AM	#6
Chaos Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 10,519	Originally Posted by Shera Congratulations! And they should be a lot more comfortable to chew! My aunt - who used to collect anything related to telephones - has a telephone-shaped cushion for ther sofa. Maybe you could something similar laptop- or cell-phone-related?

26th December 2005, 07:48 PM	#7
kittynh Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 22,634	I know a lot of babies that love to chew on their parents cell phones. I have given a "baby" play cell phone to many babies! You push buttons and it makes noise, it's just like mommy and daddy! Children want to copy adults. For a short while. Believe it or not the perfect age for the play kitchen is 2-3. When they are older they figure out mom and dad aren't cool.

27th December 2005, 02:41 AM	#8
David Swidler Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 8,297	I never figured it out. My parents, approaching 60, are still two of the coolest people I know, and I never thought otherwise. Even though they probably never let me play with the phone. And we didn't have a computer when I was that small.

3rd January 2006, 07:26 AM	#10
Kiless Guest Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 6,041	I found toy cell phones in Japan. Cute bright things. Certainly would have helped my sister-in-law who had her real phone destroyed by the dribble of her 2 year old.
Kiless Guest Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 6,041

10th January 2006, 08:44 AM	#11
Wudang BOFH Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: People's Republic of South Yorkshire Posts: 13,586	Originally Posted by ysabella I was looking at some baby toys (I'm expecting a boy in April) and was thinking that a fake play laptop thing was actually kind of practical, as he will certainly be seeing me using one all the time. Similar thoughts from a toy mobile phone. I can't see much point in software until a kid is a bit older, really. And I don't think drool is good for keyboards. Certainly not good for my alarm clock. My 9 month old can't really differentiate between remotes and keyboards - they just seem to be curiously-shaped objects to her. She does love her toy keyboard and drum set though. This is (almost) her phone
	__________________ "Your deepest pools, like your deepest politicians and philosophers, often turn out more shallow than expected." Walter Scott.