Question for parents and high tech toys for tots?

What do you think about all of these new toys like the damage proof digital cameras for toddlers, leapfrog leapsters, and video games that are supposedly educational? Do you think our society is going overboard a little and messing with the child’s imagination? I just wonder, I mean why buy an ipod for a kid that isn’t even potty trained? A friend of mine’s kid who is three sits all day on his leapster. I just don’t think its healthy really. This holiday season it just seems that we are diving into high tech toys for tots to the extreme. Or is it just the commercial hype? I dunno but I got my daughter (who is not yet two years old) a barbie laptop. She also has a cinderella play flip phone that is so much like a real phone and even has conversations. I think its ok if there is a limit to it but I worry for kids that sit for hours like that. What do you think about it?

Well I agree with the first answerer. There has to be rules and boundaries for it. But the fact is that our society relies mostly on communication. This is the age of technology and communicating and so it is a necessity. But it can also be harmful if it becomes an addiction or an uncontrolled habit. For example when a child becomes addicted to video games or ‘leapsters’ as you put it, that is really unhealthy and the child should be monitored and should not be allowed to do it all day. Regardless of what year it is or how far advanced we are, children still need to interact and play with other children as well as to get a lot of physical exercise daily. So I am all pro tech toys as long as chores have been done, naps taken, and playing outside has exhausted itself. The use of these items should be limited to certain parts of the daily schedule and not the entire daily schedule. Just like tv should be limited to only 1 hour a day etc…

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