A search for a “laptop” on the Toys “R” Us website produces 439 results. Overwhelmed by these options, I decided to narrow the search to the 3-4 year old age bracket, which brought the count down to 21 PC-like toys. I find this markedly-reduced number no less disconcerting, however; there are 21 laptop products for customers who are, essentially, toddlers? It’s never to early to introduce another glowing rectangle into your child’s life…
The collection includes products like these:
This investigation into personal computing options for small children was precipitated by an article on Bits two days ago about the Fisher-Price iXL, an $80 iPad imitation — let’s call it the iPadlet — complete with apps, a touch screen, an SD-card slot and a USB port. Utter insanity. That it ‘opens like a book’ is an ironic slap-on-the-face for those dinosauric purists who might argue that such products represent yet another turn away from the bona fide book and the literacies it engenders.
I still use the’ speak-and-spell’ when I have trouble sounding out a word. Those new devices are great but they still don’t replace a book’s tangibility or the sense of accomplishment felt by a child after finishing a book. I’d argue that the child who reads more books will have a higher IQ but there is also a correlation between tech-savvy kids and their success in math and science. Can a child read about iPiglet on the iPadlet? –probably so