I don’t know if you saw an article in the Sunday Times (UK) last weekend about babies being given iPads?
According to Prof Annette Karmiloff-Smith from Birkbeck College: “children who are given the computers will show better signs of development, even if it’s not in a ‘conventional sense.’ This might be true, but suggesting that: “It’s OK to give your baby an iPad from the beginning. They might put a corner in their mouth” seems a little stupid, especially if the device is switched on with its wi-fi enabled. Would you be happy for a baby to chew your iPhone?
Another academic, Dr Erica Mallery-Blythe, has pointed out that radiation emitted by Wi-Fi, mobiles and other wireless devices (otherwise known as RF and EMF radiation) is increasingly being linked to conditions ranging from headaches, insomnia, fatigue and, most worrying of all, brain tumors. This is a concern with adults, but with babies the skull is very thin and any negative effects could be magnified.
On Prof Annette Karmiloff-Smith’s comment – how do scientists know that?
Tablets (well, electronic ones) have only been around since April 2010. Let’s say the baby was 12 months old on the day of the iPad release, the oldest child whose parents queued up outside an Apple Store on day 1 is still only 6 years old!