Techie Baby

These days, its all about tech toys. I'm not that old but I remember the first cell phone, and I certainly remember the introduction of the very first iPhone ever! It wasn't until my first year away at college that I got my first cell phone, but these days grade school kids have their own cell phones, many of them getting lucky and having smart phones!  My initial thoughts on the subject were certainly showing my age.  Even though that age isn't even yet 30.

When it comes to the rapidly evolving technology that is slowly taking over our lives, I'm like that 80 yo grandparent retelling the same story over and over again..."when I was your age we had to walk a mile to school!" "kids these days have it easy...I had to go to the library to do research for book reports!" "when I was your age, we didn't have these newfangled iPhone thingamajiggers with all those apps to play with...we just had a phone that called people, I couldn't text anyone back in those days we had to leave voice messages.  Before that we even had pagers to let you know someone called because voicemail wasn't even invented yet!"

Seriously.  Like a year ago, I was in the boat that firmly believed little kids shouldn't have such toys when there are so many other toys to play with.  I've officially changed my mind on the matter.  It seems like the only toys LLM is interested in playing with is the tech toys. Mommy's iPhone is a favorite. Might as well make it so he's learning something from it.  I've been slowly adding games and learning apps for him to play with to a Little Man folder.  I even learned how to turn on 'guided access' which allows me to lock apps when they're open and prevent little man from accidentally going into another app and messing around in there when I'm not looking.

I don't have an iPad, the one that we had has some how turned into his dads iPad even though I'd been the one to make that purchase.  I'll just count that as a loss.  Anyway, I've been wanting one for myself and just waiting til I could afford it but now it seems I'd rather get one for LLM so he can play on it when I need to distract him for a minute without handing over my phone so I can still work when he's occupied.  But then again, I really can't justify spending that much money on a TOY just for him... I'm sorry baby but...no. just. no.

So, my next option is this:

Hello LeapPad2! I think this is much more affordable for a techie toy.  It says ages 3-9.  But I've seen LLM use the Leapster at MJ's  house like a boss...

I mean literally, he's pushing the buttons like he knows what he's doing and watching the screen as it talks to him and changes pictures.  The little sir just lays there on his back or belly pushing the buttons with his thumb like a gamer...and he's not even quite 14 months.  I don't have experience in these things but I'm amazed, and MJ says that's unique that he's already learned how to use his thumbs to push the buttons while hes holding the unit.  So, rather than waste my time and money on toys he's NOT going to play with, I might as well get him something he will, and use it to help him learn from it.

My Dear Niece Jocy (DNJ) has her own iPad.  I thought my cousin was crazy for getting her her own but the other day for instance she was telling her baby sister, my DN Mady (18mo), that she was ridiculous.  She's 4.  I don't know any other 4 year olds that use "ridiculous" and "totally" on their own volition.  Of course, I don't particularly know that many 4 year olds either...  But when asked what ridiculous meant, her response was frighteningly accurate..."it means way more than crazy"... Impressive. Even her delivery of this definition... emphasizing the 'wayyy'.  I found out that her iPad is loaded with reading apps and other freeeeeee learning games.  So...LittleSir...you might hit the jackpot if mommy can work it into her budget to get you an iPad.

Then maybe you'd stop stealing my laptop when I'm trying to work....