Controversial opinion, but I don't think kids ages 2 to 4 should be having screen time, let alone an activity that is better presented with real objects.
Many people have these "screen time" opinions. I'm not saying I disagree, but why do you think zero screen time is the correct amount?
Main points being that brain activity and cognitive tests have shown that kids with excessive screen time use exhibited negative results. Granted these tests likely refer to unattended, non-interactive screen time which is slightly different than this particular app's situation. But the general idea and question of screen time is relevant.
Also anecdotally, I have a young nephew and niece who's parents recently instituted a screen time purge for weeks at a time -- ( parent is an MD and recently attended a conference where research showed similar negative impacts in children's brain development after screen time use ). They've seen less hyperactivity, less meltdowns and improved listening and behavior. Again, one example, so take it for what it's worth.
Raising kids is a time consuming, challenging endeavor for most people, and everyone's experience is going to be unique. So, to each their own. And I'm someone who grew up with NES and after school cartoons. But even given that, I intend on leaning towards caution in this respect and limit screen time as much as possible certainly towards the younger age spectrum.
The article you linked only tests for "excessive" screen time - as do all the other studies I've seen.
Seems like you're just advocating the opposite extreme.
One theory I have found pieces of and put together is that a primary pillar of mental health is how your life experience as an adult matches your life experience as a child. If most of us are going to spend a significant amount of our lives glued to screens in order to be productive members of society, at least introducing that early might make the matching experience more tolerable.
It's not like they had any chance of lacking screen time through their childhood with schools as they are. Nor were they deprived access, or lacked natural ability come 5 and 6 on... Or lacked inclination to become addicted to WoW come 13 or 14.
I'm not sure what you mean with your point about "life experience as an adult matches your life experience as a child". Maybe I'm completely missing it. For any of us born before the home computer revolution of the 1980s, childhood and work are likely dramatically different things. I'd rather the kids get a chance to be children than start preparing them for a life of work at age 2 or 4...
Lavish your child with praise and attention, everything they could want and making sure everyone is successful at everything and never "fails" ... come to the real world as an adult and reality isn't as nice, the world isn't actually like what you grew up in and your feedback systems simply aren't equipped or designed to handle the situation life puts you in.
We do push it at times when we are traveling or she’s sick where she will get 2-4 hours of iPad and videos along with her books. She will also pick a book over the iPad almost every time the choice is available so I am not worried (yet).
https://journalistsresource.org/studies/society/public-healt...
And apps take up no space while also easily being updated to be more challenging as the child's capabilities grow.
It's usually the first/second issue discussed when sending kids to friends homes.
> It's usually the first/second issue discussed when sending kids to friends homes.
If it never happens, why would you discuss if it's going to happen?