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Comment by rwbt | Hacker News Reader

Just an observation, I'm a parent of two toddlers and try to limit screen time as much as possible. But if we ever go to my in laws or relatives places they always have a TV blaring in the background. I try not to make a fuss about limiting TV or screen time when we're visiting but they do know my views on screen time.

They are completely fine giving iPads and allowing kids to watch YouTube for hours. I have no idea what it's effects are long term but their kids seem to be doing ok in school so far.

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I watched tv a lot as a kid and it seems like it was fine? They're gonna need glasses. Otherwise probably fine.

I'm not a professionnal, but i've worked with kids for years before going into CS and development, and i have a surpising advice:

Screen are OK.

What you want is your kid to experiment. Constantly, with different things. Even doing nothing for some time can be stimulating, if you're with them. TV, radio, music on the background is a good idea (maybe mixing the medias a bit). Having stuff to look at (animated images!) is nice.

The danger is cutting off social relationships and contact, and as long as you're present, this won't happen.

And consider youth summer camps.

my childhood had computers that had lots of rough edges and required a lot of problem solving in order to just get them to function.

i can't help but wonder if today's tech gadgets that both work consistently, have beautifully polished ux and are geared towards consumption deny kids this kind of skill development opportunity.

that said, the scope and scale of free learning resources available today is really mind boggling.

> i can't help but wonder if today's tech gadgets that both work consistently, have beautifully polished ux and are geared towards consumption deny kids this kind of skill development opportunity.

Certainly the case. Watching inane youtube videos on an ipad won't teach you anything more about technology than being a couch potato in front of a TV. Using a technological artifact is not intrinsically educational.

I've heard plenty of stories about "I was a gamer and that's why I learned how to use computers", but those stories are from a time when getting a game to run required troubleshooting, finding and reading informational resources, etc. The iOS appstore isn't teaching any of this.

When I grew up screens were still green and Paratroopers was an amazing game. The level of experiential “complexity” was very low compared to what we have today: supercomputers in every pocket capable of displaying hyperrealistic experiences, that are, on top of everything else, carefully optimized to create addictive habits. Kids today don’t have a chance.

although i suppose those who have the opportunity and aptitude these days can get that same sort of experience by fighting with things like python package dependencies.

the problem of access inherent in what seems to be a slow death of microcomputers remains though...

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