Technology
has
become
such
a
strong
force
in
all
our
lives
that
we
do
not
notice
the
little
things
we
do
that
reach
our
babies
and
toddlers.
How
often
have
you
seen
a
toddler
in
an
airport,
starring
at
an
iPad?
A
baby
with
a
smart-phone
in
hand,
staring
at
the
screen
and
manipulating
the
screen?
This
does
beg
the
question
as
to
how
young
a
child
should
be
when
they
start
playing
with
apps
or
eBooks?
The
American
Academy
of
Pediatrics
recommends
keeping
children
under
2
as
“screen-free”
as
possible,
and
believes
that
electronic
media
is
not
that
valuable
for
the
developing
brain.
I
am
not
one
to
question
a
group
of
doctors,
but
is
this
even
viable
anymore?
Parents
read
board
books
to
their
children
from
birth
on,
and
aren’t
apps
or
eBooks
nothing
more
than
more
sophisticated
versions
of
a
board
book?
Now,
as
a
parent,
I
am
more
than
all
right
with
letting
a
0-2
year
old
child
have
limited
screen
time,
and
obviously
outdoor,
unstructured
play
is
a
preferable
activity.
However,
I
think
there
is
some
value
in
looking
at
the
world
from
a
holistic
standpoint
and
taking
the
long
view.
The
future
is
bringing
screens
into
the
classroom,
and
tablets
are
going
to
be
replacing
textbooks
at
some
point.
At
a
certain
point,
where
the
technology
is
going
to
become
cheap
enough
to
use
in
all
classrooms,
screens
and
tablets
may
completely
replace
desks.
Maybe
pediatric
doctors
are
just
taking
the
short
view,
but
it
would
seem
that
if
one
removes
the
stigma
from
the
“screen”
that
doctors
currently
disdain,
then
introducing
a
screen,
especially
in
the
form
of
a
tablet
that
can
be
manipulated,
can
help
children
develop
a
facility
with
the
use
of
technology
which
will
become
a
large
portion
of
how
they
live,
learn
and
work.
So
back
to
our
original
question,
how
old
should
a
child
be
when
being
introduced
to
an
eBook
or
an
app?
My
personal
opinion
is
that
as
soon
a
child
is
ready
to
listen
to
the
content
from
a
board
book,
they
can
listen
to
you
read
an
eBook
to
them
from
a
tablet.
I
do
not
separate
children’s
eBooks
from
children’s
board
books.
The
pictures
look
the
same,
the
words
look
the
same,
and
the
pages
turn
the
same.
If
you
are
reading
board
books
to
your
children,
you
could
substitute
an
eBook
on
a
tablet,
and
the
effect
would
not
be
any
different.
With
an
app,
there
is
a
much
different
ability
at
work,
and
that
is
manipulating
the
screen
to
enjoy
the
interactivity.
I
could
see
waiting
until
18
months
in
order
to
make
sure
some
hand-eye
coordination
is
already
at
work
before
having
a
child
try
to
use
an
app.
Overall,
I
consider
myself
a
big
fan
of
technology,
although
many
parents
may
not
be.
If
you,
as
a
parent,
are
not
comfortable
with
that
level
of
technology
at
work
in
your
child’s
life,
then
you
should
follow
through
with
what
you
find
comfortable.
But
for
those
parents
with
a
favorable
view
of
technology
in
their
child’s
life,
then
what
should
stop
you
from
reading
an
eBook
instead
of
a
board
book?
If
you
view
the
information
learned
as
merely
content,
then
what
should
it
matter
where
a
child
receives
that
content
from?
NICOLE
FONOVICH,
M.ED,
is
a
tech-savvy
mom
blazing
a
new
trail
in
children's
publishing.
With
her
husband
Damir,
she
is
co-author
and
co-creator
of
"Luca
Lashes,"
a
line
of
multilingual
eBooks
and
apps
designed
to
help
kids
(0-4)
turn
"fear
of
firsts"
into
fun.
They
created
the
series
for
their
son
Lucas,
as
a
way
to
help
him
conquer
his
firsts
with
courage
and
confidence.
Nicole
has
a
Bachelor
of
Arts
in
leadership
and
advocacy
from
Kendall
College
in
Evanston,
IL,
and
a
Master
of
Education
in
educational
policy
and
Leadership
from
Marquette
University
in
Milwaukee.
While
serving
in
the
field
of
Financial
Aid
Administration
for
the
last
15
years,
Nicole
has
assisted
students
in
every
capacity.
She
and
her
family
live
in
the
Chicago
area.
Learn
more
at
www.lucalashes.com.
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