Toddlers and Tablets, should your 2 year old get an Ipad for Christmas?

By Lisa Jordan, Executive Director, 30 November 2011

In 1969 Joan Gantz Cooney asked the question, ‘How can emerging media help children learn?’ The answer was Sesame Street and Joan is commonly referred to as “Sesame Street’s Mother.” History is repeating itself. Today, we are wondering the same thing. This time not about television but apps, ipads, smart phones and other devises which are far more interactive and attractive, even addictive, to young children.

The Bernard van Leer Foundation recently invited Michael H. Levine to help us address this question. Dr. Levine at the Joan Ganz Cooney centre at Sesame Workshop is busy trying to help parents to navigate the new media space. Parents require navigation, children do not. Smart phones and ipads are an unintentional match made in heaven, really.