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The problem with this type of article is that Jobs and Gates have no real world limitations whatsoever. They can do anything with their kids and it won't matter

The problem with this type of article is that Jobs and Gates have no real world limitations whatsoever. They can do anything with their kids and it won't matter. So that's not relatable to me as a person not in that position. Example: pretend Gates & Jobs decided to remove their kids from school and teach them full time to be musicians. Completely impractical for me and would not set my kids up for success financially. But for them? Easily done, and their kids would still have hundreds of millions to fall back on at maturity. Why does that matter here? Because if their kids don't have screen time, and they get bored and complain, they could hire a dozen people to entertain their kids and look after them (and while the number is probably not that high, they do, actually, use that type of solution). Whereas for me giving kids device time is a practical solution, without those resources: it keeps them entertained, while I work to make money. These kinds of articles are basically just fun trivia if the people in them have no constraints on their resources.

ghusto 3y ago
I don't have unlimited resources. I work to keep my family afloat. I don't let my kids be on the iPad so I can get on with work. It's not a practical solution, it's an _easy_ solution. I'm sorry the article makes you feel like a bad parent, but don't go into denial mode to make yourself feel better about what you're doing.
- deely3 3y ago
  You have absolutely no idea about family situation or financial situation or where parent commenter live (and in which circumstances), yet you indirectly call she/him bad parent and accuse she/him of denial. And yet looks like you 100% sure that you solution of blocking access to iPads is the best solution for kids. By the way, by blocking access to iPad, in your opinion, what exactly you achieved?
  - ghusto 3y ago
    I don't presume anything about their situation, but I know about mine, and my parents before me. My situation could have been described as difficult by most. This (and where and how I grew up) means I have little sympathy for people with excuses. I'm not saying this to put people down, but drag them up. Don't let excuses limit you. Those where I grew up who did, are still there. I my comment back and I definitely came across too strong, and think this is a sore point for me. > By the way, by blocking access to iPad, in your opinion, what exactly you achieved? Wouldn't have gotten into it because I know it's divisive without being constructive, but since you ask; I believe what we're doing to our kids as a society by allowing them consumer devices like the iPad will only be felt fully in 10-15 years from now. I think it's turning the next generation into people who can't take discomfort, quiet, or a still mind — and that's the tip of the iceberg.
flskafdslaf 3y ago
>Because if their kids don't have screen time, and they get bored and complain What is fundamentally different about the world today, compared to 10 years ago (when widespread child usage of phones and tablets was vanishingly rare), that it's impossible to parent without them? I have friends who say they cannot get their child to brush their teeth without holding a tablet in front of their face. This statement would have been considered a sign of something horribly wrong in the parent-child relationship only a few years ago.
- thrixton 3y ago
  It’s not that it’s impossible to parent without them, it’s just the easier path. Parents, just like other people, will often take the easier path for a million different reasons. 10 (more like 20) years ago, the easier path did not exist, or was something different.
pengaru 3y ago
Have fewer/no kids if you can't afford to raise them.
- nextaccountic 3y ago
  Oh yes, that solves society's problems: only rich people should have kids.
barbazoo 3y ago
> Because if their kids don't have screen time, and they get bored and complain, they could hire a dozen people to entertain their kids and look after them (and while the number is probably not that high, they do, actually, use that type of solution). Whereas for me giving kids device time is a practical solution, without those resources: it keeps them entertained, while I work to make money. That's one of the problems with the way we life our lives imo. The fact that we need those devices to manage having our children around should tell us something is wrong. (I'm not saying I'm in any way not affected or better or anything)
dzhiurgis 3y ago
The boredom itself that is solution. They moan for 5 minutes then find something useful to do. Same like you going on a walk without a phone. It opens your mind.

ghusto 3y ago

I don't have unlimited resources. I work to keep my family afloat. I don't let my kids be on the iPad so I can get on with work. It's not a practical solution, it's an _easy_ solution. I'm sorry the article makes you feel like a bad parent, but don't go into denial mode to make yourself feel better about what you're doing.

deely3 3y ago
You have absolutely no idea about family situation or financial situation or where parent commenter live (and in which circumstances), yet you indirectly call she/him bad parent and accuse she/him of denial. And yet looks like you 100% sure that you solution of blocking access to iPads is the best solution for kids. By the way, by blocking access to iPad, in your opinion, what exactly you achieved?
- ghusto 3y ago
  I don't presume anything about their situation, but I know about mine, and my parents before me. My situation could have been described as difficult by most. This (and where and how I grew up) means I have little sympathy for people with excuses. I'm not saying this to put people down, but drag them up. Don't let excuses limit you. Those where I grew up who did, are still there. I my comment back and I definitely came across too strong, and think this is a sore point for me. > By the way, by blocking access to iPad, in your opinion, what exactly you achieved? Wouldn't have gotten into it because I know it's divisive without being constructive, but since you ask; I believe what we're doing to our kids as a society by allowing them consumer devices like the iPad will only be felt fully in 10-15 years from now. I think it's turning the next generation into people who can't take discomfort, quiet, or a still mind — and that's the tip of the iceberg.

flskafdslaf 3y ago

>Because if their kids don't have screen time, and they get bored and complain What is fundamentally different about the world today, compared to 10 years ago (when widespread child usage of phones and tablets was vanishingly rare), that it's impossible to parent without them? I have friends who say they cannot get their child to brush their teeth without holding a tablet in front of their face. This statement would have been considered a sign of something horribly wrong in the parent-child relationship only a few years ago.

thrixton 3y ago
It’s not that it’s impossible to parent without them, it’s just the easier path. Parents, just like other people, will often take the easier path for a million different reasons. 10 (more like 20) years ago, the easier path did not exist, or was something different.

pengaru 3y ago

Have fewer/no kids if you can't afford to raise them.

nextaccountic 3y ago
Oh yes, that solves society's problems: only rich people should have kids.

barbazoo 3y ago

> Because if their kids don't have screen time, and they get bored and complain, they could hire a dozen people to entertain their kids and look after them (and while the number is probably not that high, they do, actually, use that type of solution). Whereas for me giving kids device time is a practical solution, without those resources: it keeps them entertained, while I work to make money. That's one of the problems with the way we life our lives imo. The fact that we need those devices to manage having our children around should tell us something is wrong. (I'm not saying I'm in any way not affected or better or anything)

dzhiurgis 3y ago

The boredom itself that is solution. They moan for 5 minutes then find something useful to do. Same like you going on a walk without a phone. It opens your mind.