Asian Kids and Screentime

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Still not clearly what this has to do with Asians.

It was my first encounter since having a child where someone didn't act weird about iPhones/screentime (that it was bad). Didn't know if it was a cultural difference.

I don't think the vast majority of people are hung up about screen time and children. I think this is a rather unique attribute of the overly anxious helicopter parent set. It's fairly common in these parts, but in the rest of the country, where parents are more laid back and don't think every decision/action has long-term ramifications for their children's well-being, it's not a thing.

Caring parents the world over tend to think through decisions. It's not a weird, DC only helicopter trend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Still not clearly what this has to do with Asians.

It was my first encounter since having a child where someone didn't act weird about iPhones/screentime (that it was bad). Didn't know if it was a cultural difference.

I don't think the vast majority of people are hung up about screen time and children. I think this is a rather unique attribute of the overly anxious helicopter parent set. It's fairly common in these parts, but in the rest of the country, where parents are more laid back and don't think every decision/action has long-term ramifications for their children's well-being, it's not a thing.

Actually not true. I was raised in California and ran free (1980s and 90's) -- but there was no watching television in our house and no computers of any kind. We had access to books and books alone.

My DS is only nineteen-months and has never seen a screen of any kind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Still not clearly what this has to do with Asians.

It was my first encounter since having a child where someone didn't act weird about iPhones/screentime (that it was bad). Didn't know if it was a cultural difference.

I don't think the vast majority of people are hung up about screen time and children. I think this is a rather unique attribute of the overly anxious helicopter parent set. It's fairly common in these parts, but in the rest of the country, where parents are more laid back and don't think every decision/action has long-term ramifications for their children's well-being, it's not a thing.

Caring parents the world over tend to think through decisions. It's not a weird, DC only helicopter trend.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I let my DS watch TV and use an iPhone to play. Though he doesn't watch a lot, he enjoys the noise and the maneuvering on the device. I had a woman at a Chinese restaurant say to me that kids in her community (she may have just said Asian kids) are really adept at electronics. It made me wonder, are just Americans hung up on screentime/electronics? It seemed to be a point of fact, if not pride, when she said it.

Are there any Asian parents that can weigh in on this? I'm not looking for any stereotypes or to get into any nonsense, just curious, though.

1) Americans are crazy hung up on screen time and electronics. They don't seem to grasp this is the first native user generation. This is the new reality. Trying to prevent their use is an exercise in futility at best, puts kids at a disadvantage at minimum, and is just really stupid.

2) Stop comparing ourselves to Asian kids. Last time I checked, Asians weren't exactly ruling the world. What a strange thing to worry about. Name one Asian country that's going to dominate in the future? It's not going to be Japan or China. Taiwan, maybe. Not Mongolia or Bangladesh. Or any of the 'stans. Why worry about this?

People who are educated in the fields of brain development and emotional development of children are the ones saying the less screen time for young children the better. It has nothing to with not wanting kids to know how to handle technology. It's about letting them become well developed human beings before subjecting them to technology too much. Kids learn fast. They don't need to get their first iPad at 3 in order to become web developers, programmers, IT professionals, engineers or whatever other job they want to be when they grow up. People who believe that children NEED technology before the teenage years are the ones misinformed. And yes, there are plenty of studies about this and plenty of expert opinions on the matter.

But just because a 3 year old has an iPad does not mean that's all he does. My kids have iPads. Today we played at a playground, went swimming, then dinner and crafts. Now they are playing mine craft.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I let my DS watch TV and use an iPhone to play. Though he doesn't watch a lot, he enjoys the noise and the maneuvering on the device. I had a woman at a Chinese restaurant say to me that kids in her community (she may have just said Asian kids) are really adept at electronics. It made me wonder, are just Americans hung up on screentime/electronics? It seemed to be a point of fact, if not pride, when she said it.

Are there any Asian parents that can weigh in on this? I'm not looking for any stereotypes or to get into any nonsense, just curious, though.

1) Americans are crazy hung up on screen time and electronics. They don't seem to grasp this is the first native user generation. This is the new reality. Trying to prevent their use is an exercise in futility at best, puts kids at a disadvantage at minimum, and is just really stupid.

2) Stop comparing ourselves to Asian kids. Last time I checked, Asians weren't exactly ruling the world. What a strange thing to worry about. Name one Asian country that's going to dominate in the future? It's not going to be Japan or China. Taiwan, maybe. Not Mongolia or Bangladesh. Or any of the 'stans. Why worry about this?

People who are educated in the fields of brain development and emotional development of children are the ones saying the less screen time for young children the better. It has nothing to with not wanting kids to know how to handle technology. It's about letting them become well developed human beings before subjecting them to technology too much. Kids learn fast. They don't need to get their first iPad at 3 in order to become web developers, programmers, IT professionals, engineers or whatever other job they want to be when they grow up. People who believe that children NEED technology before the teenage years are the ones misinformed. And yes, there are plenty of studies about this and plenty of expert opinions on the matter.

But just because a 3 year old has an iPad does not mean that's all he does. My kids have iPads. Today we played at a playground, went swimming, then dinner and crafts. Now they are playing mine craft.

Your 3 year old has his own iPAD? That's a bit overboard, even for a screen friendly family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I let my DS watch TV and use an iPhone to play. Though he doesn't watch a lot, he enjoys the noise and the maneuvering on the device. I had a woman at a Chinese restaurant say to me that kids in her community (she may have just said Asian kids) are really adept at electronics. It made me wonder, are just Americans hung up on screentime/electronics? It seemed to be a point of fact, if not pride, when she said it.

Are there any Asian parents that can weigh in on this? I'm not looking for any stereotypes or to get into any nonsense, just curious, though.

1) Americans are crazy hung up on screen time and electronics. They don't seem to grasp this is the first native user generation. This is the new reality. Trying to prevent their use is an exercise in futility at best, puts kids at a disadvantage at minimum, and is just really stupid.

2) Stop comparing ourselves to Asian kids. Last time I checked, Asians weren't exactly ruling the world. What a strange thing to worry about. Name one Asian country that's going to dominate in the future? It's not going to be Japan or China. Taiwan, maybe. Not Mongolia or Bangladesh. Or any of the 'stans. Why worry about this?

The bolded part alone disqualify you from commenting anything related to East Asia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I let my DS watch TV and use an iPhone to play. Though he doesn't watch a lot, he enjoys the noise and the maneuvering on the device. I had a woman at a Chinese restaurant say to me that kids in her community (she may have just said Asian kids) are really adept at electronics. It made me wonder, are just Americans hung up on screentime/electronics? It seemed to be a point of fact, if not pride, when she said it.

Are there any Asian parents that can weigh in on this? I'm not looking for any stereotypes or to get into any nonsense, just curious, though.

1) Americans are crazy hung up on screen time and electronics. They don't seem to grasp this is the first native user generation. This is the new reality. Trying to prevent their use is an exercise in futility at best, puts kids at a disadvantage at minimum, and is just really stupid.

2) Stop comparing ourselves to Asian kids. Last time I checked, Asians weren't exactly ruling the world. What a strange thing to worry about. Name one Asian country that's going to dominate in the future? It's not going to be Japan or China. Taiwan, maybe. Not Mongolia or Bangladesh. Or any of the 'stans. Why worry about this?

People who are educated in the fields of brain development and emotional development of children are the ones saying the less screen time for young children the better. It has nothing to with not wanting kids to know how to handle technology. It's about letting them become well developed human beings before subjecting them to technology too much. Kids learn fast. They don't need to get their first iPad at 3 in order to become web developers, programmers, IT professionals, engineers or whatever other job they want to be when they grow up. People who believe that children NEED technology before the teenage years are the ones misinformed. And yes, there are plenty of studies about this and plenty of expert opinions on the matter.

I read a neuroscientist's article once and he was really upset about the AAP's expert opinion on screen time. He says there is really no study on the benefit of zero screen time for under 2 and so on. It was more of well intentioned conjecture on the Pediatricians' part. This is an area full of expert opinion but not enough real study.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: so the earlier they become pros at handling technology the more likely they will have successful, high income jobs later.

How is playing video games considered "handling technology"?

[Anonymous]

Asian-American here. I used to severely limit screen time for my children. One day, we were at a play date at an engineering household (dad went to MIT). Their 4yo was playing advanced games on his ipad while my 4yo did not even know how to navigate between apps. I realized that some of these games were not all bad and did require thinking.

We do limit screen time but I have started using the ipad and computer as a learning tool. My older child is in kindergarten and reads books on MYON (FCPS reading program). My younger preschool child gets ABC Mouse and Preschool Lunchbox.

DH lets the kids watch more tv than I would like. I don't necessarily think the tv is damaging their brains but I much prefer that the kids are outside playing outside. There are a lot of hours in a week. Kids get plenty of education, art, sports, outdoor and indoor play time and screen time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Still not clearly what this has to do with Asians.

It was my first encounter since having a child where someone didn't act weird about iPhones/screentime (that it was bad). Didn't know if it was a cultural difference.

NP here -- but defending OP, I think it's a legit question. We all know that different cultures have different ideas about child-rearing (cosleeping, no bed times, food that they feed them, etc.), so I think it is a fair question. FWIW, my husband is Asian (I'm white), and he doesn't care about screen time. The several Asian families we know are all less concerned about screen time than the white families I know (this is, of course, purely anecdotal. But, I do wonder if there is a cultural aspect at play here?). Everything asked about a culture isn't racist, people, give it up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: so the earlier they become pros at handling technology the more likely they will have successful, high income jobs later.

How is playing video games considered "handling technology"?

I'd have to dig them up, but there are actually studies showing video games beneficial. My DH is a gamer so I wanted to be right that video games were bad. Alas, DH proved me wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: so the earlier they become pros at handling technology the more likely they will have successful, high income jobs later.

How is playing video games considered "handling technology"?

I'd have to dig them up, but there are actually studies showing video games beneficial. My DH is a gamer so I wanted to be right that video games were bad. Alas, DH proved me wrong.

Yes, my gamer DH told me about this article which actually said that certain video games make kids smarter. Not kidding. Not sure which games though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Us Asians are all tiger parents with no creative talent and let our kids play on screens for way too long while prepping our kids for Ivies and destroying their childhood.

That's going to be the jist of this thread.

Now let's move onto Whites and screen time, Hispanics and Screen time, Africans and screen time and African Americans and screen time. Heck, let's throw in Jews and screen time too.

You are not Asian.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I let my DS watch TV and use an iPhone to play. Though he doesn't watch a lot, he enjoys the noise and the maneuvering on the device. I had a woman at a Chinese restaurant say to me that kids in her community (she may have just said Asian kids) are really adept at electronics. It made me wonder, are just Americans hung up on screentime/electronics? It seemed to be a point of fact, if not pride, when she said it.

Are there any Asian parents that can weigh in on this? I'm not looking for any stereotypes or to get into any nonsense, just curious, though.

1) Americans are crazy hung up on screen time and electronics. They don't seem to grasp this is the first native user generation. This is the new reality. Trying to prevent their use is an exercise in futility at best, puts kids at a disadvantage at minimum, and is just really stupid.

2) Stop comparing ourselves to Asian kids. Last time I checked, Asians weren't exactly ruling the world. What a strange thing to worry about. Name one Asian country that's going to dominate in the future? It's not going to be Japan or China. Taiwan, maybe. Not Mongolia or Bangladesh. Or any of the 'stans. Why worry about this?

People who are educated in the fields of brain development and emotional development of children are the ones saying the less screen time for young children the better. It has nothing to with not wanting kids to know how to handle technology. It's about letting them become well developed human beings before subjecting them to technology too much. Kids learn fast. They don't need to get their first iPad at 3 in order to become web developers, programmers, IT professionals, engineers or whatever other job they want to be when they grow up. People who believe that children NEED technology before the teenage years are the ones misinformed. And yes, there are plenty of studies about this and plenty of expert opinions on the matter.

But just because a 3 year old has an iPad does not mean that's all he does. My kids have iPads. Today we played at a playground, went swimming, then dinner and crafts. Now they are playing mine craft.

Your 3 year old has his own iPAD? That's a bit overboard, even for a screen friendly family.

My kids are 6 and 8. I used three year old since the PP used 3 year old as an example.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I let my DS watch TV and use an iPhone to play. Though he doesn't watch a lot, he enjoys the noise and the maneuvering on the device. I had a woman at a Chinese restaurant say to me that kids in her community (she may have just said Asian kids) are really adept at electronics. It made me wonder, are just Americans hung up on screentime/electronics? It seemed to be a point of fact, if not pride, when she said it.

Are there any Asian parents that can weigh in on this? I'm not looking for any stereotypes or to get into any nonsense, just curious, though.

1) Americans are crazy hung up on screen time and electronics. They don't seem to grasp this is the first native user generation. This is the new reality. Trying to prevent their use is an exercise in futility at best, puts kids at a disadvantage at minimum, and is just really stupid.

2) Stop comparing ourselves to Asian kids. Last time I checked, Asians weren't exactly ruling the world. What a strange thing to worry about. Name one Asian country that's going to dominate in the future? It's not going to be Japan or China. Taiwan, maybe. Not Mongolia or Bangladesh. Or any of the 'stans. Why worry about this?

People who are educated in the fields of brain development and emotional development of children are the ones saying the less screen time for young children the better. It has nothing to with not wanting kids to know how to handle technology. It's about letting them become well developed human beings before subjecting them to technology too much. Kids learn fast. They don't need to get their first iPad at 3 in order to become web developers, programmers, IT professionals, engineers or whatever other job they want to be when they grow up. People who believe that children NEED technology before the teenage years are the ones misinformed. And yes, there are plenty of studies about this and plenty of expert opinions on the matter.

Doctors used to believe smoking was healthy. So, forgive me for being underwhelmed by this.

Children don't need technology. But they are very good with it. Arbitrarily keeping them from it seems stupid.

Still not clearly what this has to do with Asians.

If you don't have the ability to witness yourself what sitting in front of a screen does to children then I feel sorry for you. The blank stare, the total lack of movement, the hypnotic effect technology has on kids, the messed up posture, the addictive effects, the being branded towards merchandise...there is nothing screens can do for a kid that a real person can not do - but with a real person there aren't any of the downsides of screen time to developing brains.

Just because kids are good with something does not at all mean they should be doing it. Kids could drink very well. Smoke very well. Run around on the streets very well. Eat dirt all day. Whatever. Kids could be good at a ton of things we all know aren't good for them so we don't let them do it - the day will come when people realize screen time is one of those things but I guess it will take decades just like with demonizing tobacco for what it really is. Unfortunately by then millions of kids will have been subjected to hours of screen time per day because their parents felt like they needed to disregard the facts. I feel sorry for those kids today and am doing my best to make sure my kids grow up healthy.