The other day my girlfriend told me (quite matter-of-factly I might add) that her one-year old knows how to work her iphone. "Ohh yeh... he knows how to select music," she says.

Last night, my sister-in-law told me her 15 month old also knows how to work her itouch, again matter-of-factly. However, let me add that her husband seemed rather surprised to hear this, which was kind of comforting for me while I am sitting wondering if my 1 year old is not "in with the times" of these "i" devices. So I now sit and wonder is this a good thing, a bad thing, or just something our kids are adapting to with the new modern era of iphones and ipads?

The other day, a lady came into the coffee shop with her young child, probably no older than 3, immediately sat him down and pulled out her iphone for him to play with at the table. Whatever happened to the colouring-in books with fancy Crayola pens and pencils? Are we "modernising" our kids too soon and too early and forgetting about the raw fundamentals of early developmental play? Or are we as parents trying to find the most quick and easy way to entertain our children so we can sit and have a coffee while reading the paper in peace?

Maybe I am not in with the crowd, and call me old fashioned, but I can't help but wonder what this new modern world of "i" gadgets is teaching to our children?

Free play, imaginative play is so important for children's development
to help and empower children to reach social, emotional and intellectual
milestones. Maybe when my 1 year old is a 3 year old I will crack onto the "i" idea so I can have a morning coffee, but I only hope we leave these gadgets for the cafe.

Tahlia Mandie is a psychotherapist and family counsellor for Direction Exploring which specialises in working with children, teens and families.
Tahlia is a regular contributor for 3008docklands. To learn more about her
work visit www.directionexploring.com.au

If you have a topic you would like Tahlia to discuss email
tahlia@directionexploring.com.au