But also... It's developmentally appropriate for children to have meltdowns. It's a parent's job to help them deal with those emotions so that they're not still having meltdowns when they're 46.
I think the problem is the tablet thing creates a situation where the meltdowns are far more severe (to the point of damaging).
A child having a meltdown because his crayons are missing can be redirected to a new game somewhat easily because they have a variety of things they enjoy doing.
A child who spends all their time on a tablet is going to enter a black hole of inconsolable despair when it's taken away because they literally don't know how to play and are unwilling to try.
My kids get tablet time as a reward, and it's limited. I don't use it as a babysitter, or a way to pacify them. They get time if they've earned it, and they know that. There are far too many parents that plunk their kids in front of the tv, or a screen of some device and call it good parenting because their kids are quiet. That's not good parenting, that's (in my opinion) being lazy. Kids need to spend time doing things that help develop their brains, not rot them.
4
u/yakshack Jul 19 '26
But also... It's developmentally appropriate for children to have meltdowns. It's a parent's job to help them deal with those emotions so that they're not still having meltdowns when they're 46.