A school in Londonderry is so concerned about how much the overuse of these items affects their pupils’ language, that they have called in a speech and language therapist and are urging parents to talk to their children to help improve their language skills.
Teacher Una McCool from the Model primary school says that as kids get more and more dependent on their tablet, "we find that they are less communicative. They prefer their own company. It affects small talk.”
“They seem quite content but interaction is becoming less and less. When we give them blocks to play with you find them using them as pretend iPads or phones," she said.
Not surprising, speech therapist Megan Cummings says it is not just this school that is being affected, admitting it is "a general trend throughout the schools I go to."
"Teachers have said that the children's speech and language skills have worsened over the years. They are used playing by themselves. They are not having to speak or interact with their parents or friends so of course there are going to be delays in development."
She added: "Attention, listening and turn-taking are necessary skills and they just don't have them. It's all very solitary."
Kids mimic what their parents do so it is important that we make a conscious to put our phones and tablets away.
