D. and I had a successful playdate with some friends yesterday. The tantrums were kept to a minimum at the museum; D. only demanded seventeen toys; and, at the restaurant afterwards, we all managed to eat without (1) garnering angry stares from other diners; and (2) being kicked out. See? Success!
This was in part because of my trusty iPhone. I am so beyond wringing my hands over whether it's right to use television and video to assuage my toddler. It's right as rain. (What does that mean?) At the first hint that D. was going to take a sugar packet and throw it at our waitress's face, out came Youtube on the iPhone; D. watched some random 9 minute "Fireman Sam" clip; and the only face that sugar was thrown in was mine. (Success! is relative...)
Apparently I am not alone in using the iPhone as a parachute. Check out some of these great applications made just for toddlers and be better armed to face restaurants, lines at the airport, the grocery market check-out wait, and other facets of everyday life that have become nail-bitingly suspenseful in our post-baby days! While ABCWheels seems like it will grate on my nerves as much as D.'s tantrums, I confess to being psyched to try out Lil Pinata and BubbleWrap myself!
Do you have a great idea for an iPhone application? Something that you know would work to appease your child, perhaps? Apparently there is a growing number of people trying to strike iPhone gold by creating these sorts of things and, in terms of content for kids--who could be better than moms in creating this stuff?
We all make fun of the "baby industrial complex"--the ever-growing array of products, good and services catering to parents. And, yes, there is much to bemoan (wipe warmers come to mind). But I see the opportunity for good here. Imagine creating the most perfect diversion for crying children ever! The iPhone is only going to be the wild wild west for a little bit longer. If you have an idea, get to it ladies. Moms-- and restaurant owners-- across the country will thank you, buy your application, hold parades in your honor.
Deepa is a wife, mother, writer and she sometimes masquerades as a lawyer as well. She revels in friendship, humor, champagne, and laughing at herself--often. She never ever reads US Magazine, thinks Rushdie is a genius, wishes she could write one sentence as funny as "Arrested Development," and lives in the Bay Area with her motley crew. She can be reached at deviswithbabies@gmail.com
these are awesomeeeeee! thank you so much for sharing!
very cool! has anyone tried the disneyland app? allegedly, it helps you calculate wait times for disneyland rides???
@lyvia: for real??? do you have a link, we are taking our daughter to the big D for the first time this weekend!
i loooooove the new background!
and i can personally vouch for the wheels on the bus app--we just had a 2 hour dinner in napa with our litle one entirely engrossed. i want to kiss steve jobs.
http://www.gotplans.biz/index.html
let me know if it actually works! :)
Heres an app that every kid (or even adults) wld love to play with - BALOONIMALS. Its sheer genius.
Hate to be a naysayer but I find it so sad to see all these little adorable faces...looking at screens all the time. Isn't there a better way?
To above poster: while I agree with you, do you really not use tv or Dvd in a pinch???
Not gonna lie I spent the better part of an afternoon trying to come up with a "killer ap" after reading that article last week! The allure of "easy money" is always very bright!!!
To naysayer, I agree...there must a better way. I haven't had to resort to tv yet...but I'm sure that day will come. I just see way too many kids turn on that dvd the minute they get into their car or on the plane. I hate to be the nostalgic one but doesn't anyone makes up stupid car games or songs, or looks out the window anymore. Isn't there some balance to this? I think not having that stuff when I was growing up forced me to engage with people around me and learn to be respectful. I know that is hard when you have a 2 or 3 or 4 year old but at what age should our kids learn to reasonably sit at a restaurant or in a car or at someone's house without a videogame or tv?
i hear you guys i really do but i am soooo tired of people being holier than thou about tv. in fact i think i read an article about how tv might make kids smarter!! i will try to find the link but bottom line, i just don't think it's that big of a deal. you can watch a video at a restaurant AND sing silly songs in the car.
The Wheels on the Bus app is great! My kids love it!