A new study from the Children’s Council was released over Easter – it basically sent a survey to children in 100 Danish kindergartens and asked of their preference towards iPads (along with follow-up qualitative interviews). The study is in Danish but you should be able to pick up the essence of the stats with a bit of google translate) if the summary below isn’t sufficient. The study is important because it tells us something that most of us already know but to some extent refuse to acknowledge. Namely that the iPads is immensely popular and will curb play
Selected Key findings where:
N=844 (primarily 5 year old, both girls and boy) – response rate: 72%
1). Would you rather play on iPad than play with some kids you know?
66% – yes
22% – no
12% – don’t know
2). Would you rather play on a fun play ground than play iPad
63% – yes
29% – No
8% – don’t know
3). Do you like to use the Ipad all by yourself
75% – yes
20% no
5% – Don’t know
4). How is it at your home: Do you mostly sit alone and use the iPad?
60% – yes
32 – no
8% – Don’t know
At the same time when our game MiniMo Town climbed to the top of the charts in Denmark (Top3 most downloaded at some point). It makes you wonder even more about whether games, and more broadly speaking iPads are beneficial for children. The idea that the use of iPad would let children to not play with each other is a bit frightening, and I think most parents know that the digital world can be quite engrossing. This does mean that it becomes even more important what type of content you put on that iPad, and I think that we have actually with MiniMo Town helped in that regard.
