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iPhone Child Care: There's an App for That

Smartphones double as children's toys

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 26, 2010 3:55 PM CDT

(Newser) – Parents have long relied on books, toys, and distractions to entertain their kids when taking them out in public—but these days, they are likely to just grab a smartphone. Kids find the intuitive interface of iPhones and other touchscreen gadgets entertaining, and software designers have taken note: over two-thirds of the programs available on Apple's App Store are for children.

"People have always brought toys, or something to entertain their child, into restaurants and stores," one mom tells CNN. "Now we just have better technology." AN expert explains: "They like to play with things their parents have. Considering how much time parents spend" using their smartphones, "it makes sense that kids would want them, too."

FILE - In this April 7, 2010 file photo, an Apple customer displays the new iPad, left, next to his iPhone in Palo Alto, Calif.
FILE - In this April 7, 2010 file photo, an Apple customer displays the new iPad, left, next to his iPhone in Palo Alto, Calif.   (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, file)
In this Thursday, Dec. 31, 2009 picture, from left, Barbara, Carter, Alex and C.C. Chamberlin hold iPhones at in their house in Las Cruces, N.M.
In this Thursday, Dec. 31, 2009 picture, from left, Barbara, Carter, Alex and C.C. Chamberlin hold iPhones at in their house in Las Cruces, N.M.   (AP Photo/Las Cruces Sun-News, Norm Dettlaff)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 4 comments
inkedheart
Apr 26, 2010 9:15 PM CDT
Is there an app for dumb-ass parenting? I'm not sure if ANYTHING fixes that.
finkster
Apr 26, 2010 9:00 PM CDT
And thus it begins...What Star Trek envisioned as the half machine half human called Borg is slowly starting to evolve. Oh NOOOOOOO!!!!!! We are the Borg!!!!

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