When I was a kid I played with Lego. Every free moment was spent with Lego. My parents were continually warned by their friends and even our family doctor that I shouldn't spend so much time playing with Lego. It was 'addictive' and the time I spent playing with Lego was time I wasn't concentrating on homework, throwing ball, and other important things a child should be doing. The point is, every generation tends to have a play devil, the thing that will lead to the destruction of our society and hamper our children's long term success.

When I was growing up it was television that was the great satan.

> The disturbing thing is that you're talking about giving a kindergartner a smartphone/tablet [...] their apps are designed to be so addictive.

The e-reader app is not that addictive. Maybe you meant giving a kid unfettered access? That's a completely different issue and has parallels in many forms of entertainment. But you shouldn't call giving a kid a smartphone/tablet as disturbing on its face.

If you treat tech as something they are not supposed to use or something "bad", don't be surprise of they become convinced tech is not for them or something else later. Side effect will also he hate toward geeks and nerds, cause those break rules and play with tech.

It is balancing act.

Eh, it's not that big a deal. You have to monitor what they do (it helps to have a tablet that supports strong parental controls at this age), and set an expectation early on (and follow through) that tablet time is limited duration, and a privilege.