Children addicted to 'electronic babysitter' (3)

But Bao Lifang, Yang's mother, regrets giving him an iPad. She also gave one to her older son in high school, but he isn't fixated and plays with it occasionally; he needs to spend time studying and getting physical exercise.

"But my little boy is totally lost in it. All he thinks about is getting me to load as many games as possible into it," she says.

Bao confiscated the iPad, which ignited what she calls a "fierce war" between mother and son. "I didn't expect his response would be so wild; he cried and shouted for the whole afternoon," she says. "Then I gave up and returned it to him because I could go insane in this uproar. My husband jokes that he acts like a heroin addict."

Feng Yalan, a child psychologist at East China Normal University, says it's irresponsible to give an iPad or similar device to a kindergartner without self control and to take it away abruptly might have negative consequences.

"It is not good to give an iPad to children before age two. Yes, it provides interactive games but it can't replace human communication and interaction," she says.

Small children's over-dependence on iPads and other gadgets can result in problems such as slow development of spoken language, reading and communication, Feng says.

Some parents withhold iPads to punish their children, or dangle them as incentives. "I tell them that this seems effective, but it hurts a small tender heart. Just imagine, if someone takes away your favorite thing without a clear reason, how would you feel?"

The psychologist says she does not allow her own three-year-old daughter to play with computer at home, use a cell phone or iPad; and she can only watch television on Friday night.

"Little kids don't need to experience high technology. I am her best companion. Maternal love cannot be replaced by a cold, electronic thing," she says.

Christine Wu has already "fired" the electronic baby-sitter in steps. "It's not too late for me too realize the bad influence of the iPad on my son," she says. "I didn't remove it abruptly, but gradually diverted his attention to other things. Now he's not obsessed. It's better to nip these things in the bud."

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