4-Year-Old Brit Girl Undergoes Therapy for iPad Addiction

A four-year-old pre-school girl in Britain is undergoing psychiatric therapy for compulsive behaviour because of her addiction to iPad games.

The decision to have their child undergo treatment was made by her parents after they observed her to be inconsolable whenever the Apple tablet was removed from her hands.

Reports said that the country's youngest iPad addict is from South East of England and had been playing games at an average of four hours daily since she was three. Dr Richard Graham, the attending psychiatrist from London's Capio Nightingale Clinic, said there is a growing number of young British kids in the same age group who are suffering from device dependence.

"In the year running up to contacting the clinic, the parents noticed her use of the iPad was escalating. She was using it three to four hours every day and showed increased agitation if it was removed," Mirror quoted Mr Graham.

He said his young patient's addiction would not require confinement but if left untreated and would persist, she might need more help when she reaches 11 and gains access to other platforms such as smartphones and the Internet.

"Children have access to the Internet almost from birth now. They see their parents playing on their mobile devices and they want to play to. Sometimes I think advice on Internet use should be part of antenatal classes," he added.

Mr Graham advised parents not to leave their iPads around since its pretty colours attract young children who demand to use the device also. Since the tablets are used as pacifiers, he said parents must ensure the right balance between allowing some play time and letting the device serve as their nannies.

He partly blamed parents for modeling the game or device addiction on their kids who may end up becoming anti-social and turning to devices to soothe themselves instead of enjoying playing with other children their age and using more conventional toys.

"We are giving these devices to them from such an early age, it's hardly surprising our children's brains are being rewired to want instant gratification with the touch of a screen. As it is, the iPad is already killing off toys," Mirror quoted Tanith Carey, author of Where has My Little Girl Gone? How to Protect Your Daughter From Growing up Too Soon.

She conceded that allowing tykes to play with devices makes raising them easier now, but warned "When our children grow up how can we expect them to have a conversation, look us in the eye, or sit quietly if they have been brought up on a constant diet of easy iPhone and iPad entertainment?"