Classic Rant #802 (September 11, 2012): Take a Tablet a Day

Toys 'R Us has announced that it will soon release its own tablet computer, geared to kids.

It's called "Tabeo," and it will retail for about $150.

Its debut is geared to the holiday season/

There are other kids' tablet computers out there, namely by LeapFrog. But this is the first time a kids' retailer is releasing its own proprietary tablet computer.

It will be loaded with "kid-friendly" aps, and it will be directed at parents with children probably in the 7-12 year old age group ...

Just what this group needs.

Computers are a wonderful thing, and the Internet is too. I'm not saying that either one is necessarily evil, because, let's face it, if I did, I would be quite the hypocrite.

But kids today are generally anti-social, because they are on the computer way too often.

They don't know how to make relationships away from the computer.

And once they are on the computer, they are open to heaven knows what.

People take advantage of the proximity of the Internet,and they can take advantage of kids who don't know any better either.

I understand the premise behind this latest tablet.

It's like in the "olden" days, when they had kids watches that taught youngsters to tell time.

It's the same thing with these computers, helping children learn about computers and the Internet with a device geared to them.

But computers and the Internet aren't kids watches.

They are serious devices that can lead to education and fun, but can also lead to anti-social behavior.

I, for one, would be very wary in buying my young child a tablet computer.

If he or she wants to use such a device, he can use mom or dad's--under supervision.

With such devices, we are feeding into a "computer plague," so to speak, and I don't think it is necessary for a child to have such a computer at such an early age.

Others will tell me that I don't know what I am talking about, but this rash of giving kids such electronics before they are ready to fully handle their responsibility doesn't look like it's going to end anytime soon.

And I think our society is the worse for it.

Let kids be kids, and not saddle them with the need to have the same electronics mom and dad have.

They simply aren't ready for it.