“The iPotty – a bizarre combination of iPad and potty designed to help young children with potty training – has been named the worst toy of the year by the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC),” Sophie Curtis reports for The Telegraph.
“According to manufacturer CTA Digital, the iPotty is a ‘comfortable and fun place to learn to use the potty,'” Curtis reports. “‘It features a special stand to securely hold the iPad, which can be rotated 360 degrees to switch between horizontal and vertical views and also includes a removable touchscreen cover ‘to guard against messy accidents and smudges.'”
“Michelle Salcedo, who voted for the iPotty as worst toy of the year in CCFC’s poll, said that toilet learning should be a time of positive interaction between a child and their parents,” Curtis reports. “Alex Reynard, who also voted, said: ‘It not only reinforces unhealthy overuse of digital media, it’s aimed at toddlers. We should NOT be giving them the message that you shouldn’t even take your eyes off a screen long enough to pee.'”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Put a Microsoft Surface tablet – 90% off at a discount warehouse near you – in the holder instead and tell the rug rat to match what what he sees by zuning into the potty.
Related articles:
Apple iPads invade the bathroom – May 16, 2013
‘iPotty’ is an iPad toilet trainer for kids – January 11, 2013
That is one of the dumbest things I’ve seen in a long time. As any parent who has ever potty trained any toddler, when on the chair, you want them to pay attention to the task at hand (so to speak), not to be distracted by anything. I’ll bet that parents who are foolish enough to purchase and then use this thing as designed will have a much more difficult time training their toddlers than they would have had without it. More than a few iPads will likely suffer “water damage” with this thing placed where it is.
Reading on the toilet is a time honored tradition.
Don’t mess with tribal traditions.
I heard the Director of Universal Monitor Committees at Uselessly Nagging Travesties Society nominated the CCFC for their Anal ‘Who Gives a Shit’ award.
Tough competition this year, though, as it seems half of society is dreaming up ways to complain about the other half…..
What placing did the people still complaining about iOS 7 come in at?
They are still doing the paperwork…..
Just be thankful they don’t make one of these in an adult size.
#1 – It is not a toy. (therefore it cannot be called the worst toy of the year) Does Curtis even read the junk she puts out.
#2 – Potty training is not a quick exercise. It often involves long periods of time, often with the child wanting to be left alone.
#3 – It seems to be well designed with a rotating screen and touchscreen cover guard.
#4 – Would you rather subject a child with the crap (pun intended) computers designed by Fisher Price, or worse, LeapFrog?
#5 – Have you never seen the flat screen TV’s (usually with sports playing) in front of the urinals at sports bars? Same thing, but with sports.
Enough with the you-should-spend-every-waking-moment-with-your-child-and-never-take-your-eyes-off-of-them guilt shoveled into patients these days that have to live in the real world.
You just made me realize – they do make these in adult size – in front of those sports bar urinals.
Do they have an adult version?
I think it’s cool. Could be a great way to potty train children.
One thing I have learned in my 33 years as a parent of three and grandfather of 5, ALL kids learn at different levels at different ages.
What works for one child in potty training may have no good effect for their sibling. Attention span, special needs, age and metabolism all determine how to deal with each of these ‘gifts’.
This tool might or might not be helpful, but for some ‘entity’ to determine it is all for ‘commercializing’ is what set me off on my initial rant.
When does the full size version come out?
No difference with sticking a kid on the toilet with an iPad or and handing them a children’s book to read. Both can be either just fun or educational. My mother always handed us a book and we were all potty trained extremely early.