[seanmcdirmid]

My wife and I are planning to have children soon. We have thought about this heavily and have considered a non-digital household at least until they are 9 or 10 specifically so we can encourage them to express their individuality. This isn't an easy choice: it is much easier to entertain a kid with an iPad than with a box of Lego's.

My problem isn't so much that digital devices can't be used creatively (we know they can), just that they are too easy for kids to slip into deep passive consumption modes (like say TV).

[wiredfool]

I'll just point out that a large percentage of my kids' screen time is taken up using the iPads to look up lego instructions online.

[seanmcdirmid]

That is reassuring. I'm really ok with them having access after early childhood.

[Filligree]

It's very hard to do passive consumption with things like Minecraft, and there are definite advantages to learning about computers early.

Instead of blocking off the computer entirely, why don't you instead limit what they can do on it? No, or very limited website access; very few AAA-type games, more sandbox-type games, etc.