Smartphones and child development are like oil and water when it comes to parenting. While parents are worried that the use of electronic devices in the early development years of children may be bad, experts say that it won’t do them any harm.

“The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has changed its stance on the potential harm smartphones and iPads can do to developing children,” reported Mashable.

“Based on research culled from a meeting of educators, pediatricians, neuroscientists, educators, media researchers and social science experts in May, the organization now takes a more permissive stance on the issue of allowing children access to computers at a young age.”

The thought that smartphones and tablets may be bad for children is directly related to how the devices only have the children respond to a screen rather than going out and discovering the world. Parents are scared that their children may not be able to fully develop when a screen is their only interaction with the world.

Also, according to Telegraph, if the exposure to technology doesn’t get taken under control, more children and teenagers would become mentally ill. Thus, relationship between smartphones and child development is viewed in a negative light.

“Growing Up Digital: Media Research Symposium” presented their updated findings on the relationship between smartphones and children.

A passage stated, “Digital media can be used to facilitate executive function, build self-control and problem-solving skills, and improve children’s ability to follow directions.”

While there are benefits to exposing young children to technology early, parents will still have to work together with their child in order to make it work.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is an American professional association of pediatrician based in Elk Grove Village, Illiois.