Baby's first word 'tablet' on the rise - study

Some babies are saying 'tablet' as their first word. Photo / Thinkstock

Technology has become so ingrained in family life that it's even started changing the way children speak.

More than one in eight parents claim their child's first word was "tablet", replacing the typical "mama" or "dada", according to new research.

While 81 per cent of parents said their child has broken their devices by dropping or throwing them.

A total of 3,614 adults took part in the research commissioned by Twickenham-based Tech21 during July 2014.

The most dangerous area for tablet damage was the family car - with 45 per cent of parents claiming accidents occurred getting in and out of the vehicle.

The survey also found 25 per cent have broken their tablet screens at least once in the last year, with highest usage in the living room and kitchen.

When it comes to tablet time, four in 10 parents allowed their children to use tablets for at least an hour a day, however for 7 per cent this usage rose to between three and four hours a day.

And although the majority of tablets were used by school-aged children, 12 per cent said they let their toddlers, aged two and under, play with tablets.

This research follows a recent survey of 2,000 adults that discovered parents are spending a combined £2.25 billion (NZ$4.47 billion) on gadgets every 12 months for their children - with teenage girls and the under-fives being spoilt the most.

The survey, commissioned by energy firm E.ON, found a typical child now owns four gadgets and parents on the whole spend £292 (NZ$580) per child, every year.

In a separate study, computer memory firm Crucial.com discovered technology causes people to put things off to the last minute - and this costs more than £768 million (NZ$1,525 million) a month.

Researchers found the top last-minute activities include looking up travel directions, shopping, making payments, and booking holidays.

However, 59 per cent admitted that devices have frozen on them, they've not been able to get online, or the battery has died, leaving them to seek alternative methods.

Many of these alternatives are more expensive, and users end up wasting money.

Are you spoiling your child?

• A recent survey of 2,000 British adults discovered parents are spending a combined £2.25 billion (NZ$4.47 billion) on gadgets every 12 months for their children - with teenage girls and the under-fives being spoilt the most.

• The survey, commissioned by energy firm E.ON, found a typical child now owns four gadgets and parents on the whole spend £292 (NZ$580) per child, every year.

• Teenagers aged between 15 and 17 are the most tech-savvy, each owning on average seven devices, including laptops, tablets and phones.

• However, parents with sons aged over 18 are spending over £717 (NZ$1,424) on gadgets, while daughters get devices worth £992 (NZ$1,970) a year.

- Daily Mail