Why some high-tech parents want low-tech kids

It is a dilemma many moms and dads face these days: should you let your 3-year-old play with a tablet or smartphone? Interestingly, some parents in the nation's high-tech capital, Silicon Valley, say that it may not be such a good idea -- and Steve Jobs would have likely agreed with them.

The New York Times reported recently that Jobs, who died in 2011, limited his three children's use of the gadgets his company pioneered. "Every evening Steve made a point of having dinner at the big long table in their kitchen, discussing books and history and a variety of things," Walter Isaacson, author of the best-selling biography "Steve Jobs," told the paper. "No one ever pulled out an iPad or computer. The kids did not seem addicted at all to devices."

Likewise, Ann Wilson, a mom in Palo Alto, California, told CBS San Francisco she does not want her kids to use tablets, laptops or mobile phones at least until middle school.

"If they think playing is sitting in a sedentary place with their thumbs... sure it can be detrimental," Wilson said.

Another parent, Salwa Ansari, says that she and her husband actively keep their gadgets from their young daughter.

"I think it's great for adults, to a point," Ansari said. "But I just want her to have a natural childhood. It's so hard nowadays to have a natural childhood -- go out and play."

But other parents told the station they think technology is beneficial for their kids. Manh Tran's son, Ethan, plays with iPhones and his own iPad.

"It's really interactive so he can do things like puzzles and matching games and stuff, so he can learn," he said.

How does the use of technology affect kids' development?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children under 2 avoid television and all entertainment media. The AAP says that children's brains are rapidly developing at that age and should interact with people instead of screens.

For older kids, some exposure to tech gadgets isn't a bad thing, but experts say it should be limited to help encourage well-rounded children.

"There is definitely a time to be engaged in technology and learn how to use it," Kathy Abady of Child Development Centers told CBS San Francisco. "But there's also the importance of social skills and learning those personal interactions with people."