Coleen Rooney has responded fiercely to critics who blasted her for posting a photo of her children using iPads at a football tournament.
The mum-of-four shared a shot on Instagram and Twitter of sons Klay, six, Kit, three, and Cass, one, in the shade on the sidelines while their older brother, Kai, nine, played in a match for Bethesda SC.
But after being told she should feel “ashamed” for letting them use technology on the side of the pitch, she pointed out the benefits of screen time - particularly when it comes to learning new things.
“Calm down, calm down,” she said. “Yes my children have and use iPads! And even my 15 month old watches Peppa Pig on one would you believe!!”
She added: “They come in handy sometimes and can be very educational. Mathletics and spelling apps are used all time by Kai and Klay ... check them out.”
Rooney, 33, captioned her original post, which showed the three younger boys sheltering from the shade: “Kai’s Football (soccer here) tournament set up!!! When Dads away .... we all have to go along!!”
But it didn’t take long for people to wade in, lambasting her for letting them use technology, rather than watch the match.
“Baby on a iPad??” asked one, which sparked many other comments. “At that age I hope he isn’t playing games,” someone said, while another added: “Why are they all on iPads and not watching football?”
One mum wrote: “Oh yeah, it really looks they are supporting their brother with the devices they have. The children can play on those indoors on rainy days.”
She added: “I don’t know if they like footie, nor do I care. Look at all that grass, sunshine, open space, freedom, chance to explore, learn, integrate, meet new friends, laugh etc..... such a shame.”
But others defended Rooney, and shared their own experiences of using technology to help with busy parenting days.
One mum-of-three said it was “sad” people felt the need to be “negative and so judgemental”. “You’ve failed to see the good things Colleen has done,” she wrote. “Sheltered the older boys from the sun, baby is faced away from the sun, they are set up with snacks and drinks.”
She also said she sympathised with the demands of parenting four young children. “Three boys are hard, I should know, my eldest has activities where I have to entertain a three and four-year-old too. It’s judgy people like you that have stopped me from going to playgroups, or sitting in the car and watching my eldest from it so I don’t get judged on my parenting skills!”
Another mum said both her children had used iPads from a very young age and were “very intelligent”. “I think having that early stimulation with educational games is linked,” she wrote.
“If he was sat there with a baby pack of cards in front of him you probably wouldn’t comment, but because it’s on an electronic device you feel the need to. Move with the times. It’s more interactive and you can hundreds of games literally at your fingertips!”
And one mum said screen time helped her enormously. “I’ve got three boys and youngest has special needs,” she wrote. “iPads save lives in our house!”
Rooney also went in fighting, telling people on Twitter to “calm down” and pointing out that technology has its place - whether for education, or entertainment.