Having an iPad does not make one smart. The truth is that technology is useful when used in its proper context. Toddlers do not have that context. Reading to your children ( real books not these e things), helping them learn things that children should learn (how to play, colors, language, behavior,etc) are things best done by an involved parent.
Long trips are an opportunity for children to identify cards and signs and local scenery. Somethings that have been around for decades. Technology for children in this age range is laziness on the parents part. It is no better than putting a video on the screen (at home or in the car) to keep their children occupied
Sorry but you do not have a clue as to what their parents do at other times. All of us spend time reading, etc to them and have ever since they were born. They go for walks in the park or neighborhood and the parents if the 5 year old take her on camping trips where they teach her things about nature. I doubt if very many city kids go camping and eat squirrel that was killed and dressed right before it was eaten. They were certain she would say yucky to the squirrel but she loved it. She had already eaten deer hours after it was killed and dressed. Guess the next thing is going to be turkey. Shoot, I thought my granddaughter would say no to the deer and squirrel but she loved it too. iPads are wonderful for these girls who soak up knowledge. The schools here in a high tech city have laptops for students and a lot of them have parents who think,they will break theirs so they go to school being behind at the start of school. My late husband who worked with computers when they were the size of refrigerators would be very happy that these 2 little girls have his interest in them. We all laugh when we remember how when they were 1 and 2 going to their grandmother who had her iPad out working saying, “puter, Mamie, puter.”. They love them and are learning so much. It is simply amazing how fast they learn but everyone teaches them. You may not like this but it works for all of us and we are thankful they have them. And, for your info, the adults involved with them are not lazy. Far from it.