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Original poster

Why oh why are people giving their under 12s tablets?

462 replies

Bigpinksweater · 12/10/2025 20:24

The evidence regarding the effects of tablets on developing brains is damning. They are absolutely not necessary and barely existed 15 years ago. We are seeing huge rises in behavioural and developmental issues while steadfastly ignoring the fact screen time and in particular tablets can contribute to virtually all of them.

Why oh why are people still handing their toddlers and primary school children tablets?

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Original poster
Bigpinksweater · 12/10/2025 20:32

AnonSugar · 12/10/2025 20:31

Every school child from Primary 6 to the end of high school so age 9+ is now being given an iPad in Scotland.

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I’m truly lost for words

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Original poster
Bigpinksweater · 12/10/2025 20:31

PinkyFlamingo · 12/10/2025 20:30

Lots of things "barely existed" 15 years ago.

Yes but my point is they’re not something which has become such a long term part of our life and culture that to remove them would cause genuine disruption, like the TV.

OP posts:
AnonSugar · 12/10/2025 20:31

Bigpinksweater · 12/10/2025 20:28

What?!

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Every school child from Primary 6 to the end of high school so age 9+ is now being given an iPad in Scotland.

Polyestered · 12/10/2025 20:31

ShenandoahRiver · 12/10/2025 20:30

There was a thread yesterday from a poster whose 5 year old has an iPad for 30 hours over a weekend.

for 15 hours a day!?!?

Original poster
Bigpinksweater · 12/10/2025 20:30

Polyestered · 12/10/2025 20:29

What did they say? Did they allow that? I don’t particularly believe in that kind of home work for her age anyway (obviously reading) but they only get their house points if they have done it on the app!

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That’s awful. They didn’t say anything to us - DD is on track attainment wise so maybe they didn’t want to pick that particular battle. Obviously we read to her and we do maths and English books together, the type you can buy from WH Smith.

OP posts:
ShenandoahRiver · 12/10/2025 20:30

There was a thread yesterday from a poster whose 5 year old has an iPad for 30 hours over a weekend.

PinkyFlamingo · 12/10/2025 20:30

Lots of things "barely existed" 15 years ago.

Polyestered · 12/10/2025 20:29

Bigpinksweater · 12/10/2025 20:28

Ours is too, I just said we didn’t have a tablet and wouldn’t buy one. I’m a complete conformist usually but I felt very irked by it.

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What did they say? Did they allow that? I don’t particularly believe in that kind of home work for her age anyway (obviously reading) but they only get their house points if they have done it on the app!

Original poster
Bigpinksweater · 12/10/2025 20:28

AnonSugar · 12/10/2025 20:27

My primary age child has an iPad from the Scottish government… 🤷‍♀️

What?!

OP posts:
Original poster
Bigpinksweater · 12/10/2025 20:28

Polyestered · 12/10/2025 20:27

Our school homework for my 5 year old / year 1child has to be done on a tablet. It’s an app. It’s a nightmare.

Ours is too, I just said we didn’t have a tablet and wouldn’t buy one. I’m a complete conformist usually but I felt very irked by it.

OP posts:
AnonSugar · 12/10/2025 20:27

My primary age child has an iPad from the Scottish government… 🤷‍♀️

Polyestered · 12/10/2025 20:27

Our school homework for my 5 year old / year 1child has to be done on a tablet. It’s an app. It’s a nightmare.