Page 3 | Do you send your kids' iPads on playdates?!

Purpleturtle45 · 2026-07-31T17:34:38+00:00

This is doing my head in recently. Whenever my daughter (9) has a friend to play they bring their iPad (or equivalent). I have playdates to get them off a screen and wouldn't dream or sending her on a playdate with her tablet. I have 2 older kids and this was never a thing!

ShrinkyDinkyPetal · 31/07/2026 21:07

Tacky moron parents, that is totally unacceptable.

God help them if careers don't drastically change as these children will be unemployable.

mondaytosunday · 31/07/2026 20:59

Absolutely not.

Lonulum · 31/07/2026 20:55

Not the 14yo but the 11yo does.
They are both into minecrafy/roblox

Ohhhthedrama · 31/07/2026 20:42

jsfv · 31/07/2026 20:18

Shit parenting

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It's not shit parenting, it's letting the kids have some downtime with Friends. My kids have friends over all the time, especially right now on summer break. I'd say we have kids here playing at least 4 times a week. So they have lots of time to play different things and sometimes it ts tablets. Maybe playdates are less frequent in your house so more of an occasion. Here it's just a chance to hangout with friends not a formal invite for a day of structured educational activities.

Floppyearedlab · 31/07/2026 20:22

No, because I would never allow a child young enough for playdates near one.

Favouritefruits · 31/07/2026 20:21

No I don’t, and I’d be very annoyed if a child brought there’s here!

jsfv · 31/07/2026 20:20

Gowlett · 31/07/2026 20:03

There’s a generation coming up that will be kids who used tech from toddler-age to those who didn’t. The difference will be marked. It’s just a fact. I worry that DS won’t be tech-savvy, but I think later is better. He will eventually have a phone etc…

Tech is so user friendly these days that those that don’t have it from young won’t be at any disadvantage. It’s not like when we had to learn to problem solve IT issues/burn CDs/download songs etc.

jsfv · 31/07/2026 20:18

Ohhhthedrama · 31/07/2026 19:51

Yeah l, mine usually take their tablet and their friends bring tablets. Some games they like to play alongside each other. I don't dictate what they play when friends are over,.it's free time.

Shit parenting

YoQuieroVino · 31/07/2026 20:18

Bitzee · 31/07/2026 20:16

It’s a reconditioned 2018 model. Can’t remember how much it cost exactly but it was less than my carry on suitcase 🤣

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My suitcase was £17.99 from sports direct, not sure I’d get an iPad for less than that 😁

Bitzee · 31/07/2026 20:16

YoQuieroVino · 31/07/2026 19:59

To be fair you must be fairly wealthy to be able to afford an iPad each, especially one for a 5 year old who literally only uses it for travel! They’re not cheap.

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It’s a reconditioned 2018 model. Can’t remember how much it cost exactly but it was less than my carry on suitcase 🤣

Ohhhthedrama · 31/07/2026 20:13

My kids so lots of things when they have friends over. Swim in the pool, ride bikes, play basketball or football build Lego etc. Sometimes they just want to sit together and play DTI or Minecraft. What's so bad about that. When my friend comes over we lay on my bed a watch true crime docs. There's no right or wrong way to hang out with friends if.you enjoy the same things.

Everydayisdolmioday · 31/07/2026 20:13

Longtimelurker1980 · 31/07/2026 20:00

Your 13 and 15 year olds play? On play dates?!

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We don't call them playdates, but yes they play. Trampoline, board games, lego, climbing frame, baking etc. They use screens as well, my 15 year old and his friends like to play formula 1 on the x box, but mostly they like to play outside etc.

theneighbourhadaladder · 31/07/2026 20:04

Longtimelurker1980 · 31/07/2026 20:00

Your 13 and 15 year olds play? On play dates?!

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At that age, mine play football, tennis or rugby. Maybe that's what the poster meant

I have seen them in front of a game of chess once or twice, I was amazed they even managed to find it 😂

Gowlett · 31/07/2026 20:03

There’s a generation coming up that will be kids who used tech from toddler-age to those who didn’t. The difference will be marked. It’s just a fact. I worry that DS won’t be tech-savvy, but I think later is better. He will eventually have a phone etc…

theneighbourhadaladder · 31/07/2026 20:03

I have seen ipads materialised for sleepovers, but so far, not to playdates.

Kids or teens, the only screen that they take is phones.

lottiegarbanzo · 31/07/2026 20:01

Literally iPads, or any tablet? Why iPads specifically?

Longtimelurker1980 · 31/07/2026 20:00

Everydayisdolmioday · 31/07/2026 18:53

Oh my word, no! My 13 and 15 year olds with bring their phones but they will still mostly play without screens.

Your 13 and 15 year olds play? On play dates?!

YoQuieroVino · 31/07/2026 19:59

Bitzee · 31/07/2026 19:57

But as an adult I have a phone and laptop so don’t use an ipad and therefore in our house they very much ‘belong’ to the kids who have one each even if they are very restricted in when they can use them and what for (my 5YO literally only gets it for travel). DD9 in Y5 also has a school issued ipad so very much hers and not remotely mine. Yes it’s ridiculous (and sad IMO) for a child to take them on a playdate but nothing ridiculous about a child owning one, it’s really quite normal these days.

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To be fair you must be fairly wealthy to be able to afford an iPad each, especially one for a 5 year old who literally only uses it for travel! They’re not cheap.

Bitzee · 31/07/2026 19:57

Batties · 31/07/2026 18:49

I am referring to owning one, not having access to a family device.

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But as an adult I have a phone and laptop so don’t use an ipad and therefore in our house they very much ‘belong’ to the kids who have one each even if they are very restricted in when they can use them and what for (my 5YO literally only gets it for travel). DD9 in Y5 also has a school issued ipad so very much hers and not remotely mine. Yes it’s ridiculous (and sad IMO) for a child to take them on a playdate but nothing ridiculous about a child owning one, it’s really quite normal these days.

Bluehouse14 · 31/07/2026 19:54

Velumental · 31/07/2026 19:26

Do you have children?

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Yes I do. 7 and 4. I know 2 neighbours that let their 9 year olds take devices on playdates. They say 'it's awful isn't it, but they're all doing it'. I cannot fathom being so weakly led in my parenting that I succumb to such peer pressure. If one parents says no, perhaps others will also say no - judging by the sheep theory that seems to be occurring. If my future 9 year old is unable to think of a game or activity to play without a device, I would be absolutely horrified. And then we wonder why teen mental health is at an all time low? Madness. Lazy peer pressured parenting with terrible effects

YoQuieroVino · 31/07/2026 19:53

Gowlett · 31/07/2026 19:51

My six year old was just complaining to his pal that he didn’t want to go around to his house, as the pal will get his iPad out & ignore DS.

Yes, mine sometimes come back from play dates saying it was boring because their friends just wanted to watch TikToks or play Roblox.

Gowlett · 31/07/2026 19:51

My six year old was just complaining to his pal that he didn’t want to go around to his house, as the pal will get his iPad out & ignore DS.

Ohhhthedrama · 31/07/2026 19:51

Yeah l, mine usually take their tablet and their friends bring tablets. Some games they like to play alongside each other. I don't dictate what they play when friends are over,.it's free time.

Twinkylightsg · 31/07/2026 19:49

Nah, mine rather be doing something than being on the tablet. Like normal kids 🤔 why have a playdate if your just going to be on tech?

wishfulthinking25 · 31/07/2026 19:48

SIL’s kids have had a tablet/ipad genuinely from the age of 3 it’s mental. They have 0 social skills and the iPads come everywhere with them, feel sorry for them tbh