Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

how old are your kids and have they got a lap top/own computer and/or mobile phone?

32 replies

hatwoman · 14/02/2011 18:56

not really sure if education is the right place to ask ...but I am thinking about secondary school and wondering how much secondary school kids need to use a computer for homework etc. and the mobile phone bit is just out of interest really. we have two computers in the house but dh and I both work from home and so we tend to be on them a lot of the time.

OP posts:
cat64 · 14/02/2011 19:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

seimum · 14/02/2011 19:42

DCs got phones (cheap PAYG ones) when they went to secondary. DD2 (17) recently got a fancier one with internet access etc (instead of a pocket money increase).

They have always used the home computers (but we have 3) - DD1 got her own laptop for her 18th when she went to university, and so will DD2.

I've found they don't actually need to use the computer that much for homework (maybe 1/2 hour a night) until they get to having to write GCSE/A level coursework etc.

And it's best to supervise to make sure that homework is actually happening.

Marjoriew · 14/02/2011 19:28

Grandson is 11 and has his own laptop since he was 7. He's HE and uses it quite a lot.
He's only allowed to use it in the sitting room where I can supervise him.

Snorbs · 14/02/2011 19:25

DS is 12. He got a PAYG mobile phone for his birthday just after he started at secondary.

He uses the family computer for homework as that way I can keep an eye on what he does on it. He'll need to be a lot older before I let him have a laptop he can use without supervision. He does roughly half his homework on the computer.

bellavita · 14/02/2011 19:19

DS1 nearly 14 got a mobile before secondary and we bought him a laptop for Christmas in Yr7. He is taking music as a GCSE and we will be buying him an iMac.

Ds2 who is 11 has had a mobile and a net book si ce Yr5

PixieOnaLeaf · 14/02/2011 19:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

generalhaig · 14/02/2011 19:10

ds1 had a cheap PAYG mobile when he went to secondary as he had a train journey and we needed to know if his train was cancelled or delayed. After keeping it safe for a year he got a slightly better PAYG version as a reward for doing well in his end of year exams - he's just had his first 'proper' phone as a 14th birthday present.

He'd love a laptop but he doesn't actually need it that much for homework and I only want him using the internet on the home computer in the living room as that way I can keep an eye on what he's doing, so I've told him that when he can afford to buy his own he can have one - seeing as he wants a Mac Air it'll be a cold day in hell Grin