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Original poster

Does anyone else have no tablets/iPads/screens etc for their children?

249 replies

WellErrr · 04/07/2019 13:13

Mine haven’t had screens, ever. And they won’t be until they can buy their own.
However - as they’re getting older, more and more people are pressuring me to get them. Apparently they need them for educational purposes and to not be the odd one out at school. I don’t agree.

But then I got thinking - I don’t know any other children without them. Is there anyone else out there with screen-free children??

OP posts:
InDubiousBattle · 04/07/2019 13:19

Mine are only little (3 and 5) so aren't anywhere near having their own (though some of the friends do, usually a parents old one)but they watch tv, maybe 20 minutes a day on a week day. We will download lego instructions on our tablets for him though, but I don't see how that's much different to reading them. When they get older we will certainly allow them to use them though, what is your specific objection? You must see some benefit since you must be using one right now after all?

Benes · 04/07/2019 13:22

I'm really interested in what your objections are too as they are considered to provide a number of educational benefits and the drawbacks are often misinterpreted or wildly exaggerated.

BloggersNet · 04/07/2019 13:24

Don't think I know anyone who doesn't have some access to tablet/smartphone/laptop/computer. I think it is important that kids learn how to use tech safely.

moreismore · 04/07/2019 13:27

Don’t they use screens at school anyway?

Whoops75 · 04/07/2019 13:27

I think bring the odd one out is far worse than a bit of screen time.

Borris · 04/07/2019 13:32

Mine (aged 8) doesn’t have any screens of her own. But can have up to 30 minutes screen time in an evening while I’m cooking tea. She loses this for bad behaviour!

RiftGibbon · 04/07/2019 13:34

My DC doesn't have their own iPad/screen because
a)It's not essential
b)We can't afford it

We have a computer, and where necessary, it can be used for school work/educational games.

Chipandpotato · 04/07/2019 13:35

I think it’s really important that children, especially older children do have access to screens tbh.
My 7 year old is already learning computer programming at school and tablets are used a lot in the classroom.
I think your children are growing up in an age where being computer literate will be just as important as having maths, science and English literacy as they get older as virtually everything these days involves using IT.

There’s also the social side of things and while I don’t think children should be glued to their phones I think that teenagers needs to fit in and like it or not, they probably will get ribbed for not having access to tablets and phones when all their peers do and they might even miss out on things because teenagers use social media and text messaging to arrange things.

My personal opinion is that safe use of technology is better than no technology.

nelsonmuntzslingshot · 04/07/2019 13:39

I didn't let mine have tablet screens/ipad until they started school. There is a big expectation at their school that they can access online learning resources, Spelling Shed, TT Rockstars etc.

Bumpitybumper · 04/07/2019 13:39

I really don't understand the benefit of having no screens etc whatsoever. I think the old mantra "everything in moderation" is relevant here and I just think you risk making these things seem more exciting and intriguing than they actually are. My children have a bit of screen time everyday and aren't particularly fussed about it. I could easily remove it altogether but I choose not to.

Ohyesiam · 04/07/2019 13:40

It is very addictive. My kids get 90 minutes a day, but they are for ever trying to get more.

They didn’t have screens till they went to secondary, where they had to have iPads, paid for by the school if parents can’t afford it. They were aiming to be a paperless school, but thankfully have given up on that.

Solasum · 04/07/2019 13:41

My 5yo could type his name before he could write it, and is learning coding at school. He also has an (old) iPad. It is completely locked down, and he uses it with strict time limits. Often he wanders off before his time is up anyway. I grew up without screens when everyone else had them (though mostly TV and game boy in those days) and it was one of many reasons I didn’t ever quite fit in.

It is possible to have a middle ground between glued to a screen and none.

Original poster
WellErrr · 04/07/2019 13:42

Yes they have them at school. I’d rather they didn’t.

My objections to them are mainly that they promote sitting still and being boring rather than getting outside and enjoying life. I can’t stand seeing tubby children staring into screens and grunting when you say hello.
Honestly, I may be accused of being smug for this (I certainly don’t mean to be!) but my children play for hours with models, playmobil, cars etc, making little worlds, or playing outside in the garden. Friends and family children who have tablets don’t do this in my experience. They tend to play for a bit, then pester for the tablet, then sit on the tablet staring into it and not interacting with anyone else.

Again - this is in my experience. I think there’s a direct link between increasingly sedentary lifestyles for children, and children getting fatter.

OP posts:
JustAnotherPoster00 · 04/07/2019 13:43

WellErr do you allow your children to use electricity, indoor plumbing, transport that uses an internal combustion engine, modern medicine? I'm just wondering how much achievements of human progress do you allow your children to access

theneverendinglaundry · 04/07/2019 13:44

I'd be interested to know how old your children are, OP!

This kind of thing only gets harder to police as they get older. Mine have access to screens but I have parental controls on my phone which limits their time and what apps/websites they can access.

I personally don't see a problem as long as it is in moderation.

Original poster
WellErrr · 04/07/2019 13:44

It is very addictive. My kids get 90 minutes a day, but they are for ever trying to get more.

This can’t be good for them?? Don’t mean to single you out sorry!

OP posts:
MarshaBradyo · 04/07/2019 13:47

How old are your dc?

Original poster
WellErrr · 04/07/2019 13:47

WellErr do you allow your children to use electricity, indoor plumbing, transport that uses an internal combustion engine, modern medicine? I'm just wondering how much achievements of human progress do you allow your children to access

Yes, but they don’t need to stare into a lightbulb for an hour a day to gain the benefit.

OP posts:
Original poster
WellErrr · 04/07/2019 13:47

They’re 7, 4 and 3

OP posts:
MarshaBradyo · 04/07/2019 13:49

I think you’re fine then. Ds has to do homework on his lap top (at 14)

But at that age if you can, carry on

Original poster
WellErrr · 04/07/2019 13:51

I think homework would be ok. They’re not going to pester for that are they, or sit staring into it for hours 😂

OP posts:
JustAnotherPoster00 · 04/07/2019 13:52

You're preparing them for a future they're going to be incompatible for, I agree that screen times should have a limit but to remove them completely seems unfair on their development in todays society. If your children enjoy going to the park does that mean they get to stay there for as long as like whenever they like?

MarshaBradyo · 04/07/2019 13:53

You’ve got ages til then, hold off for as long as you can I say!

Brilliant they can entertain themselves

Ds, who’s 9, gets limited screen time and does use it to learn stuff on his own accord, maths even, but also watches funny stuff. 7 is still pretty young

Pinkmalinky · 04/07/2019 13:58

What about in school? I know my DC’s school has ipads, laptops and also they watch the occasional film as a treat. How extreme do you take this, are they not allowed to watch movies? Do homework on a computer?

I remember watching a video last year showing an experiment with toddlers who had regular exposure to a tablet vs ones who did not. The ones who did had superior motor skills, just saying.

I think limiting screen time is fine, restricting it all together is farfetched.

Kazzyhoward · 04/07/2019 14:02

Honestly, I may be accused of being smug for this (I certainly don’t mean to be!) but my children play for hours with models, playmobil, cars etc, making little worlds, or playing outside in the garden. Friends and family children who have tablets don’t do this in my experience. They tend to play for a bit, then pester for the tablet, then sit on the tablet staring into it and not interacting with anyone else.

Not sure why you think they can't play outside just because they have a tablet? Surely it's all about parental control and involvement. If a parent allows a child to sit all day on a tablet, then that's their fault, not the tablet's! Personally, I think the benefits of using tablets etc far outweighs the downsides - but only if properly managed.

My son uses his to supplement his school work, i.e. if he doesn't understand a particular topic, often because he only has one scrappy worksheet or a single textbook, he'll just google for online videos explaining it. Surely that's fair better than just thinking he's dim because he can't understand it and just accepting it. He achieved a A* disctinction in his further maths GCSE (the only one in his school!) mostly by watching youtube video tutorials as he personally found his school maths teacher wasn't good at explaining.

Used and managed properly, they're brilliant, but like anything else, abuse and disengaged parents will produce a different outcome!