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Original poster

Would you let a 5 year old unplug an item?

83 replies

sunnyshoresgalore · 05/07/2019 17:47

That really... if you had a tablet plugged into socket to recharge and a 5 year old wanted it, would you tell them to go and unplug it?

OP posts:
Saucery · 05/07/2019 17:47

No.

MamaOfBothTeams · 05/07/2019 17:48

Nope

HappyintheHills · 05/07/2019 17:48

If it was a switched output I would tell them to switch off then unplug

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5 year olds Behaviour & development
Seeline · 05/07/2019 17:48

As long as they had been taught about switching off the supply and not sticking their fingers in the socket, yes.

SparklesandFlowers · 05/07/2019 17:49

Surely they could pull out the charger cable, rather than going near the socket?

MrsPussinBoots · 05/07/2019 17:49

Yes, as long as they're not holding a drink.

toottootchuggachugga · 05/07/2019 17:49

Yes? Why on earth not?

Baguetteaboutit · 05/07/2019 17:49

Yes.

winefortea · 05/07/2019 17:49

To unplug the tablet from the charger or the charger from the wall. If it was just disconnecting the charger from the tablet then I would, not so sure about the plug from the wall though.

confusedandemployed · 05/07/2019 17:50

5? Yes of course.

Isadora2007 · 05/07/2019 17:50

Yes.

Soola · 05/07/2019 17:50

Yes. At five they should be more than capable of doing so.

Apolloanddaphne · 05/07/2019 17:51

Yes of course I would. I would teach them how to do it properly.

BarkandCheese · 05/07/2019 17:51

No, little fingers can get between the socket and the plug and touch the pins while there is still power flowing through them. I’d let them unplug the device from the charger cable though, that’s perfectly safe.

lilpumpsmum · 05/07/2019 17:51

Yes.

Is this a trick question?

WoollyMummoth · 05/07/2019 17:52

Nope

RiddleyW · 05/07/2019 17:52

I don’t think my nearly 5 year old would have the strength actually. He could certainly pull the charger out the tablet.

SprogletsMum · 05/07/2019 17:52

My 2 year old is obsessed with unplugging everything so can't see the problem.

Stayawayfromitsmouth · 05/07/2019 17:53

I allow my 5yo to plug the cable in and out of the tablet port.

HeadsDownThumbsUpEveryone · 05/07/2019 17:57

I don't see why it would be a problem in either situation. Whether pulling the charger out of the wall or pulling the cable out of the Ipad it is not something to worry about let alone question and I'm baffled some posters have said no. Exactly what harm will they be encountering in this oh so dangerous of tasks?

steppemum · 05/07/2019 17:58

yes, as long as they had been shown how (eg don't pull on lead, turn switch off etc)

sockets are designed to be safe and no reason not to teach them how to do a simple thing!

Witchend · 05/07/2019 18:00

Yes. Taught them all to unplug safely by that age. Only exception would be if it was a plug that was tough to get it out of.

steppemum · 05/07/2019 18:00

and by the way, you can't get a shock just from sticking something into a socket, because of the earth block, you would need to stick something into the top hole, then, while keeping that there, stick something metal (plastic wouldn't do it) into the live hole.
It is actually very hard to do.
Which is why socket guards are not recommended at all, and it annoys me that schools etc still use them!

(Uk sockets only)

Haggisfish · 05/07/2019 18:01

Yes

hsegfiugseskufh · 05/07/2019 18:02

Yes. Even my 3yo knows which bits he cannot touch

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