Buying an (almost) 4 yo a tablet? Mistake?

[Kara198]

I have 2 x DS, at Christmas they'll be almost 6 and almost 4.
6 year old is desperate for a tablet, he has played a few games on his cousin's and really enjoyed it and I do feel like now is probably the right time.
However I know that my 4 year old will just constantly be trying to take it off him if he doesn't have one too.
We've never really been into tech. We have Disney + and the boys will watch films but aren't really into TV too much and spend most of their time outside or playing with their toys.
I've ordered them both the Kids Amazon Fire tablets for Xmas but am now having a massive wobble that I'm going to spend the rest of my days arguing with them over their tablet usage.
How do others combat this and make it a non-issue?
I sometimes feel like mine are the only ones who don't have them and I don't want them being left behind but am doubting my decision especially with my youngest!
Any advice here?
Thanks

It's fine. I gave my 4yo a tablet in the summer. As with TV time, we limit it. He has a visual timer that we can use. And I think there are settings on the tablet too where it can turn off automatically after a certain time.

You can still control the tablets. Just because they own them, doesn't mean they get to use them whenever they like. Set some really simple boundaries your 2 year old can understand, like no tablet before lunch or only 30 mins on a timer, once a day.

But I also think it's fine to say that in your family, you only get a tablet at a certain age. Whatever rules you set you can implement, as long as they are simple and consistent. Ours had turns on the family tablet when they were small, and got their own for their 9th birthdays... but this was a few years ago.

The amazon fire tablets have great parent controls. You can set a milt for daily use and after that the tablet will automatically lock the screen. (you will still be able to unlock it if needed with a password)

Time limit not milt!

Set expectations as soon as they get it.

Screen time limits, whether they'll lose it if they misbehave or throw a strop if you tell them to put the tablet down..

Be nice and clear with your boundaries and you'll be fine. My 6yo DD has an iPad and has had it since she was 3 - she loves listening to music on YouTube, learning how to do dances and Cosmic Yoga.
Plus there's a good few games on there that she likes.

I put my foot down when she first got it, and was quite strict in the beginning so now when she's told to put it down, she does.

It will be fine, just set the ground rules from the start about how long/what it's to be used for and stick to them.
My DCs are 7 and 5yo, but they've had a tablet since DC1 was about 2yo. Ours doesn't get used a huge amount, but each DC generally gets 2 x half hour a week whilst waiting for the other to do an activity. It is also brought out for particularly long car journeys (eg to the south of France). We have a number of educational apps, plus a few logic and fun age appropriate apps. Sometimes we download a film onto it, but usually stick with the apps. YouTube isn't allowed under any circumstances (because it's very hard to monitor unless you can both see and hear it, which defeats the point of why they have been handed it!), and when asked to hand it over they must do so quickly without grumbles or it won't be making an appearance again for a while. They know it is for use out of the house, and don't ask for it at home (they prefer TV). It sounds strict written down, but it's worked well for us and struck a good balance.

This is great, thanks everyone. I will persevere and just be firm from the start. I know how easily I get distracted with my phone and it's hard to put it down and I'm an adult, I cant expect them to regulate their usage themselves but I just don't want it to be a battle all the time!
Thanks again