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Original poster

Should I just be glad she wrote the essay?

18 replies

Mailbag · 09/01/2022 15:21

DD was given a laptop to work on at the start of lockdown. She used it then and also asked if she could have Netflix etc on it “for sleepovers and stuff”. Said yes and we’ve only seen her occasionally since - not what laptop was bought for but fine, she’s a teenager and she can use it for that as well as work.

School has given all pupils in her year iPads. She had an essay to write to be finished for tomorrow and said she’d do it on the iPad. I said use your laptop for that - more comfortable, easier to type and useful to learn how to use Word properly. Ok, she said. Essay now done and she’s used the iPad. I’ve suggested if she doesn’t actually want to use the laptop for work then it can be passed on to DD2 who would otherwise having one bought for her soon. She can watch Netflix etc on our own IPad so no laptop doesn’t take that away from her.

Should I just be grateful that she wrote the essay?

OP posts:

RiaOverTheRainbow · 09/01/2022 15:27

Does she own the iPad or will she have to give it back? Are there any conditions about what it can be used for i.e. would she be allowed to use it for Netflix? If yes she could share the laptop with dd2, mostly use the iPad but be able to use the laptop for homework if she needs it.

accentdusoleil · 09/01/2022 15:28

Did she feel obliged to use the iPad for school work as school gave it to her ? (I may be overthinking it )

Original poster

Mailbag · 09/01/2022 15:33

She wouldn’t want to use the school iPad for Netflix etc but we have our own one that she could use so not having a laptop doesn’t mean she can’t still sit in her room and watch what she wants. I don’t think she feels obliged to use it for work, just thought it was easier to access her school OneDrive but I’m sure that can be done via the laptop or at least email the essay to herself and pick it up here (I know she can access her school email via the laptop) then send it back. Also useful to learn what to do there.

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Original poster

Mailbag · 09/01/2022 15:38

Am partially irritated because everywhere I’ve worked has sent out reminders of the importance of sitting correctly, monitor height etc and I don’t really see why the school focus on iPads rather than cheap netbooks. They don’t seem to use them for anything that could be done with a netbook and I think the latter would be more genuinely versatile and teach better skills.

OP posts:

Original poster

Mailbag · 09/01/2022 15:38

Keyboard skills that is

OP posts:

TheVanguardSix · 09/01/2022 15:39

What was her response to your idea on passing it on to her sibling? Is she not using it at all or is she actually using it 'for Netflix and stuff', terms you actually agreed to when buying the laptop? Sorry to be that poster, but it sounds like the laptop was purchased mainly as an entertainment device as opposed to a school assistance one.
If it is literally collecting dust, then it's totally reasonable to give it to your other DC. Maybe they can share the laptop, meaning your DD can use it during sleepovers (which are probably few and far between right now) and your other DC can have more use of the laptop for homework and things since your DD already has the iPad.

TheVanguardSix · 09/01/2022 15:41

You can get an iPad stand to place on a desk/tabletop. You can get a keyboard for the iPad.

Original poster

Mailbag · 09/01/2022 15:45

When she was given it she knew it was because we thought it would start becoming useful for school work. That’s why she was told he was getting it. It was obviously her access to the “classroom” during lockdown but that was primary reason given. She’s turned entertainment into her main use but she knew that wasn’t why it was bought.

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Original poster

Mailbag · 09/01/2022 15:48

She asked for Netflix a few days after getting and deliberately implied at the time it would be used for occasional purposes as she knew it had been bought primarily for school work.

OP posts:

Somuddled · 09/01/2022 22:23

I really don't understand why you care what device she uses. Sometimes I use my laptop, sometimes I use a tablet. If you don't want to shell out for a second laptop then do ask her to share it with her sibling.

EduCated · 09/01/2022 22:31

Does it actually matter?

As Vanguard said, if it’s collecting dust, then fair enough. I guess I’m not entirely following what your complaint actually is - that she spends too much time on it? That she spends the wrong time on it? Is she doing any school work on it?

Are you in a position where you can’t really afford a laptop for DD2? How did she react to the suggestion of passing it on?

Idontgiveagriffindamn · 09/01/2022 22:46

I don’t think it matters what device she is using to write the essay. She might find it easier to use the iPad for various reasons.
If she’s using the laptop I don’t think you can take it off her. If she’s not then give it to her sister.

HairyScaryMonster · 09/01/2022 22:53

I think make sure the laptop can access the same school things as the iPad and insist the next essay is done on it. She really should be sitting correctly at a desk with a separate keyboard and laptop raiser but even if she does it cross legged in bed, a laptop is better. Once it's as easy to submit and she's had a go, I might let it go, but until she's tried it, she won't know how much easier it is.

tobypercy · 09/01/2022 23:01

Pick your battles.
She wrote the essay, insisting she use the laptop for it would be micromanagement and wouldn't end well.

RunningFromInsanity · 09/01/2022 23:04

Was the laptop a gift? If so, it would be quite unfair to take it back.

Can she access Netflix on any other device?

If it was bought specifically for school work and not as a present then I think having it as a family laptop for a school work etc would be reasonable.

Original poster

Mailbag · 10/01/2022 00:11

Thanks for your views. The laptop was brought for school work.?I’ll check ease of access.

OP posts:

SaltedCaramelHC · 10/01/2022 07:07

How is she writing the essay on the iPad? She can use a keyboard, yes, which helps - but it's really hard to use the touch screen or arrows instead of a mouse, and I find that students end up doing much less editing of things they've written on iPads, because it's harder to get back to the right place, or to copy and paste things etc without a mouse. It's possible, of course, but it's much more of a faff, so they often just end up leaving things that could have been better, which isn't a great habit to get in to.

So for that reason, I'd be encouraging her to use a laptop in future.

MiddleParking · 10/01/2022 07:18

If it’s easier to access her school onedrive from their device I can see why she’d just use that for a piece of homework. I’m not really sure why it’s something that bothers you or that you’d punish her for. If you take her laptop away she definitely won’t end up sitting ‘correctly’ to do her homework, ever.

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