No tablet - is it weird?

[NoTablet]

DS is 6. All his friends use a tablet at home. We've never let DS use ours (we barely use it ourselves) as I wouldn't even know where to start with it/what apps to use.

He has asked a couple of times if he can have a tablet for birthdays and Christmas. We don't want to get into debates about how long he can be on the tablet for so thought we'd not make it an option at all for as long as we can get away with it.

But I'm wondering if it's actually bad? I know they use tablets at school for learning and I wonder if he'll end up being the weird kid who doesn't know how to use it because he doesn't use one at home?

Will it hold him back? I wonder if we're depriving him of a life skill at this point!

No it won't hold him back. He'll soon learn at school. It doesn't take them long to pick it up

Not weird and won't hold him back. However I think a little bit of ipad time on age appropriate apps with parental controls in place isn't bad

My Dd 7 has access to an android tablet. I use Google family link to limit her time (30 minutes a day) I also control what apps she can access. Usually BBC apps, a few select games (not minecraft) and unlimited access to school apps (numbers, TT Rockstars and the like)

She doesn't always use her time everyday because we are busy or she may choose a bit of TV time.

It's important for me that she learns how to use ans control her usage of any type of media (gaming, ipad, tv) in a safe environment.

What life skill? Jabbing a screen? Or is it the swipe you are worried about?

It's fine, but there will come a time when he needs access to one and if you barely use it yourselves you could find you end up with him knowing how to use it better than you which is not a great situation, so you do need to start learning more about parental
controls etc.

I don't think it's weird particularly but I let DS do some of educational type games on my iPad and I've been amazed at how much they've helped him learn in some areas in a fun way. We have limits on it and monitor what he can access very closely but it's given him a different type of familiarity with letters and numbers which has been hugely beneficial to all the normal work he does on reading/maths etc

Oh god, hold off for as long as you can. He will soon be as screen obsessed as the rest of us.

I got my 2 YO an Amazon fire for the long 10 hour airplane ride. This would mostly be used for watching some cartoons, to make my life easier. But other than that his access is/ will be zero. I won't deprive him anything but I decide what he's getting and when.

6YO is old enough and should have some screen time.

Ours have only used one on a plane. But now the 5yo's school has recommended a couple of apps for literacy and numeracy, and they're easier and clearer for her on the tablet than a phone so she uses ours a couple of times a week for that.

Ours has to for homework, it's all done via an app and QR codes/uploaded. Those that didn't have tablets loan them from school

Also spellings and times tables use an app

I would get him one if he wants one. If you're concerned about screen time you call the shots with regards to that, although it can cause kick offs ( in my house anyway). I think once kids get to about 7 or 8, they start moving away from toys, although that probably is because of the introduction of tablets. Mine probably do use them quite a lot but I think as long as they are active outdoors and enjoy other activities they aren't that bad.

I presume you let him watch tv? It's pretty much the same. We let our kids use iPads and watch tv but we restrict the amount of time of screen time they're allowed. I actually think iPad gaming is better as they're actively using their brains rather than just passively watching tv but I don't have a massive problem with either.

Our DC 8 and 4 don't have tablets, they occasionally use our for homework apps and we use them to show films on long car journeys but other than that there is 0 need.

A lot of people use tablets for watching TV, listening to music etc.
Really in many households they are just another household piece of equipment like a TV, washing machine or toaster.
He doesn't need his own one at 6 but letting him use yours for a few (age appropriate and educational) games is fine.
He is probably asking for his own one because you don't let him use yours.

Of course it won't hold him back. The only thing he may miss out on is chatting to his friends about favourite games/programmes but that it's too a big deal at this age. My ds is 7 and doesn't have one and I don't think a lot of his friends do either.

You're doing the right thing. Mine is about to turn 6 and doesn't have a tablet. Our older one did have one sometimes for travel - if we were camping or staying with friends/family, then she could watch something on it, or on a long journey. But as a day to day thing around the house, no, it causes more angst than anything. I would say ours only really started to use one around the house 9/10 and that was to communicate with friends through messaging. Even that is a bloody nightmare. I'm sure a lot of 6 year olds do have tablets, but they are not missing out and they don't need them. Save yourself a few more years of angst around private settings and setting boundaries with use, because it's hell, truly.

No I don't think it's bad but I've never seen how it's any different to watching tv personally.

Interesting opinions, a lot of it resonates.

DS isn't that bothered, he's only asked a couple of times and I don't think he knows we have one. We only use it for browsing, paying bills etc, mostly once they are in bed.

I do actually think it's 'better' screen time than TV as some PPs have said so that is making me consider downloading a few learning apps and letting him use it for that.

I selfishly just want to save ourselves the angst but can see that it can be quite a useful learning tool as well.

We regularly drive 6+ hours to see family and have so far managed without a tablet, I'd like to carry on for as long as possible as it does encourage them to use their imagination a bit. I guess it's just about setting boundaries of where/when it can be used.

For context I work in tech so definitely not anti tech or tech illiterate but it's just not been a part of our routine. I appreciate the recommendation for apps and ways to limit screen time, I'm definitely going to look into it!

There are very young children for who jabbing at a screen is very much a life skill. One day I hope my little one will have a voice thanks to a tablet so he's had an iPad since he was 2 because the earlier he starts to learn to use one the better.

I think if your child is used to doing without, try and hold off the ipad for another while.. I do think it's a bit different to watching TV because there have been lots of studies showing a massive increase in myopia (short sightedness) among children associated with screens held up close, ie within arm's length. I'm sure using an ipad the odd time is fine but it's not a habit I'd want to get into while the eyes are still growing... it'll be different when he's older and pestering to get one because everyone else has one!

My kids have I pads (well family ones) but they are for watching tv on if we are travelling somewhere.

My eldest (10) will use it for listening to audio books sometimes but other than that they aren't used.

You won't hold him back if he doesn't have one. Also they will learn computer skills in school so don't worry.