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Original poster

Is a laptop a suitable present from Gran to a 5 year old?

31 replies

twistedficus · 05/11/2010 07:14

Its that same old Christmas problem. How to not appear ungrateful whilst keeping our son sheltered from consumerism for as longvas possible?
We have got him lego from Ebay but she really wants to buy him a laptop. DH doesnt see any problem as we dont have a desktop but if a laptop this year will he demand more and more in future?
We try very hard to avoid the I want / I need attitude of his cousins........

OP posts:
MrsSnaplegs · 05/11/2010 07:20

We have said no to laptop for our DD (5) from grandma this year specifically saying she can't read properly yet and won't be able to use it unsupervised . What about a DS or a leapfrog tag reading system instead?

onceamai · 05/11/2010 07:26

Why does she want to buy him a laptop? It's a very kind offer if a little misguided. How about trying to reach a compromise such as he won't be able to use it yet and might well break it, so could he have a smaller present with the balance spent on something like premium bonds for a year or two which will give the chance of a prize and the money will be there to cash up when he does need a lap top. Would love to see the look on the cousin's faces if he wins a million Smile.

diddl · 05/11/2010 07:27

What use would he get from it?

Lotkinsgonecurly · 05/11/2010 07:31

I would think it would be a great present. Could you not suggest its a family present. Therefore no one else gets anything else from Grandma if consumerism and amounts spent are an issue?

It could be something you could play with together. Ds (would love his own computer) learnt to pretty much read using starfall.com with me.

We have net nanny so cannot go on anything we don't want.

crockydoodle · 05/11/2010 07:32

No 5 year old needs a laptop but that doesn't mean they don't enjoy using them. My 5 yr old can turn it on, get the internet on AND FIND games such as cbeebies games, painting games and girls dressing up all by herself. Although she is only learning to read, she is catching on very quickly.
If gran wants to buy a laptop, i would let her go ahead. My dd has learnt a lot from educational games. Your child will soon be able to read anyway.

As for consumerism, a child of this age has no concept of the value of a laptop

jabberwocky · 05/11/2010 07:34

How about an iPad? There are lots of cool apps that even young children can easily access. Kids are using computers at a younger and younger age now. Ds2 has computer class once a week in pre-K 3 (we are in US, he is in the 3 year old class).

diddl · 05/11/2010 07:42

Doesn´t he need a bike?

Simbacatlives · 05/11/2010 07:47

A leap pad is a complete waste of money for a 5 year old. They will outgrow it in minutes- it's value is highly limited- it's just an electronic toy.

They will be using pcs at school. From y1 homework may well involve Internet or using a package to write/ do homework etc

It's a great present. Ict is an essential part of everyday life- children will need it just as much as books or writing ( if not more) in the future.

She will be giving him a great head start in his education. Do you want to deprive him of that?

TheGrumpalo · 05/11/2010 07:49

No, I don't think so. I don't think 5 is an appropriate age and think she would be better suited to something aimed at children.

I was supervising my daughter online not so long ago, she is 6, she was looking for PAINTING GAMES. A slight misspelling and google results for girls in pants and all sorts came up! Thankfully I was sitting right next to her and made sure she didn't click on anything but I don't let her on very often now. It just takes a slight mistake and god knows what you can get access to.

There are plenty of childrens laptop type things out there that she could play with all on her own.

TheGrumpalo · 05/11/2010 07:50

Surely there is plenty of time to get one to help with school work? When they are old enough to know how to use it!

piscesmoon · 05/11/2010 07:55

I would have thought that she could have waited until he was 15yrs! Much better to get something that he can play with.

Simbacatlives · 05/11/2010 08:00

3 year olds use computers at school. It is a life skill learnt alongside reading , writing , counting etc

A five year old can she a laptop on their own, switch on, out in DVD, p,ay games ( including Lego fab games). They can also access Internet if you want etc. All without adult help or support. They do it everyday in good schools who want to ensure that children are preapared for life.

As adults we use computers everyday- when did you last handwrite anything more than a page?

moogster1a · 05/11/2010 08:02

we got one for DS a few months ago when he was still 3. He loves it. He gets himself onto cbeebies and Crayola. We've loaded a load of charlie and lola's on etc. which are a godsend on journeys.
He can also get on the word processing. He chooses the font colour, size ( huge, obviously!) and types away merrily. He's learnt to spell his own name, mummy, daddy, and about a dozen other words. It's great as his motor skills can make writing tricky for him ( not that we don't encourage "real" writing with him.). But using a netbook, he can see the writing coming up on the screen.
He likes copying from his books and typing it in.
I also agree that he has no concept of the cost. I think he assumes that the giant crane thing we got him is more expensive 'cos it's bigger.
The other advantage is we have a spare netbook if ours goes wrong or we both want to use it once he's in bed.
As for the dodgy internet, set the parental security limits.
I'd say get a netbook, it does everything a laptop does except a dvd drive, and it's light enopugh for a little one to cope with,
All in all, nice Grandma, bite her hand off!

buttonmoon78 · 05/11/2010 08:02

I think it's a little overdone TBH.

We have one laptop between 5 of us aged 3 to 35. The children are able to do their homework adequately. All it means is that sometimes they cannot google / youtube / msn as much as they'd like as DH or I have first call.

Which is no bad thing Grin

MrsVincentPrice · 05/11/2010 08:09

I'd ask for one as a family present, but agree that a 5 year old would get a lot of use out of it - DD was word-processing homework and thankyou letters at 5/6 and still loves "painting" software.

piscesmoon · 05/11/2010 09:47

I would keep them off it for as long as possible-short bursts on the family one are quite adequate.

Fernie3 · 05/11/2010 10:21

We are getting our 6 year old a computer for Christmas but we know she will enjoy it. Nothing wrong with getting him a computer as long as he enjoys it.

onadietcokebreak · 05/11/2010 10:27

The pad on a laptop really hurts my hand. Please make sure the children use a mouse if you do get one!

scareprudence · 05/11/2010 10:30

If you don't have a PC in the house, then a laptop is quite a good idea as your son will be asked to use it for homework as he moves through school (if at school, of course).

If you want to avoid him wanting presents of similar or greater value in future, then now is also a good time - the value means nothing to him now, but might be more apparent in a couple of years.

I agree it is an unbelievably generous present though - I'm assuming the grandparent can easily afford it, otherwise it's not on at all.

Ariesgirl · 05/11/2010 10:31

No! Absolutely not.

badfairy · 05/11/2010 10:31

Whilst I have not yet got to the point of buying 5 year old DS a laptop of his own all his homework is set on it by the school via an educational website so he is on it at least 20 minutes a day for that and then probably a couple of times a week longer than that if he wants to play games as well.

FindingGuysMojo · 05/11/2010 10:34

I'd suggest she gets him an ipad instead - apparently great for young kids!

badfairy · 05/11/2010 10:37

......and I mean't to say I would have no objection to Granny buying my DS a laptop, what a nice granny :)

emptyshell · 05/11/2010 10:39

I know a 5 year old who got one and it was made very clear he was responsible for charging it when it was finished being used, keeping it safe, carrying it carefully, he's got to type his name as a log-in (it's set as his windows password basically) and he is incredibly sensible and mature using it - it's really taught him that aspect of life in addition to the IT stuff.

Lynli · 05/11/2010 10:41

I bought my DS a laptop for his 5th birthday.
He is 10 this month and still has it.

He can build a website and create online games.

I think it is the world our DCs live in, and I would not under estimate what they are capable of.

The information and education tools available on line is a definite bonus to any DCs education.

with proper parental control it can only be a bonus.