AIBU to think that a 3,5 year old shouldn't have his own IPad?

[NJE]

I'm a nanny. I just started my new job last Monday, I look after a boy who is 3,5 years old and has his own IPad and is allowed to play with it every day when he wants to. AIBU for thinking that a 3,5 year old shouldn't have his own IPad or play with it at all?! P.S: He can't dress himself though but uses his IPad without any problems at all :D

Glad I don't move in those circles! The poor DCs.

why poor dc?absence or presence of ipad doesn't equate to childhood happiness

but hey its their money and if they want wee boy to have it,up to them

i barely let mine near remote controls let alone an ipad

damn i gotta get invited to those parties jess

I've heard of shuffles being given out but not ipads. Think that is a party bag too far

I'm not sure which circles your referring to Jess, but this sounds very urban mythesque complete bollocks

The shuffles is entirely true. Personally I think handing out £50 mp3 players is horribly OTT in itself - don't think it matters really if they're those or ipads really does it? It's still gross

i've not read all the threads but i'm totally against any "technology" for under 5's and even more limited for over that age! They should be doing all the other stuff we did as kids. Im not against such things, (i'm an IT teacher) but there's so much more time for these things as they get older and i just think the whole thing is lazy parenting. My kids (age 3 and 5) knacker me out making dens, role play, play doh, colouring etc but i would never resort to play stations, phones etc - i'm not even going to let them near a laptop til they need to for school - by which point they can actually read the buttons/menus they need to click! I don't see any educational value that can't be achieved the good old fashioned way - most people i know who let their kids use such things do so to keep them 'entertained'. So i totally agree with you and would hate to be in your position - just make the most of the time you have them doing more creative and social activities!

BambiandThumper, it's true, believe me. It doesn't happen in my neighbourhood but it happened to a friend of a friend.

Rather a lot of wealthy Russian children at the party.

Wowzers, I am completely and utterly amazed by the number of posters on here who see nothing wrong with 3 year olds using/owning ipads and the justification that children grow up in a technological world so need to be able to use it is completely fallacious. If it's easy enough for a three year old to use then they will no doubt find it easy to grasp at the age of seven. Just lunacy. The internet wasn't around until I was 21 & yet, somehow I am completely comfortable with it - incredible. It is not inevitable that we become completely enmeshed with technology, it is merely a useful tool & to focus on it as 'the future' at the expense of all else is foolish. Grr, rant, rant.....

I knew the shuffle thing was true, as my niece got one at an 8th birthday party, and some girls higher up the DT's school gave them away as well. I'm just very surprised at an ipad, i'd have thought most people would have some subtlety not be so nouveau

And you don't think giving away Shuffles in party bags is a bit nouveau?

Wealthy Russians living in London aren't exactly renowned for their subtlety.

see i dont move in those circles.us scots are cannier wi the weans money

We live in a very 'wealthy' area of London, but the few Russians we know are very big on their DC working to get treats like ipads, so yes they would react as you and I have to ipads in party bags.

Not every Russian family in Chelsea Abromovich's.

Bambi, chill out, just because it doesn't happen on your doorstep doesn't mean it cannot happen at all!

man it beats gateaux in a bag and a balloon.jess i want heads up invite please!

If I can wangle an invitation you can be my plus 1 ScottishMummy

Don't hold your breath though, we'll make do with cake and balloons.

haha damn tootin,sounds a riot,count me in

'Poor DCs'-because it is too much too soon. Let them have a childhood!

Yeah, because you can't play on an iPad and do normal 3 year old things. You have to sign a document to waive your entitlement to imaginative play or running about and email it to Steve Jobs. FGS.

dont think ipad steals childhood it is just a gadget and if used responsibly,why not?

my kids have ipod shuffles

DS (almost 4) has an iPad. It's actually his Dad's but DH barely uses it now. Time on it is limited, just like TV time, Leapster time etc is. His 20 month old sister also 'explores' it. Where's the problem?
OP I don't think YABU if your charge is being allowed to use it whenever/wherever they want, but as a supervised and controlled activity, I do think the iPad has a place. Just because ds uses technology doesn't mean he doesn't do 'normal' activities. Just yesterday he and his sister were having the time of their lives with a cardboard box, 2 chairs and a blanket tent!

Think the whole bit about technology = loss of childhood doesn't hold up tbh. See this before with regards to a DS, games console, anything electrical.

I wouldn't give a 3y their own iPad but I see nothing wrong with them using one a bit.

Of course it won't affect their childhood if they only use it a bit. They are not exclusive to other activities. Most children I know manage to carry out many different games and activities happily.

TBH, as I said previously, I would be worried about a child doing any one activity all the time - doesn';t matter if it is playing on an iPad, reading a book or only ever playing with one spfific toy. If it is so often it is at the expence of other axctivities then it can't be a good thing.

I'm not stressd Jess, I just don't think you can generalise about all Russians in London.

she can generalise about ones who give ipads at parties though