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Original poster

To buy my 5 year old a netbook?

126 replies

AmazingBouncingFerret · 22/07/2011 21:06

My DS is going to be 5 in December. DH and I have been musing over the idea of his own little netbook type thing.

We only have the one laptop and DH work one. So there is no family type computer for him to play on.

I can't think of anything else that wouldnt be a complete waste of money tbh.

He has a huge amount of toys that he is very happy with and he is not into anything specific. (I know that could change between now and his birthday)

Is it too big and expensive a present for someone so young?

Has anyone else's 5yr old got one?

OP posts:
BulletWithAName · 23/07/2011 08:36

I can't actually believe that people would buy an iPad or a laptop/netbook for a child under the age of 10. Seriously?! Mine will be using the family PC and that's that.

MrsGravy · 23/07/2011 09:09

I may be missing something obvious here but why can't he just use the laptop you already have? We 'just' have the one laptop and my 4 and 6 year old use it from time to time. As for other kids in reception all having a ds, i'm not sure it would bother a child that age, my 6 yo is probably the only one in her class without a ds but she is happy with her vtech version and never nags for an actual ds. I am feeling like my kids are practically deprived reading this thread...

Henwelly · 23/07/2011 09:12

Are you likely to need a new laptop? Could he have your old one?

We gave DS 4 a laptop for xmas last year, it was an old one from DH work and completely free so not too worried what happens to it.

He does love it and we have bought him some really good learning games which he also loves. He's not allowed on the internet without us & def no Facebook acc!!!

Dancergirl · 23/07/2011 11:58

Hulababy, I never implied they were mutually exclusive or that there is something implicitly wrong with technology. I said there is a time and a place. Whatever we do as parents children today are growing up in a technological world and become computer-savvy. But when you hear stories over and over again that children are not playing outside, getting enough exercise, having time for free play, needing constant entertainment etc......as a parent I feel THESE are the things we need to encourage in young childhood. Personally I feel giving a 5 year old an expensive electronic toy gives out completely the wrong message.

How often do you see young children given their parent's i-phone to play on to stop them being bored? Often! I do anyway. It worries me that many children have lost that ability to amuse themselves, use their imaginations, get lost in their own thoughts, make up games etc.

And yes people say using a computer doesn't stop their children from doing these things as well. And that may be the case. A child won't lose out from not having their own computer at the age of 5. But things like having loads of free play and getting a bit bored sometimes are things to be encouraged at this age. Netbooks, i-phones, texting, social network sites etc.....you have to PACE these things.

BulletWithAName · 23/07/2011 11:58

Great post dancergirl!

Hulababy · 23/07/2011 12:06

TBH though I don't think it is the technology that is the issue. It is the parenting. A computer for a child does not have send the wrong message at all imo. It can send a very good positive message to a child IF the parent wants it to.

As I say I grew up with technology and it it most definitely didn't affect me in these negative ways; likewise my own DD who is now 9y and being brought up with a range of technology around her and readily available for her.

TBH in many ways I'd rather a child had a netbook/laptop than a DS or a games console. At least the computer encourages a wide range of activities, not just game playing.

DD loves taking her camera out and about, taking videos and snapshots and then editting them later. The fact that she can attach her video camera to her bike or scooter, or take it in water or up a tree, or on the trampoline - well, it is something she loves to do and then looking at th finished effects later on the computer.

To me it is about parenting, not the actual toy/game/computer/console etc. As a parent you get to chose how you use these thinsg wor not with your children. Yes, they can be negative if you allow your child to sit on them all day and not do anything else. But they can also be a positive thing too.

Just my opinion on it all. As I said, I grew up with technology around me and it truely didn't harm me!

Hulababy · 23/07/2011 12:08

Bulletwithoutaname - what happens if there is no family computer for the child to use?

I said before - our only other computer was MY laptop. And I don't want to share my laptop for many reasons. We only have one child therefore regardless of what other computer I bought the reality is, is that it would be for DD - they'd be noone else for her to share it with after all!

lockets · 23/07/2011 12:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Muckyhighchair · 23/07/2011 12:27

If you really want to down this route, I'd recommend a old style iPad or tablet, just because they have buttons, or drivers to poke things in and they do bounce fairly well.

My sister just got a iPad 1 on eBay for 160 so a bit cheaper than most net books being about 200

altinkum · 23/07/2011 12:27

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altinkum · 23/07/2011 12:29

This reply has been deleted

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Original poster
AmazingBouncingFerret · 23/07/2011 20:10

Thanks for all your replies people. There have been some good arguments for and against.

We don't own a 'family computer' and like Hulababy I would like to keep my laptop for my use, if I was to allow internet usage, even when supervised, I would want some pretty heavy handed blockers on there and wouldnt want my own internet access limited in such a way.

I'm reluctant to buy him more fiddly toys. He has toys that he plays with often, that stretch his imagination. construction toys, dress up outfits, a garage, a castle and wooden railway track. A cupboard full of arts and craft stuff. He doesnt need anything else, even "little bits". I'm in a fortunate enough situation that I can buy him new books very often, so new ones are a very regular occurance and wouldn't seem Birthday present-like!
The only thing technological that he owns is his camera, I just mused that a netbook or laptop type thing would enhance the use of it and also come in handy for playing on his dinosaur game and watching Dinosaur King on YT!

I'll mull it all over, I have plenty of time to decide! Grin

OP posts:
LauraIngallsWilder · 23/07/2011 20:17

Why not just let him have a go on your laptop?

I dont get it - we have one laptop -ds and dd have a turn on it a few times a week, I only use it in the evenings after they are in bed. sorted (I call it sharing! :o )

Lady1nTheRadiator · 23/07/2011 20:25

This reply has been deleted

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LauraIngallsWilder · 23/07/2011 20:36

Just read your last post - I have an ultra ultra block on my laptop (for the kids benefit) and guess what it doesnt limit my internet usage in any way.......................! Unless you use your laptop to buy sexy lingerie and watch porn I dont see why it would be a problem.

dementedma · 23/07/2011 20:39

this thread is terrifying. do 4 and 5 year olds really have ipads and netbooks? Shock
DD2 is excited about getting her own laptop for her next birthday - she will be 18!! maybe we are Luddites, or maybe it's because we don't have money to burn.
like other posters, i wonder what you will get him next year - a car? and when he's 10 , and 12, and 15? Where does it stop? If he doesn't play with toys when he's a child, what does the future hold for him?
I suppose all those little ones plugged into their netbooks and ipads at least give their parents time to do something else and not have to interact with them.....

nancy75 · 23/07/2011 20:53

dementedma. as someone that has posted that my dd has an i-pad i take offence at this

"I suppose all those little ones plugged into their netbooks and ipads at least give their parents time to do something else and not have to interact with them....."

We spend plenty of time with our dd, she has books, toys and friends. her time spent using the i-pad is limited and totally monitored by either myself or my husband, we are not doing something else while she is using it, we are sitting with her, helping her. Just because you choose not to buy these things for your children it does not make me a bad parent.

Original poster
AmazingBouncingFerret · 23/07/2011 21:02

I love how you are stunned Lady, I am not very techno savvy, I leave all that to DH. Doesnt take much to shock you! Grin

I do not want to share my laptop with him. It is mine and I don't want him to think he can mess on with it.

Just because I am contemplating getting him a netbook this year does not mean I would have to "top" this present in the future. By the time he is 10/12/15 he may well have developed interests and hobbies such as playing an instrument, playing a certain sport, I can then choose future purchases and gifts in accordance.

OP posts:
Original poster
AmazingBouncingFerret · 23/07/2011 21:05

Ive just re-read your post dementedma, he does plays with toys. I listed the toys he owns and plays with!

OP posts:
cumbria81 · 23/07/2011 21:12

I think there is something very sad about a 5 year old getting such an expensive gift. Sure, it can be educational and beneficial and all that, but those sort of presents should be "treats", for big birthdays when they're older.

If you really are in the fortunate position of him not needing anything else, take him for a day out somewhere exciting. Go to a magic show, build a sandcastle, get him to make an icecream sundae, look at a steam train, go to the airport - make some memories for him.

dementedma · 23/07/2011 21:16

amazingbouncing ferret - you said he had so many toys that he didn't need anything else. Lucky little boy. Does he "need" a netbook then?

dementedma · 23/07/2011 21:18

fair enough, nancy57

lockets · 23/07/2011 21:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LauraIngallsWilder · 23/07/2011 21:22

Have a Biscuit and buy him one.

Next year let us know when you are pondering what to get him for his 6th birthday................

Original poster
AmazingBouncingFerret · 23/07/2011 21:24

Reading some of these suggestions, (which are all excellent suggestions btw) including cumbria81's and ones further up thread i'm coming to the conclusion my DS is spoilt in some ways.
We go out alot We live a 5 minute drive from a great childrens farm. 20 minutes away from Twycross zoo and a great steam train line. We have membership to NT which we use all the time. He helps my Dad in his garden growing all manner of fruit and vegetables and loves to help my mum and I bake.

So those that are against getting a netbook and have suggested such things as, reading books, going out, baking, getting lots of physical active play, when I say my DS gets all this do you still have objections? Surely nowadays such technology has a part in a young childs life? Does it have to be one or the other? Why not both?

OP posts: