Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

A netbook for a 4/5 year old starting school?

54 replies

anditwasallyellow · 05/09/2012 09:01

I don't really have space for a desktop and would prefer to keep him off my laptop until he is slightly older and has learnt not to just bang the keys. I knowhe's going to need some kind of access now he's starting school and I'm considering a refurbished netbook from Argos ebay. But are they any good for what he'll need in the first few years of school?

OP posts:
Gumby · 05/09/2012 09:04

He won't need it at all

IMO

They do computer stuff at school

dublindee · 05/09/2012 09:06

Take him to the library!

CaptainHetty · 05/09/2012 09:06

A 4/5 year old is going to do nothing at school which entails having their own computer access.

Beanbagz · 05/09/2012 09:06

I don't think a 4/5 year old needs a computer for school work.

My DS only occasionally used one at home last year (Y2) and that was generally just looking up infomation/pictures which is something i would help with.

DD (just gone into Y6) used it slightly more but homework had to be hand written so again it was just research.

I'd save your money for now if i were you.

irregularegular · 05/09/2012 09:07

I agree. I don't think my children were given any assignments for which they might have wanted to use a computer until about yr 3. And even then it wasn't essential - and you can always go to the library.

dublindee · 05/09/2012 09:07

Sorry phone possessed and posted too soon. Your local library has free Internet access and has the added benefit of getting him comfy and confident with books as well. Free, easy and your problem solved for a few years :)

Original poster
anditwasallyellow · 05/09/2012 09:13

Oh ok, teacher did home visits yesterday and asked if he had access to a computer. She did say it wasn't that important but they give them a username and password to access something to do with school.

Thought we might be a bit behind with the times my neices have desktops in their rooms (same age), everytime I've let ds near a computer he just wants to press all the buttons.

OP posts:
valiumredhead · 05/09/2012 09:15

He will have IT lessons at school but he won't need to do anything on it at home.

Original poster
anditwasallyellow · 05/09/2012 09:16

Yes we do use the library reguarly but round here they are always really busy and it's a bit arkward to book as they have a strange system of going in getting a ticket and then just waiting which could be 2 hours, won't be any time after school as I work so could potentially take up a whole Sat morning, rambling now but was just thinking in terms convenience.

OP posts:
kim147 · 05/09/2012 09:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GoatsHaveStrangeEyes · 05/09/2012 09:18

My DD has just gone into year 3 and the school will be issuing each child with their own netbook.

Prior to that she did not do any work which would have required her own computer. At 4/5 I don't think she would have been able to use it properly anyway.

Badgerina · 05/09/2012 09:20

DS is in Y3 and doesn't have his own computer. DH and I have a laptop each that he can use with supervision, and I have an iPad from work that he has access too.

I personally wouldn't get a child their own computer until they were in secondary school, but that's just my take on it (coming from someone who doesn't do TV in kids bedrooms either).

PooPooOnMars · 05/09/2012 09:22

I know he's going to need some kind of access now he's starting school . . .

No he won't. He'll use the one at school occasionally but no 4 year old needs their own computer for school work! They don't need access to one at all at that age.

brass · 05/09/2012 09:22

LOL!

catwoo · 05/09/2012 09:23

At our school they would need internet access-even in reception. Their maths homework is often on a maths website called 'My Maths' and alsothey need to research things for projects.

fossil97 · 05/09/2012 09:23

Our school uses the "Education city" online homework/games. TBH this is why we have now bought a desktop but it is very much a family computer not one of the DC's own (despite constant pestering).

Good point on the touch typing - we've been doing BBC Dance Mat typing.

Could you buy a cheap USB keyboard and mouse for your laptop so it doesn't get bashed?

kim147 · 05/09/2012 09:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DorisIsWaiting · 05/09/2012 09:27

You're school sounds similar to ours.

The school subscribe to Education City and Mathletics websites each child gets their own password and occasionally homework is one of the games.

(There is access in school for those who don't have a computer at home.

My dd's use the family computer...It is suprising how quickly they learn to respect the computer (especially as they have class tie in the IT suite).

Personally for the small amount of time that homework takes I would supervise his use on your laptop.

Peeenut · 05/09/2012 09:28

He won't need one. At the home meeting I'm sure she was asking about general access in the home, schools often have area for parents to get information, make online payments, e,ail newsletters etc

If you want a way of giving him access to online games and education sites, and don't want yours damaged, then a refurbed netbook sounds like a good idea :) you don't have to give it to him but have it as the netbook he can use sometimes.

BonnieBumble · 05/09/2012 09:31

Although I don't think it is necessary for a child of that age to have their own computer I disagree with those saying that computer access isn 't required. From year 1 ds was often given home work that required the Internet and on snow days they have to log in to the schools online learning system. Its all very well saying use the library but that's easier said than done when you have younger children.

TheCunningStunt · 05/09/2012 09:35

I'd say online acces is very handy. DS is in p2 in Scotland, but from p1 he has been asked to do various bits of homework, that have required him to look up things via the Internet. We do use the library for non uptodate information, but he has had to look up Olympic facts etc. I don't think your DS needs his own, but you might want to look at getting me for the house with Internet access. My 5 year old is pretty whizzy on the net, he does reading eggs, plays games etc on it. All supervised. To us,a computer is just as important as books, crafts etc. it's a part of life these days.

TheCunningStunt · 05/09/2012 09:36

Getting "one" not "me"Blush. I'm much to busyGrin

Original poster
anditwasallyellow · 05/09/2012 09:41

I didn't know that you could get usb keyboards for a laptop (I do have a usb mouse) that actually sounds like a good idea as I can easily set him up at the kitchen table with that.

I really don't know how much one will be needed to be used but the teacher did suggest it would be useful for him to be able to use the online learning.

OP posts:
theQuibbler · 05/09/2012 10:01

I'm sure a netbook would be fine for what he needs. It's usually just internet access to sites that the school uses for maths and phonics games etc. DS1 had homework that required internet access in Reception; some schools do use it early.

TroublesomeEx · 05/09/2012 10:04

Some schools use Moodle for homework and communicating with teachers and link to websites for the children like Education City and ictgames.com.

I would also suggest a usb keyboard and mouse. That'll support the ict he'll be doing at school too.