To think that IPads/laptops for younger children are just ridiculous

[MummyGalore]

I don't know if this has been covered before as not on here often so sorry if so.
But AIBU to be getting increasingly riled/concerned with the amount of mums who are talking about getting their children (I'm talking under 10s but some i know are buying them for children as young as 4!!!) Ipads and laptops for christmas. It riles me as i think that they are starving their children of their opportunity to learn through imaginative play. Simple toys are the best at that age, surely ipads are not a good option especially at 4.
What do others think?

Jenai why do you keep going on about games? There are thousands of apps across hundreds of subjects.

My 4 year old likes Starwalk, which if you raise the iPad to the sky tells you what stars you are looking at. Was especially interesting on a recent holiday to talk about the differences in the sky and why that was.

Cardiff council are funding tablets for use by all children in school so kids who have access to iPads at home will have a head start.

Some parents prioritise designer clothes for their children, some prefer long haul holidays, Some 'waste' a fortune on what I would call rubbish (buying a child a cheap toy every time they go out which then breaks) & some pay or their c to go to every club going. Each to their own.

I always vowed NOT to be the sort of parent that 'spoiled' their kids with the latest gadgets etc but we are considering iPads for our DC (6&4) this Christmas as they come home from school & want to use mine for following up things they have done at school. DS2 used to come home from nursery and want to use the computer/iPad because he had been using the computer at home. In fact, DS2 taught me that Mars wasn't a planet any more & we spent some time on the iPad looking it up before going to the library to get books out on space.

Used right, technology can be fantastic for kids. However, unsupervised & unlimited access may cause problems (same as allowing kids unlimited access to junk food etc). It's up to the parents to parent & use the word no!

Jenai, ds used a programme on the ipad to help him with pointing. It sounds like such a simple, instinctive thing, but all the exercises we had done to encourage him to point just didn't grasp his interest, this really simple game of holding his finger and tracing it over a line which then changed into stars and different colours was magical to him, it was amazing to watch it.

(thankyou to posters who made me feel like less of an idiot yesterday!)

I used to think that 5 was too young for a Nintendo DS, but my DD 4yo, loves playing on mine and my mums and I have bought PP for her and my mum bought Nintendogs and its a game that they play together.

I dont let her use the laptop or computer at home as I work from home and I cannot afford to let her wreck them (she knocked a glass of squash into my laptop.....)

She gets to use the computer at school and at 4yo I think that is enough for now. She will not "get behind" as she will get more time when she is old enough and responsible enough.

My DD loves to play on her own or with her friends and loves being outside. She also loves to watch tv, Nick Jr and Tom & Jerry being one of her favourites. But I limit that time too.

I would certainly not buy her an ipad, laptop or anything like that until she is much older. For one thing she is not old enough to look after it properly. She nearly broke the Nintendo the other day by throwing it on the floor in a strop!

Ali; games? Because that's what children will be using this kit for. Some are labelled "educational" but I'm very sceptical as to the vale of a lot of that software. Not all, by any means.

The app you describe, and the one hazey mentions, all good stuff. But there is plenty of dross.

Poogles I know that must have been a typo, but Mars is still very much a planet. There's some brilliant astronomy related content on the Internet though isn't there, I couldn't possibly deny that. The footage from Curiosity is ace.

I would have no problem with a 4 year old or younger using an iPad

I've worked in a nursery school with ages 3/4 and they are able to use a computer - it is getting less often that they know how to use a mouse (thats another story which is down to laptops and tablets) But by the age of 5 they are doing work on the computer - creating pictures - counting games etc and it goes on as they get older.

Its the technological years we live in, I would adopt early introduction to these products definitely or your child will be left behind.

This does not mean that they don't play outside or read books of course not - you can limit their time.

However what I would not do - is spend this much money on an iPad for a 4 year old, there are cheaper tablets and netbooks etc they can use. I would cry if an iPad got ruined lol!

I never understand why it has to be tech stuff =no imagination? My kids all have ipods, we have 2 laptops, one PC, a XBOX and a wii. We also have an half built tree house, bungees swimming in the sink (do not move them Mum whilst I am at school!!) and a milk container in the process of becoming a house for a pet monster.

I think you ABU to think it is ridiculous, it would be ridiculous not to allow a child at some time to use technology, whether that be an Ipad, Ipod or computer in the home.

Whether we like it or not times have change and interactive games and learning are going to be with us for some time, they are used daily in the classroom. Whilst parents say they buy children these things and if they can afford them, why not, ultimately it should be and usually is, parents who control their use, just the same as we may with toys, or playing any game repetitively again and again. We don't allow our children (well most of us), to watch TV, Eat rubbish/ sweet or play computer games (delete which ever appropriate), all the time either.

Children at Nursery will be working on 'mouse' skills, clicking, dragging and selecting, some will and if not at nursery in Reception, will be using touch technology, by way of ipads and interactive white boards. It isn't necessarily bad, as a lot of people have said, their children have learned from these Apps. and they have been a useful tool at times of travel or just where it would be helpful for your child to sit quietly and concentrate for a short time.

My dd is 8 this weekend and already has an Ipod, she uses it ocassionally, not constantly, no big deal, she knows she can pick it up and put it down when she likes. She spends more hours playing with her plastic animals, recreating stories, plays, TV programmes with them too, she builds dens in the garden and has a very active imagination, we walk dogs twice a day, go horse riding and do lots of other things which are fun and interesting, including playing games on the Wii once in a while.

I am contemplating buying her an Ipad to use this weekend - not exclusively (I fancy one being around too), but last night she had to use the computer for homework to find out about the Romans. Laptop has to be found, logged on, set up, taking room on the table, to be able to reach for an ipad and easily go to what we wanted to do and take notes, would be far easier than juggling a keyboard and paper and mouse/pad.

Ridiculous? I don't think so.

Oh and I have to share..... Our cocoon hatched into a butterfly last night, we missed it (kept in a big Kilner jar in the kitchen for the last week), but it was wonderful to release it this morning before school.

We didn't have time to check this morning, but tonight, as we don't have a butterfly book (very remiss of me!), we are going to Google to find out what type it was - I think it was a Red Admiral - Ridiculous this technology!

once this is a discussion forum, the OP asked for opinions, i have given mine. That is all. I couldn't give a tinker's toss whether my opinion is irrelevant to your child. It's relevant here by virtue of the fact that i am contributing to a discussion forum with (presumably) other adults.

Matana - It's relevant here by virtue of the fact that i am contributing to a discussion forum with (presumably) other adults.

No, we are all really 8 year olds on our ipads

sorry, couldn't resist that one.....

Unless your DD has hacked into your MN account on her ipad of course...

matana - x-post with you there, lol

Cross posts, beat me to it sky

My ds is 10 and up until now, he's been able to do researches and projects for school using books.

Oooooo Ktk9 we've got 5 cocoons on the go.If you go to Crafty Crow they have a fab idea of making butterflies out of milk bottle plastic.There is a sheet of butterflies you can trace over onto said plastic(which include a Red Admiral I think).You'll need Sharpies,beads and pipe cleaners.They look lovely stuck on windows.

I think as long as it is supervised interaction then it's fine. As lots have said, if it helps with long journeys or to prepare them for the hi tech world ahead of them, I would think it is a good thing. Some of the apps I have seen really do capture their imagination. I do think it is important though that children learn to entertain themselves through more traditional games such as hide and seek, colouring, making things, baking fairy cakes, building dens etc but I don't see why you cannot use both approaches with your kids as long as they stay safe and happy?

x

Francages - Well, would you believe it that we use books too! [fancy!]. However, we don't go to the library on a Saturday.

Our encylopedia is a bit dated to be honest and only had 'general' butterflys and limited information. DD is so excited about it, so Google is our friend!

Sometimes school asks us to go to certain websites to find out stuff/play games and to be honest, the information online is very much more child friendly than some encylopedias and they are constantly updated, we built a celtic roundhouse and furnished on line last night, oh and did a lovely torc, which we then coloured in.

Prairie - I share your excitment, to be honest, it was wonderful to see, mind you I had to look up what to do when said cocoon fell off its twig a few days ago! We will have a look at Crafty Crow, dd loves glueing and sticking stuff, can add more glitter to the cracks in the tiles [sigh].

should read 'until Saturday.

was wondering what was wtong with your library on Saturday ...

*wrong

KTK9, I wasn't expressing any concern re your personal use of books or any other source.
Most people here (and on other similar threads) claim that access to a computer is fundamental when your children go to school. No, it is not... as it is still possible to do projects and study on books.

Also here where I live, teachers prefer that children learn how to use a dictionary or an encyclopedia before they rely on the internet. Friends of mine who are teachers have to deal with students who just print out stuff off the internet without having a clue, really. But of course that wouldn't happen to any MN child.

I'd be more concerned about what my kids were looking at if they had the portability of a tablet - they would be up in their rooms and I would have no control. Whereas the family laptop is in a public area of the house, and you can see if they are looking at anything disturbing.
Especially as they get older - my boy is 7. I allow youtube, despite some concerns (primarily over violence - YT is v strict on sex), because I know he is currently only interested in Lego vidoes! Fortunately having an account and making and posting his own videos hasn't occurred to him yet. My 4 yr old daughter watches TV on i-player, when her brother is hogging our only TV. I prefer I-player to YT for her, as she will random click and end up watching Peppa in Polish or Czech. (Or worse, Scouse Peppa, which is a spoof, and definitely not suitable!)
Any tips/views on internet child security would be welcomed. What do others do/worry about?

Using Encyclopeidias, Dictionarys and being able to put things in alphabetical order, is actually part of Key Stage 1 Francago, so they will learn it at school, if not at home.

As is the use of technology to find information.

i work in a public library and we get a lot of school children in who have been told NOT to use the internet for their homework. The teachers want them to learn how to use books for research. Obviously the internet is fantastic for research when used properly (i.e trusted sources, not plagiarising etc )but books are still essential . Not sure if this has been mentioned but many, many people cannot afford a computer or home internet and they are the ones i see in the library using our public pcs . Personally i couldn't afford to buy my own child a pc/ ipad etc etc until they were at secondary school. Until then we shared.