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?

Lets pretend that money is not object, you could buy one if you chose to. Would it be your first choice of gift for a 4 year old? I agree that children using a parents in a supervised situation but getting one of their own I'm still not sure.
And in answer to everyone who keep asking me "what's it got to do with me", like i said, if everyone on here minded their own business then mumsnet would be no more

DS1 (6) will most likely be getting a Kindle for christmas to stop him hogging the house computer. They both use the various house ipod's with ease for games and tv programmes (DS2 is 2). I am quite happy with this. So YABU

I have an iPad, I also happen to have a 14 month old daughter who happily watches the Fisher Price counting apps and the Handy Manny app, although she hasnt a clue what is going on!

I also take her out to the park and do normal things....I also interact with her :)

I think everything is good in moderation to be honest, although I'd draw the line at buying her her own tablet for a few years yet!

McPhee, that's exactly how i see it. Only time will tell.

OP I share your concern. It would be nice to be able to have a calm discussion about this that didn't descend into a bunfight/slanging match.

For everyone who says it doesn't do them any harm. Hmmmm. I'm not sure about that. I hope you're right. But we seem to be raising a generation of kids who expect to be constantly stimulated and don't handle boredom very well. Few kids just look out the window and dream or look at things (remember that?) on long car journeys.

There is increasing evidence that the relentless exposure to screen time is changing the way we think. We gain perhaps in the breadth of knowledge and speed of mental connection, but lose out on depth.

OP, is your issue the cost of the present for a 4 year old, or, the ipad itself?

It was his main present for christmas last year, so I guess for us, at that time, it was a first choice!

He loves it and being refitted and an old model, it hasn't got much life left in it anyway and when it dies, I'll replace it with a slightly better version (also from Ebay).

Why does it matter who owns the laptop, surely the usage is what you're objecting to?

Still haven't answered my point about you saying the kids are 'starved of imaginative play'

Yes, bowerbird I totally agree.

A technological childhood isn't a positive.

But as MummyGalore says, time will tell.

Lets pretend that money is not object, you could buy one if you chose to. Would it be your first choice of gift for a 4 year old?
Pretty much YES! Although even if ££ was no object I'd probably go for a cheaper tablet for DD

damnbamboo....i'm always guilty of using the wrong words, starved of imaginative play might not be exactly the right way of putting it. More that there is a possibility that it could stifle imaginitive play. i am however learning from this heated debate discussion that parents use their ipads in many different ways and this is not always the case. more food for thought...

I let my 2 year old twins play age appropriate games on the iPad, under supervision. They probably use it for a short spell every few weeks. It tends to be a wet weather exercise though.

They don't generally watch any TV, but if I had to choose I'd rather they used an iPhone app than watched TV. I think they are more likely to learn with something interactive.

McPhee, why do you say this?

Too much technology, a very bad thing sure.

Too much TV, video games, DVDs ... ditto.

But in moderation, I fail to see why it is an issue.

My sons' classes both have blogs that they are expected to contribute to, so I find it odd that you say a technological childhood (whatever that means) is bad!

I agree Bowerbird. I just look at myself, and I realize I find it more difficult to concentrate on anything, if I have spent too much time wasting time on the net.

mcphee, i don't agree that technology should be excluded from their childhood altogether. There need to be a balance, finding it is the key.It appears many have found it.

No, if I had 700 euros to spend on DD, I'd take her to London for a weekend to see Mathilda!

There are no pens in Star Trek and "rough & tumble" takes place on the holodeck. Get with the programme.

It's a very difficult one. We live in an increasingly techy world, and I would not want my children to not keep up with that. I myself work in the techy world but - I also have noticed at the top of my spine, I have a sort of nodule that wasn't there before and it's definitely from being hunched over a laptop for years. I definitely don't want that for my children either!

I want them outside, in the daylight, not sat in front of blue light and screens.

We had etchersketch (not sure on spelling?) in my day, they now have IPads I know what I'd prefer.

Never thought i'd be told to "get with the programme" so soon in life, I was expecting that to happen in my much older years

It is all technology nowadays anyway there is no difference between a 4 yr old playing with a Tablet/ipad than playing a cbeebies game on a computer

MY children are older but had v tech toys its all playing its all learning I really don't think children will miss out,

Tis all about balance innit some children would rather lie about watching telly least the Ipad gets brain cells ticking over

Fwiw i WOULDN'T BUY A 4 YR OLD SUCH AN EXPENSIVE THING AS AN IPAD BUT ITS FINE FOR CHILDREN TO BE ABLE TO PLAY WITH 1

My sis-in-law got a reconditioned iPad for my DN who has Downs (I had let her use mine to watch interminable episodes of Peppa Pig). It's great to see her navigate her way through it - although she does have lots of 'traditional' toys too.

• she's 5 BTW

In moderation,I think they are fine.My 3yr old often uses my iPad and has a few age-appropriate apps.But I do have to limit it or he would play with it for hours and I prefer to see him playing actively and imaginatively,which he is good at.It has been a godsend on flights,and also when I had another baby, just to give me a few minutes peace.I know in the past children were able to make their own entertainment(we had no TV until I was about 9!) but in my view computers are just part of how we live now and have a role for children too but in addition to,not instead of ,more traditional activities.