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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

424 replies

MummyGalore · 17/09/2012 14:19

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?

OP posts:
Butkin · 17/09/2012 16:35

We'll be buying DD(9) and Ipad or laptop for Christmas. She has had about 5 years of total enjoyment out of the Ipod Touch and it will be great that she can do everything on a bigger screen including all the Maths homework she is now getting which is linked to an online maths gaming site.

LittleGoldPlasticPeople · 17/09/2012 16:35

I let mine (3& 5) have some iPad time, in fact my 5 year old earns ipad minutes throughout the week and uses them at the weekend. BUT, I have had to tell him that Father Christmas does not bring iPads to children after he mentioned puttin it on his list Grin fingers crossed not too many of his friends get one for Christmas!

PurdyShaky · 17/09/2012 16:36

I managed to drop and smash my iPad myself!

There is no way my 2 yr old ds will be getting his hands on it.

I cried and cried!

Prarieflower · 17/09/2012 16:43

See matana I wouldn't waste my money on an Innotab.At 2 we were heavily into real books and blocks.

In my experience pretend computer stuff aimed at kids is as crap as food aimed at kids and utterly pointless.

Far better to not bother then gradually introduce them to stuff on a laptop or ipad say later at 4. Teach them to respect the machine(perfectly possible),sit together and keep it to the odd short session.

GwendolineMaryLacey · 17/09/2012 16:49

Craftyone bollocks.

I'm 41. I grew up with computers so you'd have to be older than me to have existed in this bygone age where we left our back doors open, played with coal and everyone knew their neighbours. That time has gone.

Lambethlil · 17/09/2012 16:54

It's interesting that there are 2 overlapping conversations going on here.
One about cost and one about the developmental effect.
Cost aside, toddlers definitely should not have hand held computers. There is definite evidence that too much TV is damaging to children. There's no evidence that learning their way round a computer has any benefit to children. There are definite short term advantages, but be honest.

They keep them occupied, that's it.

GirlWithTheMouseyHair · 17/09/2012 16:56

YABVU

We have a family iPad which DS (nearly 4) probably uses the most. It was bought for him (!!!) by his Life Guardian but I don't see any need to have several of them, one is enough.

We live in America so long haul flights it's another thing to keep him entertained (as well as books, colouring, a bag full of crap individually wrapped to occupy for longest time). We also do long car journeys too and know if we have one coming up we don't let him use the iPad for about a week before so it's novel again when he gets his sticky paws on it and it does keep him happy on a boring car journey.

Definately doesn't inhibt his imaginative play! I think he probably spends 1-2hours a week on the iPad (obviously not all in one go) and the REST OF THE TIME in imaginative play...he's currently using his toy kitchen as a launching pad for spiderman....who is made out of a toilet roll tube.

Also, they are much more interactive and help imaginative and learning than say the tv (which he also watches, shoot me).

Have to admit to occasionally letting him play when we're out for lunch - very rarely because I agree there's no point in him being there, but sometimes he's overtired and agitated and it keeps the peace for 10mins.

I take it, OP, you don't have one? Therefore don't judge til you know what you're judging....

GirlWithTheMouseyHair · 17/09/2012 16:57

yes they do Lamberthill...what's wrong with that?!

Lambethlil · 17/09/2012 16:58

And I'd challenge that gwen. You didn't have your own computer as a toddler as some posters are saying they're doing. You'd have had zx spectrum aged about 10, after you'd learned to read, after you'd spent many afternoons mooching around bored or playing with friends who were not on screens.
That's a massive difference.

Lambethlil · 17/09/2012 16:59

Nothing wrong with that girl. But that's all they do and lots of posters are saying different.

BeyondTheLimitsOfAcceptability · 17/09/2012 16:59

My nearly two year old loves my ipad.
The only downside I see is all the marks on the telly where he thinks that is touch screen too Grin

Francagoestohollywood · 17/09/2012 17:00

I agree Lambethlil.

I am impressed that all your children seem to favour educational apps. I must be a failure, as my ds prefers playing FIFA on my ipad, and dd My Horse Hmm

Silibilimili · 17/09/2012 17:00

Why does it have to be either or? My dd enjoys the laptop/iPad apps and imaginative play too as well as climbing trees. Hmm

Ragwort · 17/09/2012 17:01

I just can't understand how anyone can spend so much money on something for a child. But I appreciate I am probably one of the oldest fogeys on mumsnet Grin.

I am constantly amused on mumsnet at the number of people that think these sorts of things are totally reasonable and almost essential for children to have and then the number of people that have to make a chicken last five meals .............. I just hope they are not the same posters Hmm.

Prarieflower · 17/09/2012 17:02

Lambeth my kids(8,8 and 7) were all reading in rec/year 1,they're avid readers.Having access to tech doesn't hinder reading in fact it may entice some boys via the Kindle. Kids who read a lot have parents who read a lot.It's all about balance.

We don't have a Kindle either although we'll have to now as the dc just read too many thick books,no way could we get on a plane with their 2 weeks supply of books x3.Grin

mum11970 · 17/09/2012 17:06

My children are 14, 11 and 7, they all have their own laptops and have done for years. I have an iPad and am forever trying to find out which one has got it. It's just the way technology has gone, they even had computers in playschool when my youngest went and he could control a mouse by the age of 3. At 14 my eldest has just passed his gcse in ICT and got an a*. Last week my 7 year old and I did a PowerPoint on the Tudors for his homework and all of them are told to refer to the Internet to find out information for their homework and would be at a disadvantage if they weren't computer literate. This doesn't stop them being active, 14 year old is in the welsh karate squad and the two younger ones both do karate and play golf. I've told my kids to ask for an iPad for Christmas as I'm so fed up of them nicking mine.

Lambethlil · 17/09/2012 17:07

Mine were much later to read prairie -another reason I'm glad they didn't have acces to screens. They'd never have bothered. Wink

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 17/09/2012 17:10

We have an iPad which DS1 (4) uses. DH is getting a new tablet in a couple of months, and the iPad will probably be shared between me and DS1.

We will get him his own in due course.

Doesn't mean that there is no imaginative play, no outside play, or any of those other things. And at a recent wedding it was an absolute godsend in keeping him amused.

I am Hmm at the idea of shared technology tbh. I use my laptop for all kinds of things, I don't want to be negotiating time with my kids just for the sake of some arbitrary rule when they could just as easily have their own things to use.

BrandyAlexander · 17/09/2012 17:12

I think it is all a question of prioriites and that it's a really personal thing. Dd is 3 and we have decided that for now, we would prefer her to be brought up with some of the more traditional games that we played so for that reason we havent encouraged computer/ipad play. However, at the same time, she only watches dvds (no live tv) for a couple of hours a week as we regard it all together as screen time and want to limit it as much as possible. We have a portable dvd player for long car journeys. Her ipad use is limited to long flights, and we look at nursery rhyme videos on you tube (which comes out of her 2 hours of screen time). We are very aware that she will need to become more familiar with the computer/ipad but as someone else said it's more important that she learns to read, plays with friends and plays by herself.

I think the cost factor is sort of a red herring. If you can afford it and aren't doing anything criminal to get the money then don't see why it's anyone's business! People will always be judgey no matter what you spend your money on.

LadyInDisguise · 17/09/2012 17:14

I'm 41. I grew up with computers

Did you GwendolineMaryLacey? Because I am the same age and when I was 18yo, I can clearly remember being at school and putting my hands on a key board for the first time ever.
And I didn't use a computer with word etc... for another 6 years. Even at that time, it was a luxury that few could afford.

Few of us of that old of 40yo have grown up with computer. but it hasn't stopped us from learning and coping with our technology based world.

Craftyone · 17/09/2012 17:16

Gwen,
I am younger than you and I know exactly what i am talking about!

I worked with many teenagers for over 10 years whose parents shower them with expensive gifts from birth. They lack parenting skills or are too lazy to parent so the gadgets do it for them. Nice middle-class children break down and cry in front of me and mummy and daddy don?t have a clue! They have the latest everything and are still neglected. These parents don?t sit and talk to their children half as much as people used to and are completely oblivious to their children?s needs.

Technology is great but has many down sides. I just don?t get people gloating about buying their very young children ipads etc.

I was one of the first children to have a computer in my area (ZX81) but it was not used in the waymany parents are using technology today. Reading and experiencing things and talking was much more important.

Lambethlil · 17/09/2012 17:16

It's not a question of priorities. It's a question of parents whistling in the dark and reassuring each other they're not doing any harm. For a quiet life. Because everyone and their dog gets a screen for their toddler it marginalises the sane ones- rest.

booki · 17/09/2012 17:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FateLovesTheFearless · 17/09/2012 17:16

Yabu. Unless the child is allowed to sit on it all day every day there is plenty of time for imaginative play.

LadyInDisguise · 17/09/2012 17:17

Alibaba do you also have separate TV, radio etc.. in the house? r separate bathroom? just in case you have to share?

Oops sorry, I forgot that quite a few people do have an en suite so don't need to share bathroom, dcs with their own TV in their bedroom....
Is that so difficult to share?