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?

As for the whole "it is too fragile" arguement - well, that is more to do with individual children. You know your own children. In my experience even very young children can not damage things like an iPad.

Obviously if you have a child who is likely to break something - then yes, don't give them it. But tbh that goes with any item - many toys are fragile and also quite costly - Playmobil, Sylvanian Families....

I'm hiding this thread as it's so depressing.
There is

Franca - you see, I never have that issue tbh. Even when on the net I will often still be doing 2 or 3 different things at the same time - some on computer, others off. Maybe that is more down to just how different people work.

The only activity really that I do which then makes me unable to concentrate on anything else at the same time is reading.

You cant compare the cost of playmobil with the cost of an Ipad.

You are lucky Hula, i find it very hard to multitask when in front of the pc.

However I am excellent at reading while eating!

"you can't use Google Streetview"

Yes you can.

Sigh. Sorry.
There is plenty of evidence that it's not a good idea to let toddlers watch tv and no evidence to suggest that there any benefits to allowing or encouraging young children to explore a virtual world before they have an understanding of the world they live in.
The response on this thread has been a succession of anecdotes and examples of when it makes the parents lives easier.
If you encourage an under 5, on an I touch, iPad, laptop, ds, whatever you are a lazy idiot in denial.

Both mine DSs (8 and 3) use iPads for a whole variety of things. It hasn't affected their ability to make things, draw, talk, jump up and down on the trampoline, play with sticks, get muddy, play sport or whatever. It depends entirely how much time they get on it.

See, have to go and make dinner!

You've not seen how much Sylvanian Families stuff is in DD's room - way more than the cost of an iPad (or two) - ;)

But that wasn't the point tbh - it really shouldn't matter how much something costs when it comes to how likely a child is to break it. IME an iPad is far sturdier than the average toy. BUT if a child is the type to damage something whether accidently or deliberately - then you have to question everything you buy in terms of its fragility surely?

I'd be just as annoyed with things getting damaged be it a £400 iPad or a £20 toy. It would be how it was damaged that was the issue - clumsiness, deliberate damage, or a pure accident. And if the latter - well, make sure the ipad is insured because that could happen to anyone whatever age.

I think yanbu. I know a 5 year old that uses an ipad virtualy constantly and when she isn't on that she's on other games console type things. I think its had an effect on her because she seems really behind to me in everything. But that's an extreme scenario I don't think an occasional go on angry birds is going to turn dcs into zombies

My kids have never broken anything- not toysor electronic things.I've always been v strict,maybe it's also because they don't get a stream of stuff all year or it's because they're aware of the rollicking they'd get but they're v good.

It's perfectly possible to ensure things are cared for Chihiro. Slightly you're so convinced your dc would break an Ipad. Personally I think that's down to your parenting.

I agree with Hula Dtwin 1 has a masseeeeve Lego alien model that collectively with his Star Wars Lego would add up to Ipad cost.He's very careful and this massive round space craft that looks as if it would shatter if you sneezed on it is still in mint condition.

It takes a child about 10 minutes to master the interface of a tablet, or to learn to search. I think the early deprived children will manage.

Dd sometimes puts my iPad on for Netflix whilst playing with her playmobil - paradox or wot?

The only difference between parents who allow ipads for their children and those who dont is that those who do dont insult those who dont.

In spite of what I said upthread about buying such items specifically for a child, if you don't let them use technology or watch television within reason, then you are a dinosaur. If you don't know how to use it adequately yourself then you also should be ashamed.

We are preparing children to be adults in the 2020s & 30s, not the 1980s, though frankly my dad saw the importance of computers even then & I grew up with them even though we were on a very modest income & they were fantastically expensive compared with average incomes. At school they will be using interactive white boards and software on PCs/Laptops or internet games which enhance the learning experience. They will be expected to do some of their homework on computers from the word go.

You need to get with this, share it with them.

I thought you were hiding the thread LambethLil?

Strawhatpirate - but that is down to the parenting of that child if she is allowed to use it constantly.

Technology imo is not bad, even for young children, but obviously being allowed to anything excessively and all the time is not good - but the same rule would also apply to many things. For example, I would worry about a child who was allowed to just sit in their room all the time reading a book - again, not great to do if at the total expense of every other activity.

I have hidden it but in my rush to explain why I posted too soon.

mummygalore I am with you on this one. I think 4 year olds might easily let fall and break the ipad. Also I think four year olds have so much else they need to be learning through play and interacting with other people, particularly language and social skills.

Have you ever used the children's apps on an iPad lambethill?

My point was less about cost and fragility, than about value.

How can a young child understand that the vast majority of people would need to work for several months to earn enough surplus income to purchase this item?

Call me an old fogey (and I'm sure plenty will) but an ipad is the kind of thing I would have saved up for with my first few months' salary when I started work. To regard such a high cost technological item as the same as a child's toy is just staggering to me. You could even buy them their first car for less money - mine cost just £350!

Do't much care either way but don't whinge on here if it gets broken/they get so they wont do anything else etc

Personally I just wish I could afford to buy my teens them as they would use them so much and so well for studying as well as play.

Re " how to control screens" we deliberately didn't give ours consoles as gifts until they were relatively older (8 or so) the youngest was 5 when the others got DSs for a long drive type holiday. The pink DS was "mine" and I shared it with her, but ultimately retained control for some years till I " gave " it to her1

Bigwheel - I suspect not as her children are older. And clearly she is the perfect parent...