to think children under 10. should not have tablets?

[Hattie11]

Am I missing something here?

It seems everyone I know are buying tablets for their children asvyoung as 4!

To me that is giving children far easier access to the internet, chatrooms, and ghastly things that can come up during an innocent Google search.
I'm all for children learning to use technology in a supervised situation, but do they really need something so portable that they could easily be flicking through inappropriate content, without being noticed.

I'm not suggesting this deliberately done, but I know my own dd has found shocked by accidental finds on Google. Hence me tightening the supervision when she uses our home pc now.

Pleas persuade me otherwise......

Ds is getting one for his 5th birthday, tomorrow, it cost me £60 from my brother and will be great for long car journeys, to play on the games he can't get on his (bad purchase) leappad and will protect my tablet aswell as he will have no reason to use mine then.

He will be limited in time on it just as he is any other electronic item. And it will not have internet turned on or be connected to a bank card so he can literally only do what I put on there for him to do.

There's no point running away from technology, its part of every aspect of life. We just have to make sure we limit it as parents.

I remember a friend of mine whose daughter is now 8. As a small child they didn't let her on the computer as they thought it was 'bad'in the same way as too much TV. At their first parents evening reception, they were berated as the school expected children to come to school with at least basic mouse skills (now touch screen skills!). Most primary schools where we are are now introducing iPads or similar into the classroom. No matter what they end up doing your children will need computer skills. Like anything, the earlier they start the better they will be. This doesn't mean they have to have their own, but consider that not having Internet access at home is now used as an indicator of poverty and I would suggest in a few years time it'll be the same for a touch screen device.

My children have access to computers etc, dp builds computers and has a real passion, so Tue children use our stuff under supervision. I just can't get past the fact buying one solely for a 4 year old for example seems so young to have that much money spent on then and then for the older children giving them a small piece of equipment that they can dissapear into their bedrooms with unnoticed iyswim. Our home pc is downstairs and completely visible. Yes u wet boundaries and rules, but children aren't perfect all the time!
I'm afraid my mind has not changed on the matter.

So it's about how much they cost then?

Okay. My dd is 6 and she wants the Monster High High School which is £80 ish for some cardboard and plastic and you can tablets (not very good ones) for the same price - sure I would be better buying the tablet that she can enjoy for years to come or a bit of plastic and cardboard tat which won't see out the year?

Surely*

socharlotte people like you ruin mumsnet. Why can't I give my opinion without you making fun of me? No one can have a discussion without getting picked on in AIBU.

My DP is a computer programmer so we have every gadget in our house, but I won't be buying DS anything for his personal use. I don't think it's healthy to have computer games under 11. I'm 21 and up until I had DS, I lived in a shared how with 5 boys, who used to play xbox 24-7 when they weren't at uni. When I say they were glued,that is an understatement You'd talk to them and they wouldn't even hear you. My brothers the same even now (at 25) when playing fifa or something. Me and dp have always agreed we don't want DS to be like that. Saying your child can have a ds/tablet/laptop and limiting time is not going to work. I would like to meet a child who happily hands over the gadget after an hours game and happily wanders off and doesn't wan't 'five more minutes' 'wait till i've finished the level' 'i can't save until I get to a checkpoint'. I want DS to live in the real world.

having said that I do agree computer skills are important but that doesn't mean he'll be having his own one. he can use mine or his dad's to limit use.

No rediac it doesn't mean u have to buy the plastic crap either! And no its not just about the cost but for a 4 year old being bought an expensive bit of equipment that they are not going to comprehend how it works and what value it has that it is I guess. But its also about security, its also about children remaining children, its also about my children learning they get things that ate age appropriate. I feel that if my children get bought tablets and laptops when they are young, ill be struggling for as ideaswhen they get older. And I like to make sure presents I get them are a surprise and fun for them.
With my children I also encourage sharing, hence the reason I like one family pc and also only one tv in our house. It ensures we all communicate and plan who needs to do homework and when....who wants to watch a programme and when. My kids do this really well and I don't want to provide them with every gadget individually and turn their attitudes into want it want it now....

Oh and margey I agree I thought that comment was out of order typical aibu behaviour tho sadly.
Some people are so singleminded they can only see their way.
Exactly the sort of people I don't want my children to turn out like.

I know I don't HAVE to buy anything but I'd much rather have something with a bit of longevity.

I understand that rediac and fair enough. Have honestly found it interesting reading different points of view, and was honestly open to be persuaded. But I am not.
So my children will be enjoying books, crafts and games this Xmas!
Thanks all

It doesn't have to be one thing or another. My dd will be getting all those things as well as her Nintendo ds - she won't be getting a tablet thoug as she has limited access to the apps on my (disconnected from the Internet) iPad :)

Margery, come to my house. You will find two children just like that. Actually, sorry I lie. You won't. You probably won't see them at all unless you fancy scooting up a tree after them?

We have almost every gadget going. The children have free access to them all, we don't limit screen time, we find have no need to. They are rarely inside the house. Gadgets are used only when the weather is spectacularly bad or when travelling. Sometimes they will use them after dark or early morning before they are allowed out, but not always.

Atm dd2 is trying to clicker train the cat to sit on command so most of her time is spent with the cat. Dd1 is busy reading her library book so she can go and pick another one.

Hattie stick to your guns and have a lovely Christmas!

Margey, could I just give you for expressing what I feel and have experienced, particularly with young boys and computer games. I'm, ahem... a tiny bit older than you. So when I express any reservations about this new trend for letting very young children spend time on their own tablets, I'm invariably attacked as a Luddite, old bag, living in the dark ages etc. Oh, and some terribly bright person always brings up the printing press.

Saying your child can have a ds/tablet/laptop and limiting time is not going to work.

For your child maybe. DD1 knows damn well that when I say enough she hands it over and it's one of the few things she doesn't make a fuss about because I'll withdraw it completely.

And she knows how it works and absolutely understands the value it has. Everything she does on it is age appropriate and she takes far more care of it than DH does.

You don't sound like you were open to persuasion at all OP. If you think your children would not be able to behave with one then fair enough. But don't speak for everyone else's children please.

Lol my children do behave ...like children...mostly good, occasionally test boundaries. Natural for children and worrying if any don't.
Admittedly I'm not easily persuaded, but I did want to be sure of my thoughts, and that I am.

Thanks bowerbird merry Christmas to you too!

Yabu. Tablets are great educational tools and as long as you set out ground rules and use parental filters etc they are safe enough. My dh's iPad is used so much by our 3, 5 and 7 year olds that we have bought each of them their own iPad mini for Christmas. They are going to be ridiculously pleased. I would far rather spend money on educational devices than I would on expensive plastic toys. They will have some 'plastic' stuff too but it will be cheap!