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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think that 6 is too young for a tablet?

68 replies

DeathByLaundry · 14/11/2013 11:02

DS says he's going to ask Santa for a tablet. It's a moot point because we can't afford one, but he tells me lots of his friends have them.

I was honest with him and said that I didn't think he was old enough, and that he's not yet good enough at regulating himself when he plays computer games for me to want him to have free access to his own tablet.

Is he going to be ostracised for being the uncool kid? DH has a little old tablet which DS is allowed to play on sometimes, and we both let him play on our phones occasionally. We have a Wii too so it's not like he has no technology at home.

OP posts:

ilovepowerhoop · 14/11/2013 11:06

ds got his last year when he was 6.

SooticaTheWitchesCat · 14/11/2013 11:06

My girls are 7 and 9 and neither of them have a tablet so yes, I do think 6 is too young. I'm sure not all his friends have them so don't worry.

You can't afford it anyway so don't let him make you feel bad.

Isildur · 14/11/2013 11:07

You feel that 6 is too young for your child to have one, so it's the right decision for you.

Some other 6 year olds will have them, some won't. If he has access to a tablet anyway, he's not going to feel left out.

I don't know any 6 year old boys who are hung up on what other people have, and it's not as though they will all be brandishing them in the playground.

helenafalco · 14/11/2013 11:09

My DD is nearly 4 and she has one. She loves it and uses it for educational games and music. She only uses when I am in the room with her never alone.

Birdsgottafly · 14/11/2013 11:10

As he has access to technology, then it is up to you whether he gets his own device, yet.

He probably has well enough access for his age and what he needs to do.

Mine had DS's at 10, but we have always had a computer.

At 13 I bought mine their own Laptops, they didn't want anything else for Christmas and their Birthdays are November/December.

It is a personal choice, on what age they have their own.

In terms if regulating themselves, that may never happen, it depends on the personality and interests of the child/teen.

Original poster

DeathByLaundry · 14/11/2013 11:10

It astonishes me what some of the others in his age group have/get.

I'm not wavering on it at all but I am a bit concerned that there will be a time when he is totally uncool because everyone else has something except him. I just have no idea when that !

OP posts:

Original poster

DeathByLaundry · 14/11/2013 11:14

I need to talk to dh about it but ds is the sort of child who would stare at a screen all day and not notice. So I thought perhaps if we say that it's something we'll consider once he's older and has shown us that he can be responsible for having breaks and making sure he chooses to do active things with his time as well, then that will encourage him to think about it for himself.

I don't want to get him a gift like that and then spend all of my time telling him he has to switch it off. I'd feel happier if he took some personal responsibility, but it's too much to expect at 6 IMO.

OP posts:

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 14/11/2013 11:15

YABU

Our boys are 5 and 2 and they have one which they share.

TruthSweet · 14/11/2013 11:16

I thought this was a thread about getting a 6y to take medicine in a tablet form not syrup!

ouryve · 14/11/2013 11:17

YANBU to not want your child to have a table - particularly if you can't afford the outlay.

YABU in thinking that 6 is too young, full stop. Besides, even if a child does have their own tablet, it's still possible to do that parenting thing and have strict rules about when and where it is used.

SooticaTheWitchesCat · 14/11/2013 11:18

There will always be someone who has more than your child, if it isn't a tablet it will be something else. You don't have to keep up with everyone else.

DeWe · 14/11/2013 11:19

We don't have any tablets in our house except ibroprofin, and none of the dc are allowed that.

I don't think it's too young for a tablet, but also don't think he'll be an outsider if he doesn't have one.

Up to you entirely.

ElfontheShelfIsWATCHINGYOUTOO · 14/11/2013 11:19

already a thread on this here

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/1910834-and-depriving-my-child-by-not-buying-her-anything-technological

My DD has not asked for one but I know it would be the best christmas ever is she had one, but the problem is, I have already brought xmas and it would be a major expense, extravagance to buy one as well. I have decided after much research and deliberation not to get one this year. I have spoken to two friends, one an educational psychologist and a teacher friend and they are dead against any type of extra screen time for such small children, which has helped me feel better about it!

ElfontheShelfIsWATCHINGYOUTOO · 14/11/2013 11:21

There will always be someone who has more than your child, if it isn't a tablet it will be something else. You don't have to keep up with everyone else

Its hard though Sootica! I always said I would not be one of these parents who kept up with the jone's we just cant afford too....but when you come to look at your darling childs face wanting one soooo badly its a different story!

bamboobutton · 14/11/2013 11:22

yanbu.

dh bought a tablet (not for dc) 5yo ds got hold of it and became addicted to it very quickly and my god, the tantrums and screaming when he couldn't figure out how to play a game or had it taken away! he turns out to be very computer savvy and even figured out how to unhide the play store icon and would download tons of free games. luckily we didn't have any cards stored on it.

it definitely affected his behaviour too.

I was glad when he had a tantrum and broke it by throwing it on the floor.

and yes, I could've said no and not given it to him but there is only so much screaming and hitting I can take.

we will not be getting another and if ds wants one when he is older he can get a job and buy his own.

Original poster

DeathByLaundry · 14/11/2013 11:25

Elf your friends have sealed the deal for me! One of my concerns is that DS had s high BMI a year ago. It's all sorted out now but I'm very conscious that he needs to be active, and I'm even more determined to teach him to take responsibility for himself because I won't always be there with a supply of carrot sticks and swimming lessons.

I will reconsider in a year :)

OP posts:

SooticaTheWitchesCat · 14/11/2013 11:27

Yes, it is hard but I can remember desperately wanting things when I was a child and not always getting them. It never harmed me and now I can't even remember what they were!

I don't allow my children to spend too much time on the computer anyway so although they would probably dearly love a tablet too they wont be too ditressed that they wont be getting one.

I would love one myslef so one day we get one for the family but not yet.

ElfontheShelfIsWATCHINGYOUTOO · 14/11/2013 11:34

VERY TRue sootica.

She will have the best xmas next year if she gets one!

craftynclothy · 14/11/2013 11:49

My 6yo has one and my 4yo is getting one for Xmas. Tbh I find it's a good way of entertaining one while I help the other with homework so that the one doing the homework isn't distracted by toys/colouring stuff etc.

They don't have unlimited access to it though.

Mylovelyboy · 14/11/2013 11:52

I think 6 is too young. My ds is now 13 and the day I gave him his first electronic gadget (at 8) was in my opinion a big mistake. Once they have these gadgets they have a tendency to get so engrossed in them that they become somewhat anit-social.

Mylovelyboy · 14/11/2013 11:52

meant anti-social

Retropear · 14/11/2013 11:55

It isn't if they look after it and respect it.

Mine had DSs at 6 but if tablets had been around I'd have preferred at tablet as there is a lot more you and do and games are cheaper.

Kids differ my 3 have fab toys,masses of books,the great outdoors and were avid free readers at 6.They were ready.

wintercyclist · 14/11/2013 12:04

I think like anything it's personal choice. Mine have iPod touches at 4&6. We are getting a new ipad and kindle for Christmas and the old ones are going to the kids. They play wth them for 10 mins here and there. They are not engrossed in the, for hours because they have been around them for years. No novelty factor.

We can afford to, and that's our choice. They play with toys much more than electical things. I know a friends child who has none, but is addicted when she comes here, so I just put them away when they visit.

Six isn't too young. It's down to parents to regulate it, or not do it at all. So yabu to think it of everyone, yanbu to not want it for yourself.

Retropear · 14/11/2013 12:08

Yes I think teaching them self restraint and sticking to allocated times is important.

rightsaidfrederick · 14/11/2013 12:12

When I saw this thread title I thought it was going to be about whether or not a 6 year old could swallow a tablet or still needed Calpol

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