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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:

NoComet · 14/11/2013 12:18

DD2 had a lap top at six, but I think tablets are different.

They are very easily carried around and very easily dropped, lost or stood on. (DDs lap top stayed on her desk, often wired into the mains and the wired Ethernet).

DDs whine to take them on play dates and to other unsuitable places.

Tablets didn't exist when my two were six and I'm glad they didn't. Six is a odd intermediate age, many six year olds find it a frustrating, tantrum resorting to stage.

Personally, I think tablets are much more likely to be looked after at 7 or 8.

wigglesrock · 14/11/2013 12:19

My 6 year old uses my Kindle Fire - she does wordsearches on them , uses the CBeebies website, watches the odd film/ episode of tv show, draws like etchasketch type things, plays the piano. She has a couple of hours spread over a week on it.

Her 8 year old sister is getting a hudl for Christmas, if dd2 had shown a huge interest in getting on & money hadn't have been so much of an issue I probably would have thought about it.

mijas99 · 14/11/2013 12:22

My son has been using the iPad since he was 9 months old, now 2. He loves finding cartoons about cars on YouTube and playing computer games

It's really up to you what you buy your children based on what you can afford and think is appropriate

Our iPad is for the whole family, our son treats it with care although maybe not all children would, I don't know

tedmundo · 14/11/2013 12:32

bamboobutton .. I have a 5 yr old that plays on our ipad2 and does not tantrum when his turn is over. It may be 5 is too young for some, but not all. He would never throw it to the floor. He loves it too much!

My 2 older boys share my ipad and I think we may well get them an ipad mini after Christmas if they get enough christmas money from relatives. It won't change the amount of screen time they get, but it may actually mean I get to use mine now in the quiet half hour they are playing on it.

These threads are coming up more and more and there is a clear difference of opinion. And that makes sense because even as adults we all view technology with different ideals.

DH works in the tech industry. He tests gadgets to see how they fit into businesses current software / hardware set up. The children see a lot of gadge in our house. They can have screen time as ipad or telly. They are 50/50 on what they choose.

So, in a long winded way, if you think 6 is too old then that is fine. Wait a year or two!

curiousgeorgie · 14/11/2013 12:35

My DD is 3 and has an iPad (but still prefers to use mine or DH's!)

I don't think it's too young, I control what apps are on it and we supervise her with it. When she starts school they are allowed an iPad in a lesson once a week so I like the idea of her knowing how to do it. It's the way of the world now!

Alonglongway · 14/11/2013 12:37

You do need to think about future presents as well - the arguments for kids to have technology just keep on getting stronger as the kids get older. I'd hold off if possible so you have plenty of potential choices when he is 10/11, otherwise you may just find you are upgrading devices, which is a bit boring?

I have DDs who have never been keen on games so they got small amount of use from DS/gameboy at that sort of age, kindles/iPods around 10, laptops at 13. But always had access to family computers. dd1 is 16 and got a mini iPad last Xmas, which she treasures. I've always been anti TV in their bedrooms so that was another argument for rationing the technology

oscarwilde · 14/11/2013 12:41

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.

I don't think 6 is too young to use one, but I do agree with your point. I think at that age it is a good thing for a child to understand (whatever the family income) that it is an expensive item which should be handled with care and respect; and that to use it is a priviledge and not a right.
I don't see how anyone can justifiably give a present to a small child which comes with restrictions on usage for health reasons.

FrequentFlyerRandomDent · 14/11/2013 12:55

I am surprised about the toddlers with iPads. I thought it was a no no before no no before three.

At 6 I would make sure parental controls are up, that I have spoke to my D s about cyber bullying and internet safety and treat ipad time as screen time.

halcyondays · 14/11/2013 13:18

no it's not too young for a tablet
No, he won't be ostracised for not having one.
they always tell ou lots of their friends have things they want.

Nanny0gg · 14/11/2013 13:27

It's easy to limit them - use an egg timer or set the kitchen timer for them to start/stop.

Just because they have the technology themselves, it doesn't mean that they have unfettered access to it.

merrymouse · 14/11/2013 13:32

DS has one (he is 10). If I am completely honest I think he has one because DH would buy a new Apple device for the dog if he thought he could get away with it. ("No honestly, we have not just acquired a new iphone because I just had to go out and stand in-line with my fellow cult members at the Apple store, Fluffy neeeeeeeded it!!).

I don't think DS needs it because I don't allow unsupervised screen access and he is only allowed to use it for an hour a day so he might as well use the family ipad (or the 'old-fashioned iPad'). At 6 your child is unlikely to be able to access anything too worrying, but I still don't think there is much advantage to be gained from a child having their own screen. I haven't come across anything for 6 year olds on an ipad that can't be done just as well on paper (and I have really looked), and I don't think 6 year olds (or even 10 year olds) are hugely bothered about other children having their own iPad.

Thegreatunslept · 14/11/2013 13:40

Dsd age 6 is getting one from her mum for Christmas.
This is probably because she already uses my iPad when she's here with us she is allowed half an hr a day and that half an hr comes out of her tv time.
We have chosen the apps on it for her so we know which type of games she is playing and all in app purchases are turned off and pin coded!

Retropear · 14/11/2013 13:42

But Merry life doesn't begin and end with pencil and paper.It doesn't have to be either or.

Take Squeebles yes I could have sat down the dc with hours of pencil/paper drill,me firing questions or I simply hand the Ipad over with Squeebles and leave them to it.As I say all 3 learnt their tables in a week.It's fun,well designed and they want to do it, 3 key things kids always need to leaning.

fuzzpig · 14/11/2013 13:45

We've had an old iPad for about 18 months now (very generous friend gave us his old one when he upgraded) and my DCs - now 6 and 4 - are allowed 30 mins each a day on it (or our old Nintendo DS)

I think it is absolutely brilliant and we are really lucky to have it, but I wouldn't get my DCs their own tablet - they'd still have the same limits on screen time so there's no point. At this age I want to spend the budget on toys! :o

merrymouse · 14/11/2013 13:47

Maybe it depends on your children. My children are allergic to anything electrical that is supposed to make maths fun and thought Squeebles was boring. Having said that, clearly some children love Squeebles. I don't think you need to buy them their own device to play it though.

Retropear · 14/11/2013 13:50

No but it saves squabbling.

Retropear · 14/11/2013 13:51

That said mine make do with Ipod touches a good compromise.

Jinty64 · 14/11/2013 13:58

Ds3 (7) is getting a HUDL or Christmas. I don't think 6 is too young but I do think it is your choice.

madamginger · 14/11/2013 14:05

Dh and I have a tablet each that my 3 aged 3,5 and 7 are allowed to play on. They watch films and play games on them.
They respect them and they don't get thrown about.
I really don't get this argument against technology for kids, it is the way of the world now, and it will only get worse as technology improves.

12thmonkey · 14/11/2013 14:06

to answer your question straight, YABU to think that 6 is too young. By this age you expect kids to read, write, basic math. basic computer skills are a must in the near future even if they may not be now.

If you think 6 is too young thats for you to decide.

kmdwestyorks · 14/11/2013 14:10

It's only too young if it's unsupervised, unvaried, used as a childminding service or he wants one but doesn't really know why or what for.

but then the same is true of all other activities a 6 year old might express interest in.

bamboobutton · 14/11/2013 14:15

well whoopdiedoo for you tedmundo for having a compliant 5yo.

it's not an uncommon problem, ds's class teacher has had to pretend the computers in their classroom are broken as so many kids were getting hooked and had almighty strops when their turn was over.

Joysmum · 14/11/2013 14:20

Quite frankly I couldn't give a toss what others families do. My DD have more freedoms than most in some respects, less than others in other respects.

I set the rules based on the child standing in front of me.

As parents, we have to recognize and accept that there isn't a magic point as which all parents allow all children new things/rights/responsibilities in their lives so the sooner we all get comfortable with imposing our own rules the better.

merrymouse · 14/11/2013 14:24

The kinds of things 6 year olds do with computers/iPads/screens is no more computer skills than watching television is television skills. It's a medium to present content - some good,some bad, but none necessary to a 6 year old.

Chopstheduck · 14/11/2013 14:25

Not read the whole thread, but you don't give them free access, simples. My children are horrid if they've had too much time in front of screens, so other than when necessary for homework, computers and video games are limited to weekends only. DS1 bought his own tablet shortly after his 8th birthday, but was def playing on my ipad at 6. All the tablets are kept in a drawer downstairs, so no chance of them sneakily playing during the week.

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