...to wonder why parents allow thier kids free range PC's/Tablets/Smart phones etc

[ElenorRigby]

I was reading about a mum who was having awful trouble with her preteen kids who would get very angry or worse if she tried to part them from PC's.

AIBU to not get why parents let this happen?

Not let what happen?
Them getting angry?

Free range tablets as opposed to battery farmed ones?!

Preteens throwing strops....shocking!

Because children today can't be trusted or taught about responsible internet use. They have to be monitored all the time

DSD 11/ DD7 are never allowed on the fowl spawn of Satan that are social media, games, internet and the associated hardware PC's, lappies, tablets, smart phones etc.

Why would a parent abrogate their parental responsibility by allowing their DC's free range to the above?

fowl spawn? I thought fowl had eggs?

Presumably it's ok for them to be igored by you as you play on the internet?

Technology has alot of very positive effects on children. As usual, it's all a question of balance. Mine do not do it to the exclusion of everything else - but this technology is here to stay so better to learn to control using it rather than treat it as something satanic. Which is it isn't

I'm going to add 'fowl spawn' to my collection

dam theses parents who want to parent differently than you. Dont they know you are right and they should all be following your example.

Yabu, however you have made me laugh out loud so all is forgiven.

I think the fowl spawn are on Minecraft.

So your 11 and 7 year old don't have access to a computer/ds/iPad etc,ever? Seems a bit draconian.

Technology is the future. The earlier your kids start using it, the more familiar they will be and the better the nursing home they'll eventually be able to pay for.

The 'fowl spawn' that you are on just now you mean

How will you teach your dc to use the internet responsibly if they aren't allowed on it at all?

The worst thing about electronics is that children who have free rein on them and the foul spawn of social media don't learn to spell.

I couldn't resist.

lol I cant bloody think or spell straight after a week fowlly foul tonzillitis

My 11y DD has plenty of access to technology - computer, iPad, iPhone, Kindle, an old DS, a shared PS3...

But she does not have "free range" access. I have never had to tell her not to use them as she is, so far at least, not obsessed with any of them. They are not allowed to be used after bedtime, at the dinner table, etc.
She hasn't yet been taken over by the devil - she is still happy and social, spends time with friends and family happily without them, does a range of other activities inside and out....

Her computer is used effectively for school work primarily - Powerpoint, Word, Excel and Publisher for presentation of work, Scratch for programming, photo and video editing.....

Her iPhone for keeping in touch with friends and family, but also for music and occasionally for games (latter not often)...

Ipad - for social stuff, face time, quick internet searches, a few games, listening to music, photos/video, watching a film..

DS rarely used these days tbh. Family S3 used mainly as a Bluray player, but sometimes for games - Harry Potter spells one, or singing ones.

I have complete access to her phone and iPad (and computer) inc her messages, emails, etc. She knows this and it is a condition of her having them.

My 8yo DS gets a bit stroppy when we tell him it's time to come off the kindle etc. We just take that as a sign that he really needs to stop playing for a while and so getting angry doesn't achieve the result he desires.

What do your children do at school, OP, where there are electronic whiteboards and IT suites?

And how is your eldest child going to cope at secondary school (unless they're already in Y7 now) and homework if you never allow access to the internet?

Also, hypocrite much? You're using the internet to complain about how awful the internet is

Aren't you concerned your kids are going to be miles behind when it comes to IT exams?

I think you 11yr old will be out the loop with homework friends and loads more if they dont have technology to hand IMO but tbh a preteen having a strop isn't a new thing but it seems ok for you to be on the internet complaining about the internet

I'm just getting images of satanic hens bearing ipads.

you'll do your children far more harm than good if you try to keep them in a bubble away from the 21st century. especially when they reach 18 and realise that they can't get a job because everyone else has at least a basic grasp of how to exist in the modern world

when my dh was a pre teen he spent every spare minute playing Jet Set Willie and Manic Miner on his, oh what's it called, Commodore 64? The thing where the games were on tapes and they took half an hour to load.

People have been wringing their hands and wailing about computers for at least 30 years. He has turned out ok and his love of all things tech-y has led him into a career he loves. I can't get myself worked up about 2013 kids playing Minecraft.

What does your DH do teacle?

I mean treacle