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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Tablet for a 2 year old

24 replies

startwig1982 · 19/01/2014 18:31

DS is 2.6 and plays on dh's tablet in the mornings when we can't be arsed to get up we're getting up.
DH has decided that DS should have his own tablet-not an iPad or anything expensive and he would disable the wifi connection.
I think the whole idea is, quite frankly, bonkers. Clearly a 2 year old does not need a tablet. AIBU?

OP posts:

ebwy · 19/01/2014 18:33

mine used his uncles at that age, and I can see why it might be desirable to give him his own. 2 year olds don't need them, but depending on the kid it could be good

ChoudeBruxelles · 19/01/2014 18:34

Huddles are good and fairly cheap

SomethingkindaOod · 19/01/2014 18:35

My 2yo old plays on mine sometimes, I have a few apps for her. There's no way I'd buy her one of her own though at this age!her brother and sister have one each at 13 and 7 so we'll be waiting a few more years to get her one.
YANBU

BrianTheMole · 19/01/2014 18:35

No one actually needs one, but it doesn't mean its a bad idea, or he shouldn't have one, as long as you limit screen time.

BrianTheMole · 19/01/2014 18:36

Huddles are quite good value with tesco vouchers.

SomethingkindaOod · 19/01/2014 18:36

Double post but isn't it a little scary (in a positive way) how good a child of that age can be on them?

steff13 · 19/01/2014 18:39

We got our 3-year-old daughter a tablet for Christmas. It's a Nabi 2. It has educational games on it, and she can watch cartoons on Netflix. We restrict her access to it, so she's not using it all day every day. She kept "stealing" my Nook HD and using it to play games, which is why we decided to get the Nabi.

I don't think you're being unreasonable not to want to get him one, but I don't think your husband is being unreasonable to want to get him one, either. Is your objection to buying him a tablet solely his age?

ChubbyLittleLoser · 19/01/2014 18:41

I've just ordered an Innotab 3s for DS's birthday next month when he will be 3, heard a lot of good things about them.

It is bonkers buying such a young child a tablet but as long as it is educational, screen time is limited and they use it alongside adult interaction and supervision rather than just being left to it then I don't think it does any harm.

FredFredGeorge · 19/01/2014 18:48

So you're already happy for him to use DH's tablet, but you're not happy for him to have is own - that's bonkers, why give him an adults tablet to play with if he could just have is own?

jellybeans · 19/01/2014 18:50

I don't get it really. Mine were teenagers when they got theirs. My younger ones were happy playing with their toys. I see kids being pushed round in buggies staring at screens and not sure if that is a good thing.

wobblyweebles · 19/01/2014 18:51

It is possible to have a tablet and not use it all the time.

Original poster

startwig1982 · 19/01/2014 18:55

I do realise that DH is not meaning for DS to have unlimited access. I just think that for the sake of 1 hour a day, there's no point in getting him his own and I feel uncomfortable with the thought of him having one.
I realise that doesn't make a huge amount of sense, seeing as he already uses Dh's but I don't think he should have one until he is older. He doesn't need one!

OP posts:

Twinkle1984 · 19/01/2014 18:56

We have a huddle that is largely used by our DD. It's a lot more sturdy than an iPad.

Mintyy · 19/01/2014 18:57

Yanbu. I think 2 is too young.

ToffeeOwnsTheSausage · 19/01/2014 19:01

2 year old and getting a screen. Makes me .

My 12 year old told me "I am growing up in a technological age Mummy" and of course he is but it doesn't mean they should spend more time on them than anything else.

Today we went out for 3 hours for a walk and time at the park. Came home tired and filthy but it was great and I did not feel guilty that they have spent a couple of hours doing various things on a screen. DS2 has just played draughts with DH and has helped me do a jigsaw.

I think it is all about balance but if a 2 year old gets a tablet when they are barely out of nappies how are you going to say no to the next screen thing they want when you have already started down that road?

It is really easy for kids to be on them for hours without you realising how much time has gone by.

Is your DH thinking more free time if your toddler has his own tablet?

foreverondiet · 19/01/2014 19:01

I have a nexus 7 and ds2 (aged 3) uses more than me. The parental controls on android are great - different log on screen for kids and you can turn off apps if you don't want them to access.

steff13 · 19/01/2014 19:04

It is really easy for kids to be on them for hours without you realizing how much time has gone by.

Our daughter's has parental controls that ensure she is only on for 30 minutes at a time. Then it goes to sleep, and she has to do something else. She is pretty good at self-regulating, though.

Original poster

startwig1982 · 19/01/2014 19:05

See that's my reasoning. We went out for a walk across the fields this afternoon, picking up nuts and twigs and mud. Hence I don't mind DS watching a hour of tv. We have also done play doh, trains, church(he was in the crèche), jigsaws, cars etc. So it's not like we've just spent the day with him in front of a screen.
I think if he had his own, the danger would be that he'd spend a lot more time on it, which I object to.

OP posts:

MarlenaGru · 19/01/2014 19:05

I See why it is tempting. DH bought himself a tablet as the one he bought me for my birthday a few years ago was being monopolised by our DD aged 3. She now shares with DH. Mainly watches netflix or plays the odd educational game. I thinkif we didn't also have phones we would have got her her own cheap one.

I got my DM a nexus 7 2012 model for £99 which seems excellent value!

MikeLitoris · 19/01/2014 19:10

There are lots of things 2yr olds have that they dont actually need.

Dd had a Nabi last year but it was rubbish after a few months. For Christmas she had this. No need to disable the wifi. It locks so only the apps you chose can be used.

Dd does word and number puzzles, colouring and watches films. She is also better than me at cut the rope.

She probably uses it about 4 hours a week. Possibly longer if we have a long car journey.

SpagBogs · 19/01/2014 19:11

No. He will end up being one of those children entering Nursery with boogers running down his face and knowing how to wipe it and not knowing how to tie his shoelaces and put his clothes on but able to know how to play on all the games and get around all the apps.

steff13 · 19/01/2014 19:15

I assure you my daughter can do all of those things, save tying her shoes, but to be fair, we haven't tried to teach her to tie shoes yet, as none of her shoes have ties.

MikeLitoris · 19/01/2014 19:26

Don't be so bloody ridiculous spagbogs

Dd is just turned 3 and can count to 30, recite the alphabet and write her name. She also wipes her own nose, dresses herself and wipes her own arse.

All that despite using a tablet occasionally

Whatsthatnoise · 19/01/2014 19:43

My dd(5) has the kids Samsung tab it's fab. TBH dp and I probably use it more than she does, its very sturdy has some really good built in apps, you can limit the on time although I haven't tested that yet she doesn't really use it for that long. Just because she has a tablet doesn't mean that's all she does.

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