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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

sending a child to "apple store summer camp" to sit inside with a tablet is depressing

46 replies

cobpol · 26/08/2014 16:03

Hi,

A friend of mine has been sending her son to the apple store to do their summer camp. This involves using a mini tablet all day in a back room in the shop. Sure they might be doing educational stuff.

But aibu thinking this is a depressing and sad way to spend some of your summer? Probably. Expensive too but didn't ask

OP posts:
DownByTheRiverside · 26/08/2014 16:06

My DD keeps reminding me that I'm way out of touch with how the youth of today operate. Smile
So, how long? How many hours? Have you got a clue, or would you just like to join DS and me with our nature rambles, cooking sprees and making stuff?
DD would choose the apple summer camp over that any day.

Laymizzrarb · 26/08/2014 16:07

Not for you to say it's sad or not. The child may enjoy it, and as long as the child gets some physical excercise during the day, can't see the problem with it.

AuntieStella · 26/08/2014 16:08

My geeky teens would be in heaven!

Not that either likes Apple much, but they've loved other tech courses. But you do need to ask a few questions (or rather get prospective participant who knows what they're on about to ask) before signing up to see what level nerd it would be suitable for. Too easy and it would be seriously dull/pointless.

fuzzpig · 26/08/2014 16:09

Wow I had no idea that existed.

googoodolly · 26/08/2014 16:11

I would have absolutely loved that as a pre-teen. Unfortunately, there was nothing like that in my area and my parents insisted on sending me to sporty camps instead and I spent most of my summers miserable. I hate team sports and I hate all that forced fun and activity.

YABU. It might not be for your child, but some kids would love it, and if it's educational too, it sounds great.

DownByTheRiverside · 26/08/2014 16:13

Quick google...
'Join us at Apple Camp for three-day workshops where kids ages 8 to 12 bring their imaginations to life. They'll learn to make movies or create interactive books complete with their own illustrations and sound effects. And each workshop ends with the Apple Camp Showcase so campers can share their finished projects.'

Three days? Sounds fun.

PureMorning · 26/08/2014 16:14

Ds would love this!

magpiegin · 26/08/2014 16:15

YABU. Everyone is different and enjoy doing different things.

DoJo · 26/08/2014 16:15

YABU - a child who is doing that is learning the skills which their generation will need to compete in the job market, and presumably, it's something that they enjoy as well, so what on earth is sad about that? What do you think they should be doing?

SoonToBeSix · 26/08/2014 16:15

Sounds great fun my dd would love it. Yabu.

lordnoobson · 26/08/2014 16:15

Anyone wanting active tech based camps should look at these.

www.techcamp.org.uk
Son went. Was amazing. He was learning java script and Linux. He is 11

lordnoobson · 26/08/2014 16:16

Plus great food he says.

DownByTheRiverside · 26/08/2014 16:16

Well done OP, you now have a lot of people putting this on their 'To be investigated for next year' list.
Do you work for apple? Grin

lordnoobson · 26/08/2014 16:16

(Plus designed three apps iirc)

Nanny0gg · 26/08/2014 16:17

I'd love it!

Great skills, some of which are covered in the NC so will help them at school.
And could be a great hobby at home and a possible future career!

What's not to like?

SoonToBeSix · 26/08/2014 16:18

And not expensive in fact the camp is free. I wish I had known about it sooner. Will be sending dd next year, thanks op Grin

Terrierterror · 26/08/2014 16:20

Depressing is being dragged round the lighting department of BHS in the 1980s.

bloodyteenagers · 26/08/2014 16:21

So for 3 days they do something that they enjoy - make movies - shooting video - making soundtracks - interactive books, plus more, and this is wrong? Why?
The child has 5 and half weeks to play and mess around.

Oh and here is a huge shocker. The cost. It's nothing.

Lots of educational things. Lots of things that they will then be able to use in school and for fun.

lordnoobson · 26/08/2014 16:21

Tech camp I linked to is expensive. I fear. But worth it. Tiny groups. Super clever teachers

Waltermittythesequel · 26/08/2014 16:22

I wish I had known about this for ds. He'd be in his element.

Takver · 26/08/2014 16:30

The tech camp looks fab, lordnoobson, but ouch it is £££s!

UnrelatedToElephants · 26/08/2014 16:32

Why not if they want to and mum can afford it? Sounds fun to me!

Festival of Code by Young Rewired State is a similar - nationwide, free - one.

bruffin · 26/08/2014 16:36

Its free, sounds brilliant, my dc would have loved it
I did my dcs to computer summer courses at that age for a week, they loved it and went back the next year. In the same summer they also went climbing, kayaking and sailing.

whatever5 · 26/08/2014 16:36

It sounds really good. Why do you think the workshop would be depressing and sad OP?

Missunreasonable · 26/08/2014 16:36

Apple summer camp was free, can't believe I missed this as my DS would have loved it.