To buy my DS an iPad for his birthday?

[ziggiestardust]

He's going to be 4, and I think it's be a great idea for him to have his own. He watches movies on mine at the weekend, we take it in the car for long trips, and it's got some games and stories on there too. I'd love to be able to free up space on my iPad by giving him his own.

It's just a posh LeapPad isn't it really?

My mum is getting all incredulous and puffy cheeked about it, but I had a Sega Megadrive when I was about his age and played on it after school with my friends. At least this would get more use! She seems to have forgotten that bit though

AIBU?

What does he actually want for his birthday? Your reasons are all about you!

There are much cheaper tablets available. Why get one of the most expensive?

I've already bought him what he asked for, which was the barbie dream house from Toy Story 3, the barbie and ken and a diesel works from Thomas the Tank, along with some engines because he likes them.

I thought this would be a useful present.

noble primarily so I can put the movies on there I've already bought.

If you can a) afford it b) are going to ensure he doesn't become addicted to it and allow it to detract from other types of play and c) ensure he can't access any inappropriate content then I can't see the issue.

Aldi's has some brilliant tablets in at the moment both adult and child friendly ones for about £70 and come with a 3 year warranty and the child one can have child locks put on to stop them going on dodgy sites

Oh yes I'd put it in one of those lifeproof cases you can get.

We tend to do quite a lot at the weekend anyway as I run my own business, so it's usually just nice for him to watch something whilst I'm cooking his tea and hoovering up, not normally more than an hour. It's really handy when he's off pre school sick as well as that's all he feels like doing.

Definitely get one. My daughter is turning 4 in a couple of months and uses mine and DH's... So we're doing the same and getting her one.

I'm just a bit about my mum being all judgy. We're buying him a bike at Christmas, so it's not like it's one in favour of the other!

You'd be better off getting him the bike now rather than in the depths of winter. The iPad would be more useful when it's dark and rainy!

It's probably because they're so incredibly expensive and 4 year olds can be destructive souls.

Also a child should be able to play without fear of a 'be careful with that' and 'nooooooo don't put it there look after it!'

don't get an iPad, Android is much better than iOs, plus there are some cheap Android tablets. There are no cheap iPads.

Don't you think an iPad is just better though? I generally think things are priced a certain way for a reason...

I think ziggy is right - he'll get more use out of a bike now than in the depths of winter, and an iPad will be really useful in the bad weather when he can't play out as much.

Do you have an HD TV that's got wifi? If so you might want to look at this.

www.johnlewis.com/apple-tv-with-1080p-full-hd/p231567860

Anything you've bought is on the cloud so you can delete it from your iPad (giving you more room) and stream it through your TV.

I'm not too fussed about him dropping it; I will put it in a case anyway, and he normally uses it at his table in his playroom so the likelihood of him dropping and doing damage to it is quite low.

terrier how would he use apps though?

Don't you think an iPad is just better though? I generally think things are priced a certain way for a reason... You are a marketer's dream.

I think they're better because you can lock them down easier, and also I have one so I know how to use it etc.

If you can afford it and he will make use of it then I would.

How is it about what I want?! I've bought him what he's asked for; this was an idea for a useful present.

Don't you buy your kids clothes at Christmas? Or a winter coat? Bet they don't come asking for that!