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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To buy my DS an iPad for his birthday?

323 replies

ziggiestardust · 27/08/2014 15:49

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 Grin

AIBU?

OP posts:
curiousgeorgie · 29/08/2014 08:55

Kahu - 'as parents, we can't regulate our children's use of them'
This makes no sense. When I don't want DD to play with it, I take it away. If I don't want her to watch videos, I steer her towards puzzles or a read along story. How is that not regulating her use of it??

Fanjolina - why does it have to be one or the other? Why can't a child play outside, and also have an iPad? Why can't a child have Lego and playmobil and also have an iPad? Just because they have one doesn't mean they have no other toys and only play on that!

Lightasthebreeze - equally, why is a Hudl considered more appropriate?? It's still a shit tablet? Why doesn't it get the hate an iPad does? Again, I suspect jealousy. Should the OP get her child a lesser tablet just because not everyone can afford an iPad? And as she's already said, it's because she has a library of films and apps to transfer for her son.

And just as an aside, my DD loves her iPad, but also does puzzles and gets bored. It's a fully rounded childhood. It's not as if you buy an iPad and have to relinquish all other items Wink

LumpySpacedPrincess · 29/08/2014 08:59

curiousgeorgie yesterday dd built a load of lego then used her ipad to make a stop motion movie. She then took her ipad out and listened to music while she was on her trampoline.

LumpySpacedPrincess · 29/08/2014 09:05

Fwiw dd inherited my old Ipad as I upgraded to the latest Samsung. Grin

LightastheBreeze · 29/08/2014 09:11

curiousgeorgie - Why would I be jealous of an iPad when I have got one, I didn't come on here asking if I should buy it though. I didn't say a hudl was more appropriate, I just said people don't post about them.

I dont hate iPads, all my stuffs Apple but I didn't ask MN before buying it.

merlehaggard · 29/08/2014 09:18

But the OP explained why she was asking. Her mother was disapproving and was hoping for some backing. She might have all but made her mind, but so what?

TheIronGnome · 29/08/2014 09:19

I think a 4 year old with his (or her) own iPad is ridiculous. Borrowing a parent's is VERY different.

What you've bought him already is enough.

You're going to get one anyway though, so no point asking.

LumpySpacedPrincess · 29/08/2014 09:25

I wouldn't have bought one at 4 either but each to their own, eh.

George9978 · 29/08/2014 09:34

What a great crazy thread.

I've always been anti screen, then my five year old went to school, where they give them computers every day. It then dawned on me he was a bit unable to use them!

So we are buying him an iPad for Christmas ( age 6) it will have a case. We have been round the houses discussing buying something cheaper, looked at the options. However we came the conclusion that the stuff they want to play with needs a good tablet. ( better than I need as they play games)
If we buy a cheap alternative it will have a lower shelf life, as it already behind the current technology. So we will be replacing it in Two years time. We also have iPads and can share films etc.

At four, your probably going to want to restrict his access to it, so you could just share at the moment and give him screen time when you don't want it. (what we do with our four year old) But if you can afford it and want to keep yours to yourself, or usage clashes. I'd buy one. Although if you can share for a year or two he will get a more up to date machine that will last him longer.

Idontseeanysontarans · 29/08/2014 09:45

YANBU, I would if we could afford it! I have an iPad and an iPhone, DS has an iPhone (contract). We bought the older DC's Samsung tablets a couple of years ago and they were shit tbh, friends have said the same about the Hudl.
DD2 is 2.5 and after only a few tries on my iPad she could bring up her own YouTube videos when she worked out where the viewing history was, can start, play and shut down her game apps and play music & movies. There's nothing wrong with children having and using technology in moderation, and in my own experience the Apple products do tend to be the most reliable.

Original poster
ziggiestardust · 29/08/2014 12:27

Erm light I was answering a question regarding what I had already bought him Hmm what do you want me to do? Lie and say 'nothing'? I'm telling the truth; how is that stealth boasting?

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 29/08/2014 12:44

Kids are going to have access to technology nowadays but I don't see why in general they need their own devices.
I think those who suggest a cheaper tablet are missing the point really. The OP isn't exactly buying a present for her son. She's buying it because she seems unable to exist without the device for any length of time and doesn't want to share it with him.

curiousgeorgie · 29/08/2014 15:59

Sooty are you having a bad day? I the last five minutes looking on threads I've seen you berate someone for not being able to buy a house, take issue with this OP and even want to cancel Christmas Shock

Do you need a hug Wink

ilovesooty · 29/08/2014 16:03

The person who's getting impatient on the property ladder is this OP. Presumably she's not very patient waiting for her use of her iPad either.Grin

Original poster
ziggiestardust · 29/08/2014 16:47

Yeah I'm not rising to your bait. You've commented spiteful things on a couple of my threads now.

You clearly have a personal issue with my threads. I've no idea why. Kindly stop. It's a bit weird when people follow you about on threads. Thanks.

OP posts:
EarthWindFire · 29/08/2014 16:50

Following you about on threads? I don't know if this is what is hapoening, but you currently have 2 threads at the top of AIBU so people are going to look at both.

People are going to have different views to you. You coming accross as not liking others views.

Original poster
ziggiestardust · 29/08/2014 16:53

I just said I was being unreasonable on the other thread Grin

And there's no need for people to be rude just because it's AIBU. Although that seems to be the pattern...

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 29/08/2014 16:57

Oh dear. I hadn't realised that if someone had two threads on the front page I was only allowed to comment on one of them...Grin

LightastheBreeze · 29/08/2014 16:59

Whoops, I added the word "stealth", Its just boasting.

curiousgeorgie · 29/08/2014 17:04

Whenever people complain about 'stealth boasting'... All I read is jealous.

LightastheBreeze · 29/08/2014 17:05
Grin
LightastheBreeze · 29/08/2014 17:11

curious Didn't you mention earlier that children would be bullied for not having iPads, that is a very strange statement to make.

curiousgeorgie · 29/08/2014 17:28

Nope. I asked a poster if they were not worried about their child being the 'only one without an iPad'

Because I like to think that if my DD wanted something all her friends had, (and it was completely innocent!) then I would do my best to get it for her. Not deny her it and single her out.

NotGoingOut17 · 29/08/2014 17:30

Brilliant - just posted on your other thread and saw this. I'm not judging at all as I am a terrible spender but as I said on the other thread, life is about choices and someone who willing buys an ipad for a 4 year old (when they probably prefer the box) needs to understand that this is the kind of attitude that means they won't be able to get on the property ladder as soon as they would like.

I know I sound really old myself but I am 30 so not much older than you but really can't comprehend how that is a good use of money especially when you are clearly trying to save for a house. But for a windfall I wouldn't be on the property ladder myself but I fully accepted that I could be if I made better financial decisions (I like holidays too much though) - but I never once said how unfair it was that I couldn't afford a property when I was frittering my money away. Like I say, no judgement, but I guess you need to really consider if you really want to buy a house. My parents have told me many tales of how they lived a very basic lifestyle just to afford their 1st home. My decision is that I'd rather have nice things. You need to figure out which you want more because clearly as per your other thread, you can't have both.

InculKate · 29/08/2014 19:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Waltonswatcher · 29/08/2014 19:13

Curious
In relation to you calling the shots re usage . This is our issue , we allow limited iPod time . The older the kids get the harder this becomes , 90% of rows in our house are iPod time related . I usually use a rule whereby for every min of not handing it over 5 min are taken off the next slot . Often the pods are confiscated when the kids get really arsey about time up.
I'm plain sick of it and wish we'd all step back to the eighties for the duration of my mummying !

I was laughing earlier (but didnt post) about the cost of this iPad and all the stealth boost slinging - you can live in leaky shed on a rubbish heap and choose to spend your money on crap - how's that stealth boasting ? I'm now off to read the other thread ...

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