Wwyd. Would you buy a kindle fire for a 2 year old?

[UmbongoUnchained]

Just out of interest.

no I wouldn't

We just bought one for or almost 4 year old!

It has parental controls so we log in to the "kids" icon and he can only use this part of the Amazon Fire. We've downloaded a few games (good for hand to eye co-ordination) some stories and some colouring in stuff.

It is used sparingly and not as a substitute for reading books /actual colouring in with pens and pencils / crafts etc.. it is used alongside all our other activities.

I don't see the big deal to be honest?

Lots of children with asd use tablets as a communication aid. Although I'm sure some people think they would start talking ( and no longer have asd) if you took them away.

I don't get the angst. As long as they are only on them for a limited time and not hours on end it's absolutely fine.

My DD (2.5) has a Leappad which we bought her as a gift from her new little brother. She loves it and is able to navigate it well.

We started off saying she wasn't going to be able to play with our phones / iPads etc and tried very hard to keep her tech free. Unfortunately we didn't communicate this with our parents so (independent of each other) both mine and my DH's ended up letting her play with their iPads and phones when she was them, looking at photos of herself and her cousins, watching Mr Tumble on YouTube, playing kids educational apps etc. (It's backfired somewhat though as when Nanny arrives now she's literally going 'yay! Nanny! Hello Nanny! iPad!' which is awkward but a by product of Nanny letting her play on it EVERY TIME she sees her)

She loves books and I was initially worried that giving her the Leappad would stop her doing that or that she'd be on it all the time but she's actually pretty good at self regulating with it. It's a godsend for the half hour when I'm sorting her dinner and having been pushed into getting it (mum in law kept hinting she should have one from age 1 (!) and it was only that we kept firmly saying that we wanted to get her one from her new brother that stopped it arriving even earlier) I'm less grumpy about it now. That said, we keep it and she doesn't have it in the toybox the whole time.

I don't think we'd buy her a Kindle Fire (although they are coming down in price all the time) but as one thing she plays with along with everything else I don't think it does any harm in moderation (and at home - we don't take it out with us, and she doesn't use it for unlimited periods).

The language benefits sound ace - and have got me thinking. I speak a second language which my husband doesn't know. I'd love her to know it (at least conversationally) but I don't talk to her in it because it feels like I'm excluding him which isn't fair.

Don't worry about people thinking you're a shit parent though - in my experience people will always find something to judge.

DS1 is 3 and has one. He's not overly invested in it, but loves the reading and maths apps (that he chose himself). It switches off at 7.30pm although he's barely ever on it at that time, and I've limited his time on it. I think they're great.

No i wouldn't. Whats wrong with normal toys nowadays?

honkinghaddock
Couldn't agree more I resent explaining how much a kindle helped my Dd's asd only to be told that it was probably nothing to do with the kindle she would have 'normally' developed these skills at this age anyway and kindles are bad.

If I took away her computer I'd be taking away her voice, it's a shame that people will judge her using one but at least now I have a way to explain it says more about them than her.

We got our two Kindle Fires when they were 3 and a bit. Reading this thread it seems like we must have dodged a massive bullet because despite the lure of the tablets they still go to the park, draw and paint, play with playdoh and duplo, bake, have bedtime stories and spend hours and hours playing make believe games with each other. Amazing.

As to how I deal with them asking for the Kindle too much/staying on it too long: I find that "no, that's enough" deals with that fairly adequately. Same answer as when they want to eat biscuits for dinner, no? It's hardly the only boundary you ever have to enforce.

No. I wouldn't get my 6 year old a tablet either

I agree with artandco.

I also think it's very dubious when parents start going on about how much they've learned from their tablet. I think it's actively damaging to give children that sort of technology at such a young age.

I suppose those who are being judgemental have never had the experience of having a child of usual talking age that can't talk and the immense frustration that can create for the child.

Honking - yes I have

Still not talking aged 6?

Or younger than that but with a diagnosed communication and social interaction disorder?

Neither of mine spoke at just 2 either. That's normal. By 3 they were bilingual talking non stop.
Really Artandco

My youngest sister didnt talk much before 8/9 years. She still uses writing more than words often and when talks is unclear to those who don't know her, she's now 18.

The thread simple question was about a 2 year old though. Not a teenager. No she didn't use a computer at 2 years. Yes she is very good at using one now.

If you knew anything about asd you would know that anything that fosters communication is good. I wish my ds had the ability to communicate in some way instead of hurting himself and other people.

I think it's actively damaging to give children that sort of technology at such a young age.

As a society we're fucked then because in the very normal circles I move in at least 60-70% have access to a tablet. All those damaged children, growing up together.

Yes in teenagers and older children. Not a 2 year old. A 2 year old without any additional needs Is very likely to still not talk, as mentioned above.

My 3 year old has had an ipad for over a year. It doesn't get used in the house but is great for long car journeys or family meals as a back up to keep him running around a nice restaurant.
HE has some great educational apps and some that are just good fun. He also likes to use the camera alot.

art I don't know about where you live but where I live a NT 2 year old who couldn't talk would fail their 2 year review and be refered to a specialist.

That's nice for you. I'm in London. They both past with flying colours as could point to what was being asked. The rest Wa shuts asking about walking/ balance
If other areas are concerned at 2 that's madness. Almost all our friends are bilingual. Almost all there children didn't talked by 2. They all spoke fine by 3 years. It's another 1/3 of their life again.

• was just