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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask what gadgets your 7year olds (or under) have?

77 replies

HaggisandHairClips · 06/12/2016 20:43

DS is 7 and has asked for an iPhone for Christmas Confused

He won't be getting one - he has no need.

We have a family iPad which he uses mainly for games.

He doesn't really have any other gadgets . He's never asked before .

My brother thinks I'm mean and should get him one Hmm

What do your 7 year olds own?

OP posts:
lessthanBeau · 07/12/2016 12:19

I m not saying she needs it, god knows it does my head in! But Im not about to forbid her screens, anymore than I would have forbidden my ds his guitar . It's just tech, it isn't hurting her or anyone else, it doesn't stop her playing or swimming or going to cubs, she's very well rounded. In answer to the actual op she won't be getting a phone with service anytime soon, thinking secondary school. We all got CB radios in secondary so mobiles are just a natural evolution arent they? The other tech imo are just sophisticated toys an actual phone with service seems a totally different thing to me.

NightWanderer · 07/12/2016 12:33

DS has a second hand iPod Touch and a DS. He desperately wants a laptop but he's too immature and I don't think he'll take care of it.

Clandestino · 07/12/2016 13:18

her own tablet (inherited from me)
use of xbox, wiiu, DH's mac
mobile? no way. too young

M0nkington · 07/12/2016 13:23

DS 5 has had the same iPad mini since he was 2 1/2. In a life case. It has lasted amazingly well. Has restrictions on downloads etc. We fly long haul a lot though and Facetime family members and each other. Doesn't need anything else.

JustHappy3 · 07/12/2016 13:25

Own tablet - for watching tv (usually on in the background while he's playing with lego etc because no siblings to play with. I like listening to music whilst cooking etc so it seems the same to me.)
Own cheap laptop. Purely for supervised online homework. Cos i'm not bloody letting a 7 year old bash away at my precious laptop thank you very much.
Xbox360 - kept in the lounge for playing with friends. Deliberately old tech.
Phone - not yet cos one of us is always with him or he's in school. Perhaps in Yr5 when he goes to school on the bus. One that just phones/texts tho cos i'm evil!

IWillOnlyEatBeans · 07/12/2016 13:30

My 6 yr old has an android tablet and sometimes plays on my old Nintendo DS.

Cazj85 · 07/12/2016 13:31

My ds 1 (12) has own phone laptop and xbox one and a chrome book but that's a school thing, ds 2 (7) has tv ps3 and fone getting a very expensive but got a great black friday deal on it lenovo 2 in 1 laptop tablet, ds 3 (5) fone ds 4 (2) amazon fire tablet, it's alot harder to keep younger ones of gadgets when they have older siblings..

Carneddai · 07/12/2016 13:54

7yr old has a kindle fire for use on weekends and long car journeys.

CozumelFox · 07/12/2016 13:55

7? Nothing! They have toys.

What the hell's a 7 year old going to do with an iPhone? Call other 7 year olds on their phones? Send pictures to people?

Carneddai · 07/12/2016 13:55

I'm with chips does you db have kids? Also I wouldn't expect a 7yr old to be on social media

TheGrandTourOfMyArse · 07/12/2016 14:05

Mine are quite a bit younger at 5&4 and have a kiddizoom camera each and are getting a tablet to share for Christmas. They have nothing else tech-wise.

Amateurish · 07/12/2016 14:15

DD8 and DS6 have no gadgets and will not have any for as long as possible. We have one TV in the living room.

They both have a portable music player for audiobooks.

They can use the family laptop but their access is restricted to Mathsfactor only.

They have never asked for a phone, tablet or console.

liz70 · 07/12/2016 14:19

DD3 (7) has

Hudl tablet
TV +DVD player in bedroom, used for watching her own DVDs on weekend evenings as a treat.

Otherwise she just watches the family tv downstairs, or uses one of DH's laptops for homework.

everythingis · 07/12/2016 14:53

4 and 7 year old. 7 year old has own iPad. 4 year old has the family iPad use. They have net flix on the tv too. Screen time is limited obviously. Oh dd1 has a leapad which is rarely used and a kiddizoom camera.

Love the righteous no screen time posts.

lessthanBeau · 07/12/2016 16:53

So we're all pretty much divided on what tech our kids have or are allowed to use, but seems we all agree that under 12 is a no-no for the mobile phone. Xmas Grin merry Christmas everyone.

witsender · 07/12/2016 16:57

They both have tablets loaded with a few subscription educational things, we home ed and find them very useful.

MsJamieFraser · 07/12/2016 16:58

Ds7

iPod
iPad
iMac
Raspberry PI (various devices)
Xbox
Wii U
GoPro and a waterproof case for it.

He also has access to other family gadgets, we are a tech family

Eaglesandbeagles · 07/12/2016 17:04

DP gave DS (4 years old) an iphone 5s without telling or asking me. It was his old work one which is updated regularly and has no issues. He has also set it up so we click the button three times and DS can't leave the app he's on or even turn the volume up or down or buy anything. He only uses it for kids youtube so far.
I don't mind because he only uses it when we give it to him and we can put a timer on it. He can also facetime family members if I do it for him so my phone isn't taken up completely when he wants a chat with his nan.
I do mind the awkwardness of friends kids who are older being upset that they don't have an iphone and my DS does. I can see the pain in their eyes when they have to explain why they don't want their kids to have one so young whilst trying not to offend me because my 4 year old has one.
They really have no need for them though. Maybe a nintendo or something would be okay? i think most kids want an iphone purely so they can say "i've got an iphone".

Hygellig · 07/12/2016 17:09

I certainly wouldn't get a 7yo their own iPhone!

My two are six and nearly four. They both have a Kindle Fire for Kids. They also ssometimes use my iPad.

Fancythat69 · 07/12/2016 17:19

Dd7 and dd5 share a TV that has nowTV connected in their bedroom, shared PS3, iPad mini each, access to PS VR and PS4. DD7 is having Nintendo 2ds for Christmas and an iPhone4s (not on contract).

Notso · 07/12/2016 17:33

My five year old wants an iPhone for Christmas. He isn't getting one. I think it's just he has heard DD 16 going on about them and seen her apps etc so wants one.
I think we got a Nintendo DS when DD was 8 and a wii a bit later, we no longer have either.
My 5 and 4 year olds have no tech of their own. They sometimes watch DS1 on his kindle or Xbox or DD on her iPad/iPhone. I have an iPad with a few apps for them which they can play on the weekends if they wait for the sunshine on the groclock but they hardly ever wait for the sunshine Hmm
I let them see pictures on the class dojo and also 5 year old does homework on hwb using the iPad or DH's laptop.

altiara · 07/12/2016 17:41

My 7.5 yr old DS has access to my Nintendo DS, family iPad, shared access to the xBox. He would like his own stuff but I don't see the point of him needing it do often he has to have his own. My DD had a hudl when she was 8 I think and an iPod touch when 10. Will prob get her a phone of some sort when she starts secondary school.

Fanfeck · 07/12/2016 17:45

Kiddyzoom camera (unused)
Leap Pad

Getting a 2DS for Christmas

Juanbablo · 07/12/2016 17:50

We have a family iPad that all dcs use (9, 6 and 2). Ds1 has a Nintendo 3ds. Ds1 and dd are getting Kindle Fires for Christmas.

HicDraconis · 07/12/2016 17:53

Both boys had their own kindles once they were around 7-8.

Other than that they had no gadgets of their own - we have lots of family tech bits (computers, laptops, PS3, Xbox 360, wii, iPads etc) to which they have access.

DS2 was given his own iPad mini on his 9th birthday but he doesn't have unlimited access - screen time has to be earned (by doing chores) but if he's got some he can spend it as he chooses. They both use my phone for Pokemon Go when we're out, that's the only unearned screen time they get.