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AIBU?

...to think a soon to be six year old doesn't need a bloody smartwatch?

64 replies

artisanscotcheggs · 29/01/2019 01:44

Just that really.

I don't know if I'm being an old grump or not, but I really don't see why a young child needs a smartwatch. Fiancé's ex wife wants to get one for the child they had together. He actually agrees with me, neither of us think she needs one, we could get her a standard watch until she's a bit older. I'm just trying to gauge it we are both being grouches. I'm the kind of person who finds it completely bizarre when i hear parents talking about their child's new iPad - only to find out they're four years old or something. Who gives a four year old an iPad? You can buy lower priced tablets that won't break the bank when they are inevitably broken within five minutes. I'm genuinely stunned.

She has supervised time on a tablet and also some time gaming on a Nintendo switch that belongs to her father, but those things are always supervised, and don't involve any socialising online.

So Mumsnet, am I being Oscar The Grouch, or is a plain non internet watch quite enough for a soon to be six year old?

Thank you in advance. Picture of Oscar attached just in case that is in fact me.

...to think a soon to be six year old doesn't need a bloody smartwatch?
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suzabell83 · 29/01/2019 17:08

Both my kids age 5 and 8 have the garmin watch which is a step counter. They like it, it motivates them to exercise more, and you can set chores in it for them to complete and get a reward. I wouldn't give them one with any online access or GPS tracking though

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ashvivienne · 29/01/2019 17:10

DS2 is 8 and has a Garmin kids tracker. We all have Apple Watches and he will get one at 12/13.
He does a lot of running like cross country and park runs so he likes to know his steps

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AcrossthePond55 · 29/01/2019 17:33

No, no child 'needs' any device, literally speaking. But I guess my thoughts are that if the child's mother wants her to have one and she's going to bear the full cost then whatever, go for it sweetie. It's sure to get broken, lost, or possibly stolen so it won't be an 'issue' forever.

But would I contribute to the cost? No. And I'd probably also tell her to keep it at her house when the child comes for access time.

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RogerBannister · 29/01/2019 17:44

No hatred for step-parents here, ‘dear’, I’m a step-parent - and what my step-daughter’s mother chooses to buy her is none of my business.

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CatsPawsAndWhiskers · 29/01/2019 18:01

Who gives a four year old an iPad?

We did. I don't think that makes us bad parents but judge away.

We have lots of tech, it's part of life now. We've never made it an issue, the kids use iPads, iPhones, have TVs in their rooms, laptops. I think because it's always been available, it's just another thing to them. They both still do plenty of things that don't involve tech. I've found it to be like sweets or chocolate, if you restrict it too much when they get it they go overboard. If it's just available, they use it sensibly.

If the girls mum wants to get her a smart watch, it's up to her. No, she doesn't need it, but you could say that about lots of things. Hopefully the girls mum isn't aware that you think she's wrong as it will just cause a problem where there doesn't need to be one. Pick your battles, ignore the rest.

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artisanscotcheggs · 29/01/2019 18:16

...her father doesn't want her to have one, so should his feelings just be ignored?

It's okay, any excuse to bash folks who invest time, money, love, and effort into a child's life that isn't a biological parent. Several folks have made that quite clear. I'll just tune you out now.

Thank you to everyone else who provided constructive opinions, I appreciate them. There seems to be a healthy amount of for/against on either side.

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CatsPawsAndWhiskers · 29/01/2019 18:33

..her father doesn't want her to have one, so should his feelings just be ignored?

On things like this, the mother and father probably won't make joint decisions as they are no longer together. So it's not a case of the fathers feelings being ignored. Hopefully on the big decisions they will be able to still make decisions together such as decisions on schooling, health etc but this isn't one of those things. I think the most he can do is say that she not to use it at his house if he feels so strongly about it.

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ChrisTsamados · 29/01/2019 18:49

@itsbritneybiatches that Oaxis watch sounds pretty useful and a alot better than slapping a Apple Watch on a kid which is gonna be far to complex for a small child and not to mention useless if you get the normally version and rediculous expensive if you get the cellular version. Is the Oaxis rugged as from the videos I've seen it looks like it might take a few hits and be broken?

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itsbritneybiatches · 29/01/2019 19:14

@ChrisTsamados

I like it. She's a pretty rough and tumble child and it's had a few knocks and I'm sure it's been dropped a few times too.

I tried the bestie watch - a button fell
Off before we even put it on and it feels cheap. The newer version might be better.

We tried another couple but I can't think of the names now.

To me this one seemed the most hardwearing and it has all the features I wanted.

She had the old version and unfortunately it went in the bath. That one wasn't splash proof. So it was ruined. She got the new version for her birthday. It's splash proof and has video calling where the old one wasn't/didn't.

The app is nice to use aswell. A few of the others were not great to use.

We wanted al of the things below and it had them. I don't think off the top of my head there is another one that does all that except the bestie one but I found that really poor plastic and pure quality.

School mode
Geomfemce
Calls
Emoji and voice message
Tracking
Video call
Emergency button for child
Listen in button for parents
White list for contacts

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Teateaandmoretea · 29/01/2019 19:15

...her father doesn't want her to have one, so should his feelings just be ignored?

FFS it's just a watch I can't believe the drama 😂😂. Talk about first world problems.

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AcrossthePond55 · 29/01/2019 21:42

...her father doesn't want her to have one, so should his feelings just be ignored?

No. Should her mother's? Because neither one trumps the other. It's a watch, not a kilo of cocaine. This is not the hill to die on when the solution is simple. If her mother wants her to have one, she pays for it and it stays with her. If her dad doesn't want her to have one, he does not contribute to it and if she brings it to your house, it gets put away until she leaves with a reminder to the ex-wife that it is to be left at home during Dad's time.

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Limensoda · 29/01/2019 21:46

@Limensoda bollocks

Grin

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Mamasita3 · 28/05/2019 07:50

Which watch you bought? I been reading reviews in amazon and I’m not sure which to buy.

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