FIL let DS5 have his ipad

[Tajmahalmarble]

DS is 5. He has the iPad when we are flying or in a situation where it’s difficult for a 5 year old to keep still for a long time. School “rule”. DS has always been very good about this. Asks occasionally but gets told it’s only for special occasions etc.

MIL and FIL are here. They are here for their benefit. They needed to do something in our city and we’re a free place to stay. Yesterday I took MIL to do this task (was dropping her off and picking he’d up later) and FIL said he’d look after DS. He knows about the iPad. When I got back DS was playing a fighting game on FIL’s iPad. I took it off him and he was very angry. I’ve never seen him like that. He kept saying he needed to kill the opponent. He’s FIVE!

FIL was asleep.

Discussion about it last night and MIL and FIL admit that although the game wasn’t suitable, not having an iPad is “cruel” because “they all have them these days”

Do they? Do all five year olds have iPads?

Am I being U by sticking to what the school advise?

“Kids do not need phones or ipads“
No. But sometimes their parents or grandparents do!

I disagree with schools implementing rules for in the home. School I went to tried to do this with bedtimes and it went down like a ton of bricks. Schools should make the rules for school and the parents make the rules for the home. End of

Kids do not need phones or ipads
There are lots of other things that can entertain them .

Of course there is lots of other things.

But I don't get the "kids dont need x".

Do you only provide things for your children they actually need?

Personally I dont think having a tablet or kot having a tablet makes anyone a superior parent. Theres advantages and disadvantages to everything. Ita abour navigating those choices while trying to do what's best for your child and family.

@Cryalot2 - no, you can live without it.

But times do change and the amount of school work required to be done on an electronic devise is increasing.

ICT is part of the curiculum and learning to navigate around a computer/tablet will be useful.

Noone says that as soon as an ipad appears in the house a child automatically stops playing. I am sure the parents in the Seventies thought the same about the TV.

As long as parents have decent rules, interact with their children and provide a variety of toys and games and outdoor activities an ipad fits very well into a child's development.

When DD got her ipad she could have it lying around for days while LEGO, dolls and board games were used for hours. But on a rainy day, being ill, on holiday with limited entertainment options it can be useful for longer stretches than others.

Op you’re doing fine! Keep him off it as long as you can!