To get my 3yr old a tablet?

[Poptart4]

My 3 yr old sometimes plays toddler games on her sisters tablet. I've been thinking of getting her, her own tablet. A Vtech kids one. But I'm just not sure if this is too young to have a tablet? I would obviously monitor the amount of time she is on it, maybe 1hr per day maybe less definitely no more. I'm just not sure.

YABU - Shes too young
YANBU - Get her one

We got our daughter a kindle fire kids age 2, she's now 4. It's a good tablet and the kids profile is great as you can disable browser and camera, i leave hers on aeroplane mode so she can't download extra games.
It has a few playing games plus Disney plus and BBC Iplayer kids (for journeys) but mostly we've downloaded number games, phonics and letter practise plus some colouring apps.
She'll generally use it when she wakes up for 20 minutes until it's time to get dressed, that's about it, never had any tantrums over putting it away and it's really helped her on long journeys/plane journeys.

We have a tablet which my four year old uses. She has half an hour a day maximum (it has a timer), but most days doesn't use it. The only apps are cbeebies ones and an usborne "teach your monster to read" app so at least somewhat educational. We haven't had any tantrums about using it because from day 1 it has been limited to half an hour and the tablet won't turn on after the timer has run out.

Its workable if you have very strict boundaries and stick to them.

[quote LuxOlente]@SusieBob I don't know, I'm just saddened by four year olds that can't talk, use the toilet, hold a book or pencil and arrive at school like large babies, screeching for their tablet. I think that's a tragedy. Call it alarmist if you like.

I work in tech. I still think it's not for babies and toddlers who should be learning motor skills and speech.[/quote]
You must know that is not the norm though. If the parents are so crap that their kids can't talk or use the loo by age 4, then not having a tablet isn't going to make a lot of difference is it. If they weren't screeching for tablets, it would be for the TV or dummy or whatever else their parents gave them to keep them quiet.
(Physical and developmental delays excepted obviously)

My DD got a kids kindle at 3 and then covid hit so it was a godsend when trying to homeschool her big brother and work.

However as many have already said there can be tantrums so be really strict with limits.

Mine are 3 and 4 and have had tablets since last beginning of covid. They have free access and to be honest, they hardly ever use them. Maybe half an hour or an hour a day, maximum. I think it depends on the child. Mine would rather be in the garden or something

Mumsnet will flame you for even considering this but I did and monitor it and allow screen time. Hasn't done harm to either of mine.

They actually have learnt a lot via selected apps.

I would go with your gut. You know your own child better than anyone.

My daughter has had 1 since she turned 2, great for long car journeys, she has the amazon fire kids one. So many educational games etc and I'll be honest she doesn't bother with it much, maybe 30mins a day. She can have it when she wants but I think because of this she can take it or leave it. She's a very outdoor kind of kid! Her entire life will Evolve around technology so I think its important she can use it. Although I am teaching her how a keyboard works I think she thinks the whole world is touchscreen haha although by the time she is 10 it might be!

Your child, your decision. Do what you feel is right.

My son is 9 and we’ve never had one. He watches tv, he reads books, and in long journeys in the car we chat or he looks out the window and he gets bored and that’s fine. I don’t get why parents are scared of their kids being bored. He has amazing concentration skills, still plays deep imagination games for hours with his toys and Lego. To the pp who said a game on the iPad is similar to a board game, I mean it really isn’t. A board game is a social experience, learning how to interact and negotiate and communicate with others. A solitary game on the iPad isn’t comparable. Each to their own but I’m personally glad I haven’t opened Pandora’s box. When he is old enough he’ll get a phone and a computer of his own and I just don’t see that he’ll ever need a tablet.

Tablets are used in nurseries to help children get ready for using technology in school

As if not having used a tablet as a preschooler will hold them back.

So what do you give a 12month old to help them be ready for using a tablet at nursery?
Faulty logic imho.

DC1 has had one of our old iPads since about 2 years old I guess.

I’m not concerned about their development at all. Just completed reception and reading, maths and writing are all exceeding expectations.

I wouldn’t go out of my way to buy one for a young kid though, we just had a spare. DC2 will get my old iPad when it gets replaced.

I wouldn't. My friends 2year old grandaughter has one which they use in the car when she picks her up after work for a 20 minute car journey. It's beyond me why they don't just speak to her and ask about her day and look out of the window.
I obviously don't know how it's used at home but it just seems a bit sad.

Go for it

Ironically, I got mine one each about 3 years ago. Ds would have been 3 and dd would have been 5

They are now 6 and 8, and the last time they picked their tablets up was about a year ago

@lazyarse123

I wouldn't. My friends 2year old grandaughter has one which they use in the car when she picks her up after work for a 20 minute car journey. It's beyond me why they don't just speak to her and ask about her day and look out of the window. I obviously don't know how it's used at home but it just seems a bit sad.

Lolz at the idea of a two year old telling you about their day at nursery!

YABU and it’s totally unnecessary. She’s got decades of screentime ahead of her.

Mine had leappads at that age. TBH you might be better with a cheap android and a bumper cover.

The vtech / leapfrog games / apps are expensive although I'd be half tempted to pick up a second hand one for a couple of years.

Android have Google family link letting you restricted it as necessary.

You’ll wish you never unless you don’t mind them on it every waking hour or every day 🤷🏻‍♀️

Nope. She has plenty of other toys and books and in the car we can chat to her, sing, and point at things out of the window. I’d far rather she was glued to the views than a screen.

Mine are 4 and 6 now and have had one each for a couple of years or more. They are not even that bothered. My daughter likes to watch a bit of you tube but only to relax when she's tired.

I don't really see the big deal myself, useful to get out on long journeys, flights etc. I think restricting or not allowing just makes it all the more appealing.

@Imcatmum

Hold off as long as you can. No matter how much you think you're going to police it, you won't. And she will love it to her detriment.

This with bells on.

I'm work in early years and didn't introduce anything beyond limited tv until my dc were late primary age.
I've seen how detrimental it can be.

My dc were still playing years after my nieces who were given technology at a young age.

Save the battle to get them off gadgets for the teenage years!!!

@LilyinWonderland
I work in a nursery attached to a state school. We have stopped using iPads etc in the classroom, as a team we decided unanimously that they were detrimental to the children's learning.
I've heard other settings are choosing to do the same.

My daughter had a birthday party the other week and one of her little friends found a tablet.. left the party and went off upstairs to watch the bloody tablet!! I thought it was very strange.

@SusieBob
Alarmist? Sadly not.

I've worked in early years for 30 years and the 'iPad generation' of children we are seeing now, have absolutely appalling fine motor control etc
They literally have none of the correct muscles ready for writing etc as unlike previous generations they are now spending lots of time using one finger to operate a tablet and doing less climbing, building, colouring, cutting etc
It's very sad to see and it's getting worse each year.

@MotherOfCrocodiles

Mmm, mine (2 and 4) both get our tablets to play games and watch you tube. They know they only get it at a certain time (bloody early in the morning, or on long car journeys) and don't ask at other times. They get bored with it after a while and demand real toys and books and drawing.

4 yo can read (learned on tablet) and type (on tablet) and is very good with a real pen too. It definitely hasn't turned her into a vegetable.

Your last sentence is extremely offensive. Reported sadly.

If you're going to get one get a spare one for the house rather than calling it her tablet. Don't bother with the likes of v tech they are rubbish gimmicks. Just get a standard tablet with a protective case. They have their place. I find them particularly useful for long journeys