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Original poster

To get a tablet for 2 year old?

110 replies

Scotlandma · 30/06/2023 10:22

I feel like I often see very young children with tablets and I’ve heard they can also be very educational but I’m not sure if it’s recommended for 2 year olds?

(my child is not yet 2 I’m thinking for their birthday)

for background my child is in full time nursery so doesn’t get very much screen time in the week and on the weekend I tend to be out running errands but TV does help whilst I’m trying to cook dinner or occasional send a quick email in the evening.

I’m not thinking of the kind of situation where we have to bring an iPad to a restaurant (I’m not judging that situation but DS behaves quite well out) more so for car rides or almost as a toy that DS can choose to play with.

OP posts:
Careerdilemma · 30/06/2023 10:25

Personally I wouldn't. I think it's important for children that age to start to figure out playing and entertaining themselves with less input from you, and if you stick them in front of a tablet while you're doing jobs they don't get much opportunity to do that, particularly if they're at nursery a lot.

kermitloving · 30/06/2023 10:26

I think it's way too young .my children are 3 and 5 and dont have them and I'm keeping it that way as long as possible

cocksstrideintheevening · 30/06/2023 10:27

Why would he need a tablet in the car?

Garman · 30/06/2023 10:28

Don’t get them into the habit of using it for car rides, why can’t they play with toys or just look out the window? I don’t think a 2 year old ever needs a tablet tbh.

Hazelnuttella · 30/06/2023 10:29

We were given one for DS second birthday but haven’t got it out of the box yet. I think hold off for as long as possible.

Very long car journeys are the only situation in which I can imagine myself giving my DS a tablet in the next few years. And that would only be after all other options have been exhausted and he’s really fed up.

SouthLondonMum22 · 30/06/2023 10:31

I don’t see why not. Like you said, it’s not like he’ll always be using it but he can access some educational games, learn how to use it etc.

Sallyh87 · 30/06/2023 10:31

My two year was given one as a gift, she just wasn’t really bothered by it. So it might be a waste of money. She’s three now and I might get it out again.

In terms of the car journey, using a tablet might cause car sickness. It certainly would for me.

Play dough is a good one to distract for a while if that’s what you want from the tablet!

biggreentree · 30/06/2023 10:32

No no no! It’s a big enough battle when they hit the tweenager and teenager years, enjoy the years of no conflict before that. Little ones need to be looking around, playing, engaging with other humans x

Nicecow · 30/06/2023 10:33

So bad for children, essentially as uoung as 2!! Get them some books instead

mindutopia · 30/06/2023 10:37

I would only get a tablet for a 2 year old if you are planning on travel and need something for the airport/plane/long train ride. Kids don't need a tablet for the car or day to day use at that age. If you are home and making dinner, pop the tv on. Kids interact very differently with tablets than the tv, and honestly, it becomes a nightmare. Mine had one around 2.5 for flights/travel and it was a real pain to have around the house. I have a 5 year old who because of COVID has never really travelled anywhere and doesn't have one. He watches tv if we need some quiet screen time. He's used a tablet before here and there and honestly, his behaviour is a nightmare after because it's very addictive. So we just avoid as much as possible.

Hbh17 · 30/06/2023 10:39

Just why? Buy him a few books, perhaps. But when he's in the car he can look out of the window.... children need to look OUT at the world, in every sense.

Original poster
Scotlandma · 30/06/2023 10:42

Thank you for feedback I think that’s decision made I’ll likely hold off until 3, 4 or even 5.
I wasn’t sure anyway and I think the comments have shown it’s not really necessary especially if it’s more addictive than tv!

I was thinking mainly for long car journeys over an hour but as someone else mentioned ds can look out the window and doesn’t really complain about being in the car anyway

OP posts:
Sprinkles211 · 30/06/2023 10:44

Going totally against the grain here but I have sen children if they didn't have access to ipads, computers, tablets, phones there's no way in hell they would be able to partake in society or learning. Technology is our children's futures the earlier they are exposed the better, you can absolutely limit what exposure they have make sure things they access are educational and fun, put limits early on where or if obsessions develops my middle child has severe sen is 8 years old functions mentally as a 3 year old but knows her way round an ipad, the controls and her gaming skills are that of an advanced child if her interests carry on she will be taught how to code, create games and even software meaning she could eventually even earn a living this child will never live independently ever but technology from a very young age has helped her immensely. My eldest girl 15 has always had access but did not and still does not show much interest and only uses when she has to for school or watching films. It only ever becomes a problem if you let it be like getting them one at ten years old having had no previous access it quickly becomes an obsession and leads to the yoyo of bad behavior and not a learning tool.

biggreentree · 30/06/2023 10:46

Sounds like a good decision OP. My youngest are 9 nearly 10 and it’s already proving a real nightmare to drag them off screens and they are still quite little and should be playing, reading, and interacting. I don’t mind it at their age so much as they have had a busy day at school and do clubs and see friends. My older two teenagers are attached and attached to their phones which is normal for their generation but depressing none the less and we have had multiple issues cropping up from their phone usage. I do agree that if you had a really long plane or train journey then it might be useful, but you could instead let them use your phone to watch CBeebies etc on it instead.

Original poster
Scotlandma · 30/06/2023 10:47

Sprinkles211 · 30/06/2023 10:44

Going totally against the grain here but I have sen children if they didn't have access to ipads, computers, tablets, phones there's no way in hell they would be able to partake in society or learning. Technology is our children's futures the earlier they are exposed the better, you can absolutely limit what exposure they have make sure things they access are educational and fun, put limits early on where or if obsessions develops my middle child has severe sen is 8 years old functions mentally as a 3 year old but knows her way round an ipad, the controls and her gaming skills are that of an advanced child if her interests carry on she will be taught how to code, create games and even software meaning she could eventually even earn a living this child will never live independently ever but technology from a very young age has helped her immensely. My eldest girl 15 has always had access but did not and still does not show much interest and only uses when she has to for school or watching films. It only ever becomes a problem if you let it be like getting them one at ten years old having had no previous access it quickly becomes an obsession and leads to the yoyo of bad behavior and not a learning tool.

Thanks @Sprinkles211 i also agree with your message! It’s definitely still something I will eventually get once older as like you’ve said technology is the future and it’s an important skill for children to learn.

OP posts:
fancyfrogs · 30/06/2023 10:51

We got DS1 one of the Amazon fire kids tablets just before his 2nd birthday, as we were going on a 9 hour flight. He doesn't have it daily and nor does it come out to restaurants etc with us but it was very useful for taking away, when we could take limited toys and books and then had no TV/little entertainment in our hotel room.
Alternatively, you could consider a Yoto player? A bit different to books, portable and easy for the child to navigate themselves. We have the kids' favourite stories as Yoto cards and they like to sit and listen as not if reading age yet Smile

hauntedvagina · 30/06/2023 10:53

Sprinkles211 · 30/06/2023 10:44

Going totally against the grain here but I have sen children if they didn't have access to ipads, computers, tablets, phones there's no way in hell they would be able to partake in society or learning. Technology is our children's futures the earlier they are exposed the better, you can absolutely limit what exposure they have make sure things they access are educational and fun, put limits early on where or if obsessions develops my middle child has severe sen is 8 years old functions mentally as a 3 year old but knows her way round an ipad, the controls and her gaming skills are that of an advanced child if her interests carry on she will be taught how to code, create games and even software meaning she could eventually even earn a living this child will never live independently ever but technology from a very young age has helped her immensely. My eldest girl 15 has always had access but did not and still does not show much interest and only uses when she has to for school or watching films. It only ever becomes a problem if you let it be like getting them one at ten years old having had no previous access it quickly becomes an obsession and leads to the yoyo of bad behavior and not a learning tool.

Fully agree with you. My children have always had access to iPads with age appropriate games available for them to play on. My youngest rarely asks for it, but he certainly knows how to use it. I'm of the mindset that if you withhold something, the child will become more obsessed with it.

Navigating technology will be just as important as learning to read and write for this generation.

Merrz · 30/06/2023 10:58

Pre children I would of thought getting a tablet for a 2 year old was absolutely ridiculous however my eldest got one for her 4th birthday and i'm thinking of getting youngest one for her 2nd birthday. As long as you limit the time and content I don't see it does any harm

Mariposista · 30/06/2023 10:58

NO WAY NO WAY NO WAY NO WAY NO WAY NO WAY NO WAY NO WAY NO WAY NO WAY NO WAY NO WAY
Did I mention no way?

Garman · 30/06/2023 11:09

I don’t see why journeys over an hour etc are used as a justification now for tablets being given to children, you’re setting them up for relying on technology to entertain them constantly. My dc regularly do a 3-4 hour car ride with toys, books, Spotify, windows, I Spy, whatever! Giving them a screen to shove in their face silently for hours is a cop out.

excelledyourself · 30/06/2023 11:10

Glad you have decided against it.

I wouldn't consider until they were getting regular access to this type of thing in school or nursery.

At 2 years old there are so many other ways to entertain and educate, even when in the car.

UsernameIsCheese · 30/06/2023 11:23

Absolutely not.
I wouldn't allow a child to have their own personal tablet until 12.
Supervised use of a family one before? Absolutely. But give it another decade before you buy them their very own one.

UsernameIsCheese · 30/06/2023 11:23

A decade, not another obviously 😅

Zanatdy · 30/06/2023 11:27

Seriously hold out as long as possible. A 2yr old doesn’t need a tablet

Peony654 · 30/06/2023 11:29

I wouldn't. Screen time will be a battle when they're older, leave it as long as you can!

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