Dd, 5, asking for a phone

[Whatisgoingonhey]

Sort of inspired by another thread on here about Tik Tok & teens.
Just curious to know how much access your child has to the internet/phones etc.
Dd is 5 and has an outdoorsy type of life, we live next to the woods, so take our dog for lots of walks, we can walk to the beach, she goes to the pool, playgrounds etc
She watched some tv-CBeebies (although it feels as though she’s growing out of this?) shows on kids Netflix & Disney plus.
She recently wanted to watch lots of YouTube (Dh watches it) slime or cat videos etc, it’s pretty harmless, but I don’t like the speed of it all and it just doesn’t seem right for a 5 year old, so we have a lock on YouTube now.
She doesn’t have an iPad, although is desperate for headphones (I don’t know what she’d use them with though?)
She occasionally can play kids games on my phone.
This week she cried for a phone! At 5 🤷🏻‍♀️
Her neighbour friend (6) has his mums old iPhone.
She’s definitely not getting one until older, just was shocked that she was so upset to not have a phone.
What technology/tv etc does your child have of a similar age?
Tbh I hate all of it

DD is 11 to put timing into perspective. I'm not 100% sure how old she was when we got the tablet. I'd say less than 5.

7yo. Allowed 30 mins a week on a parents' laptop to play CBBC games but no access to phones or tablets. Don't let her watch YouTube

Watches TV each day (CBBC) for probably an hour (school days) or 1-2 hours (school hols).

@FlamingYam
I hear you I have a 12yo, and no we didn't have old phones kicking around to be used as mini tablets when he was 5 or 6 either.

But now so many people have old phones lying around, especially if they get them on two year contracts. Why wouldn't a 5yo use one to stream music instead of a tablet?

I/m not sure you can compare phones to tablets? You crane your neck and have to focus more for a phone. The rays from both are bad for you, but it's nothing like leaning over a mobile phone-look at the way your children look at a phone. When you think of it our parents used to think tv was bad-at least that was the other side of the room!

The problem with the tech isn't the tech itself but being given it alone or for too long. If you can monitor it carefully and not let it get out of hand it's a great tool and something they'll have to be able to use at school.
This is it really, isn't it, the holy grail-for them to be able to use screens without it being all they think about, and then to get used to using technology to help them but still having a 'real life' where they think about the friends and family, the outdoors, animals, sports, life really!!!

We got ds a tablet at 3 and sort of regretted it. He became a bit obsessed so we had many tantrums related to it. It would have been way easier not having it, although handy for long drives or long boring meals out.

@Sugarfree23 isn't it crazy how quickly things change! Really does make you think when faced with it in that way! It wasn't long ago that we still used CDs and had to go to the bank with cash rather than a transfer. Crazy.

My 6yo has a table, but he gets school transport for 30-40 minutes each way, and it makes things easier for escort if he's occupied when there's 3 young boy being silly in a confined space.

He watches some you-tube on the main TV (not his tablet), but he asks for what he wants then I find it for him, so have some control. What comes us as suggested is based on what's been watched recently, so if your careful what go's on for a few weeks, then the algorithm adapts, and you get more suitable suggestions.

The videos are not good for her brain or concentration. Stop it, now. Is she reading yet? Get her into books and things to improve her concentration

5yo has an iPad with headphones. Fairly unrestricted access to YT Kids, but she is sensible with her time on there.

If she asked for a pony would you consider giving her one? My point is that just because she's asking doesn't mean that you need to feel that she should have one. Five year olds tend to want lots of things.

No not unreasonable. My daughter however has a hand me down kindle fire. Has a kids account with plenty of safeguarding features. Doesn't allow online purchases or app downloads without your consent. My daughter is 4 for context. So maybe I'll have that to come. But she'll definitely not be having a phone for quite a few years.

Good grief! A phone for a 5 year old? Absolutely no way!

My 5&6yo's mostly watch Netflix/Disney and are obsessed with Audio books so have unlimited access to a tonie box/cds and sometimes use headphones for this. The headphones are a novelty that they seem to love 🤷‍♀️

I have an iPad that I never use that my 6yo discovered a year or two ago and begged for but I held firm, delay it for as much as you can. It is of no real benefit to them at this age. Some parents say it's great for journeys/restaurants etc. but assuming there's no additional needs, I think it's best to teach DC the skills to deal with these situations so I make them wait/play games such as ispy etc.

Our school operates a "parent pact" where the parents agree not to buy their DC a phone until secondary school. It's worked great so far apparently. I'm hoping that will still be the case when mine are that age 🤞🏼

That’s an easy no! 11 for both kids with MAJOR restrictions around usage, tim, apps and they have no social
media

7yo DSD has a fire tablet, similar to PP it’s picked up for half an hour every couple of weeks. Switch for car journeys (45 minute commute home from school) which gets used for an hour or so on some weekends.
14yo DS has a phone but no social media, was a rule of ours but he now has no interest. Had WhatsApp but it caused him trouble with group chats and bullying so scrapped it.
The longer you can hold out the better with phones, a tablet can provide all the necessary functions she could want a phone for.

My DD is 5. She has no tech.
Every Saturday morning shes allowed to play Kiddopeia on my tablet. That's pretty much it. I don't allow her to watch YouTube. It's full of junk. She doesn't use or ask for my phone. Sometimes she will want to watch cat videos so I'll show her some funny cat vids on insta. That's about it.

Don't give in. My DD plays up about it ONLY when she sees her cousins glued to a device. Otherwise she isn't bothered

Your 16 year old probably does want Instagram and WhatsApp etc! WhatsApp is just the same as texting though, apart from you can do groups?

@LucifersPain thats very controlling for a NT 16 yo, less than 2 years they'll be a fully grown adult.
You need to help them navigate the adult world.

This is an easy one, no. Smartphones are bad for children's development, mental health and expose them to innapropriate content from a young age. Let her cry and stick to your guns, your doing right by herb in the end.

I work in IT. My child does not have a tablet, phone or access to YouTube.
Youtube is very dangerous and full of weird videos and a lot parents don't have a clue.

6 year old has access to a tablet which is only used at agreed times and with an adult checking first what they want to watch and giving permission. No shows that are fast paced and cut quickly between scenes are allowed. Often watch Scooby Doo from the 1970s 😂

Youtube is not allowed at all. A friend’s child had access to YouTube and started off watching kids stuff but then began quoting lines from trailers to horror movies, this was a big wake up call.

Just keep saying no to YouTube and a phone and she’ll move on.

Why are you asking on here? Surely you must know the answer!

Kids kindle fire. Robust, 2 year warranty good for travel.

DS is one year younger, but I would aim for the same at 5. No personal devices like phones or MP3 players at all. He can use my phone for supervised phone calls. 15-20 minutes of TV a couple of times a week (an episode or two of something pre-approved, no youtube or netflix). I find that going old school with their interests helps stay away from screens, so CD player and CDs and old cameras instead of MP3 players or phones.