To get 3 year old own tablet?

[Twilightinnovember]

We have a long car journey next week and wondering about whether to take advantage or Black Friday deals? Just don’t want him asking for it all the time. Do your kids have their own tablets?

Not necessary to have an iPad. Mine have never had them for the car. And we’ve done lots of long journeys. They’ve either played word games, I spy, sang songs, listened to the radio or audio stories, looked out of the window or <whispers> been bored for a little bit. In my opinion being a little bit bored for a short period of time such as a car journey will do them less harm than staring at a screen. Also mine used to get travel sick so screens wouldn’t have been a good idea.

You're clearly worried about the journey. You're the parent- it's up to you whether you get one!
I'm not being holier-than-thou... I'd happily use a sweet snack to get them back in the car seat if necessary!

My child got his at 4 it has parental control on, his profile is only active between 9-6 and is timed to 3 hours for the day.

He prefers toys to the tablet so not on everyday.

Why can't he just use a family iPad? What does he need his own one for?

Because we don’t have a family iPad. I am saying buy ds a tablet and I suppose what I mean is, it would be bought just to be used by him for this journey. I have to admit I haven’t thought beyond that particularly, it could well come in useful if we have to make other similar long journeys.

Napody - I’ve noted your view thanks 👍🏻 I’m asking what others think, I appreciate your answers.

My kids have tablets and to be honest I massively regret getting them. I do limit their screen time but now have to deal with tantrums and pestering to use them on a daily basis. And when they do use them I can see a clear change in their behaviour. Think I'll be getting rid of ours.

My eldest got an Amazon kids tablet for her 3rd birthday. It’s worth it’s weight in gold for long car journeys or if she has to sit through the occasional meeting, but she doesn’t really ask for it at home - definite win in our house.

You see kids in prams in cafes on them because other people in cafes judge so much if a kid is a kid and goes wandering or exploring their environment

I don’t think he’d ask for it at home but never say never. And I know the danger can be that when you’ve got something that keeps them quiet it’s tempting to use them to get a moments peace on hectic days!

I’ll have a think. Amazon do next day delivery , I could order one and tell him it only appears on long car journeys or some such rubbish!

Well that’s true too @wokbun , really none of us should be judging as it’s no one else’s business. But I’m just pointing out (as there’s been a fair amount of judging of me and a decision I haven’t made yet!) that ds is not one of those children.

We have always had a family iPad. My 10 and 15 year olds borrows that if they need to. (15 year old does have a phone)

Wokbun, it's not a binary choice of kid with tablet or kid wandering around

At 3, I would want them to play with toys over iPads.

I wouldn’t. It’s audiobooks, music, quizzes and eye spy type games in our car. And some good old fashioned being bored staring out the window.

Well yes but that’s going to be quite hard in the car, for practical reasons mostly.

I got a tablet for my daughter at like 10 months for sensory and music she's 18 months now. She's not on it all the time just now and again. Just not making it into into a big thing. I solo parent a lot and it gives me 20mins to sort the kitchen out. There are times where's she's asked for it and if I say no, it's not big deal. People act so high and mighty about it. But I think it's a great tool and especially on big journeys. We didn't end up using ours on. 6 hour trips. So only get it if you're thinking about it in general I guess.

We have a Kindle fire for our 3 year old. We use it for long journeys, family parties at which he's the only kid, the occasional restaurant meal (though he usually actually prefers toys and books), and he gets 20 minutes on it a few days a week when he might otherwise have been watching cartoons.

It's been great and the library of kindle E books was especially good on holiday. My one warning would be that he does often need help with fiddly bits of some games so you might find that you're having to pass it between the front and back of the car. Or just download TV on it.

I see it as another thing in the rotation of songs, audiobooks, ispy, plastic rubbish toys, colouring etc for a journey. Most 3 year olds won't do anything for long.

I am looking at the Yoto but I was going to get that for Christmas I could maybe get the mini but still, it takes the shine off a bit.

An iPad for a 10 month old 🤯

I wouldn’t. At 3 they’ll nod off for massive portions of the journey. Stop for leg stretches and breaks, talk, sing, play games while you’re driving. We frequently take our 6 (aged 2-12) on long journeys, they’ve never used a device while driving. It’s not needed and it becomes habit.

To be honest, the stopping will likely be the problem. He’ll be fine until we stop, then when it’s time to go back in the car will probably be quite upset and reluctant to go back in which is where something that’s got a novelty factor will come in very handy!

OP it sounds like you've decided you're getting him one regardless so not sure why you've asked for opinions.

Screen time creates huge behavioural problems in children. I'm a teacher and it's very obvious which kids have screen time as babysitters.

I don’t really know why or how you’ve deduced that, @Animallover87 . I certainly haven’t written it anywhere so I think that may just be the way you’ve interpreted my posts. It’s been interesting reading people’s views and that answers your post really as to why I posted. No single post is going to make me think yes definitely or no absolutely not … am going to ruminate for a while longer!

@Twilightinnovember I just noticed you kept providing counter arguments to the posters who said don't get him one, that's all.

As parents we all need to make our own judgements, you do you and I hope the journey goes well 😊

It’s not counter arguments so much as pointing out the realism of the situation. When in a car and I’m in the front seat and he’s in the back, I am just not going to be able to give him the same level of interaction as at home or out at the park or similar, and he can’t really play either. So I think he may enjoy a bit of Mr Tumble or Bing.

Equally, it could prove counterproductive or create problems if he expects it every time he gets in the car - I don’t think that he would but it’s hard to say - and a Yoto may be a better option except I did want to keep that one for Christmas.