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?

Fourth one here saying it's clear you made your mind up before starting the thread so it's a bit pointless.

This is quite frustrating because I’ve actually said I’ve decided against it and that I’ll just give him a phone if I need to.

I don’t think the thread was pointless, but since you do perhaps you could hide it.

No difference between the phone and an iPad. I actually have changed my mind and think you should give him a screen because you don’t seem to want to consider the alternatives. I’m struggling to see why you posted as you do t seem to have a reason not to get one.

I’m not sure you’re actually interested but I’ll help if you’re struggling

I am not suggesting he will be on a screen for five full hours. I imagine the first two and a half / three hours will be amicable enough with a sleep, some music and so on.

However after we’ve stopped he may well (in fact I would say almost certainly) become distressed at the thought of going back in the car seat, and I think something that is a bit of a novelty will be helpful then. The fact a screen is a novelty surely shows I don’t habitually use screens so I do feel a lot of these criticisms are quite unfair. If he’s crying and resisting the car seat being realistic telling him we’re going to have an exciting chat or sing songs won’t really help!

Hopefully this clarifies matters somewhat.

And I’ll add to that that while the consensus is not to get one, it is not unanimous. So am I only to listen to the posts that align with your views?

No one posts and listens to one person. We listen to a range of views, some are always going to be dogmatic and unhelpful on both sides of whatever topic but reading balanced posts from both side of the debate helps us reach a decision, isn’t that obvious? Not ‘do this’ but rather ‘I think this’ and helps us see things from different perspectives.

Little toys and books, looking games ? break the journey for a snack. Little kids don’t need tablets, they need parents to interact with them.

I agree with this 100% it’s far too passive and addictive. I hate that most families now plonk a tablet down in front of a kid in restaurants, how can they ever learn to interact socially, so so sad.

It would have (and still would) been vomit city if tablet devices had been available and used on car journeys when I was a child! Bear this in mind...

Maybe buy a Toniebox or a Yoto mini with some songs, audiobooks etc?
Or take real books and windowstickers?

YouTube has reviews, if you want to know how they work.

We have an iPad for the car, it's ancient so is literally useless for anything (can't even update to the latest software for apps and stuff) but you can download movies to it. It randomly fits exactly between the two front seats of the car, so we squish it there and the kids in the back seat can watch a movie on a long drive.

We only tend to deploy it after the first loo break, so about halfway through a journey when everyone is getting antsy and nobody wants to get back in the car. Or if we don't want the kids to fall asleep! Our three kids can occupy themselves pretty well for an hour or so by chatting or each choosing songs to listen to - they are four, six and eight so we get quite the eclectic mix! Im we also listen to audiobooks too, which we all enjoy and a borrow box library subscription is free and really worth it.

That said, my youngest has a tablet (Amazon one) and the older two each have a Nintendo switch, so I'm not averse to screens at all, but I didn't want them becoming a regular thing in the car so they don't leave the house!

Maybe a new book or new little toy after the break ?

DD (4) has an iPad but it's my old one repurposed for her needs. She got it when she was about 2 to be used on flights. The only stuff she has access to is Khan Academy Kids and ABCmouse. There's also Disney+ but its hidden (until she figures it out). She uses it max 1/week for about 30-40 mins and when travelling, but at least all the games/videos there are educational so I feel a bit less guilty. She loves those apps, though as they 'grow' with her (especially Khan Academy Kids).

No, you said you'll "probably" give him your phone which isn't materially different from a tablet anyway.

And no, I don't want to hide the thread. I quite enjoy a snippy OP.

I'm not surprised the OP is snippy considering some of the ridiculous , patronising answers on this thread.