AIBU to still think 10 is too young for a personal laptop or tablet?

[Humblechicken]

I've been wondering if newly turned 10 year old DD could do with having her own tablet laptop. We've had a shared one so far but it's getting harder to manage with online homework and I'm thinking it would be worth having one with parental controls set on it as DD may start to hide what she is looking at as she becomes a teenager. DD is pestering for a phone more, however I still feel quite resistant and can't see how beneficial a phone is at this age. I just don't want to introduce her to that world too early. Feeling similar about the tablet but I do wonder if it would be good for her to have one. I know other families get them a lot earlier but that wouldn't have felt right to us, but now I'm still struggling to accept when the right time would be!

Would it be unreasonable for her to have her own laptop or tablet? It would mainly be for homework (so she'd need Word and PowerPoint), finding music to listen to and online games on Lego and CBBC. Or is she still too young to manage her own tech and will it cause endless arguments on screen time

I don’t think it’s too young at all.

I think 10/11 seems a reasonable age to get a personal laptop ready for secondary school (but only being allowed to use the Internet in communal areas seems a good compromise)

No the primary schools around here provide laptops from year 3 which you pay for termly.

I think your votes are going to be skewed as the title and question in your OP are conflicting, so people might be voting wrong.

10 is definitely a fine age to have a personal tablet or laptop! The important thing is to have screen limits and safe practice

Ours needed a laptop when they merrily shut down the schools in 2020. She was 8.

She got a phone at 10 because it gave me peace of mind that she could contact us if she had any problems at high school.

They're tools.

Definitely not too young . My now 10 year old DD got a small laptop for Xmas last year . Been brilliant for doing homework. A lot of her school tasks and educational games the school recommends are online . Also means she's got one ready for secondary school .

The phone is a bit more trickier . This is the age where loads of her classmates will start to have one . My DD has an old second hand phone and it's primarily used for life 360 and messages so can check where she is and she can get in touch with me as she has a bit more freedom now being able to walk home from school etc security is locked down tight on it. Most of her classmates have a phone . Some are allowed a lot more freedom with it even though most are only 9 ..but you do what's best for your dd .

I doubt anyone will say that 10 is too young.

Access to a laptop / tablet is important for school work, and if it's becoming difficult to share then a personal device is a sensible idea. I'm sure there will be arguments about screen time, but that's going to happen regardless of when you introduce devices. 🤷🏻‍♀️

It's a good age to be teaching the required skills for secondary school and they need to learn how to be safe and responsible.

I'd probably buy a laptop or tablet as another family device, but 10 year old will probably use it most.

I don't think it's too early.
Obviously discuss how to take care of it properly etc.
My son had a laptop long before a phone.

Definitely not too young for her own tablet/ laptop. But personally I would get her a phone, probably an older version iPhone so similar to a tablet. I'm sure she is asking for a phone because her friends at school are starting to get them and wouldn't want her to be left out.

I'd get another family one, with parental controls added.

Mine got/get their own for sixth form, before that they have access to what they need of course but they don't own it.

If you know what secondary school she will go to, check if there is anything particular they will want. Some want a Chromebook if they are a google school. Others want an ipad. You don't want to have to buy something different a year later.

Definitely not too young and she’ll need it for homework. As for a phone most of the children here in year 6 have them as walk home by themselves.

Our DD has had a tablet for the last 3/4 years (can't remember exactly). She's 12 now, and got a phone for her birthday this year. IMO she needs to be equipped with this stuff when she moves into secondary school. The reality is, the tech is there, if my kid does't have it, their mates will, so they will see things. Best is to engage with them about 'healthy' use early on.

I'd get another family laptop for DD to use, but I wouldn't make it 'her' laptop.

I'd let her have a phone when she starts secondary school.

I just don’t like the term personal, I would have a family laptop or tablet that’s primarily for their homework etc- but wouldn’t say to a 10yr old this is yours.

I'm not averse to her using tech it's more the personal aspect. She already has access to shared tablet and a games console. There is a family computer but it available for use from about 7pm if we factor in dinner and at the weekends. I suppose I'm thinking it will be a wow present but sounds like there are a lot of restrictions that would be imposed on it (length of use, where to use, what to use it for etc) so I'm not sure it's best bought as a present. I think I've been swayed by the black Friday deals, fortunately I asked here first. Perhaps a family laptop would be the first port of call.

Your way of thinking makes sense to me.

It would never be a present in our house because it's an essential item.

I think you're late to the party. A tablet is needed for school. You can set parental controls so I dont see why your DD doesn't have one already.

I suppose i'd wonder will the kids all be killing each other over a 'family laptop'? I only have one kid so not a problem here, but i grew up up with three siblings!

Your way of thinking makes sense to me.

It would never be a present in our house because it's an essential item
Agree with this.Having appropriate technology for homework and studies isn't a present in my opinion.

Having a personal device for their individual use around house would be, but I feel uncomfortable with the concept of children having personal devices Vs access to family devices. Obviously different families draw different lines on this but that's how we feel.

I think if it’s for school work only then this is fine.

But I wouldn’t be happy with a 10 yo using it for screen time.

I think at age 10 is late to be having one.. My Grandsons had them age 8. Put controls on. They are very educational. One taught himself to play chess. One at 10 year old started teaching himself Spanish.
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