Aibu to wonder if my year 7 needs a laptop?

[ForCryingOutLoud2010]

Term has only started and I don’t know if they need laptops or how they usually so their homework (which doesn’t seem to have started).

Nearly all our homework is done on a computer, so DS has a laptop. They use a lot of apps, iPad might suffice atm but I figured when he's a bit older he might need to do more typing.

It will vary.

Mine need access to Google classroom and a few other apps like Sparkx

Our school uses Google classroom for some subjects and Tassomai for maths and science, so they could log on from any device once they were set up with their passwords and login details. DD likes to use a laptop, but DS prefers to do his on his phone. 🙈

I've bought mine a Chromebook as everything they do homework wise is on websites/apps.

I got my DD (12) a laptop about 2 year ago thinking she'd need it for secondary school and in year 7 last year I'd say she used it for homework once a week. For our school everything is shared via Teams so it could be used on a phone or tablet.

Jesus Christ, I just read ‘7’ and not ‘year 7’ and almost had a heart attack.

We have a PC so just use that. If we didn't would use one of our work laptops. Unless you don't have any access to another laptop or PC you won't need to get a 7 year old their own one.

Year 7!

My year 7 has used her chromebook every evening this week for homework. It's all on Google classroom. You could do it on a tablet, but when I was looking the chromebook was quite good value. About £150. She doesn't have a TV in her bedroom so uses it to watch netflix etc too sometimes in her room.

Probably not but if you are thinking about it, Chromebooks are cheaper than laptops and more than capable of doing the work required right up until they leave school.

We have a family computer, thats used downstairs with supervision.
I don't believe 11yr olds need a laptop of their own, its just inviting them to spend a load of time on a screen. In yr7 they get ages to do the homework so anything needing the computer could easily wait til you get home, be done at school in a computer suite after school, or be done on the weekend.

Oops, sorry!

I'd still say no though unless no access to a other family PC/laptop. I'm hoping to get to at least year 10 if not 6th form on that basis.

We do not have a family computer. It seems inappropriate to have a child use my expensive work laptop on a regular basis for homework. If something happens to it, like it has water spilt on it, I would have to explain to my work and that would be mortifying and look unprofessional.

The school should give some guidance. DS1 uses a laptop - we bought it in covid for homeschooling when he was Y6 and he's carried on with it. Homework is often set on google classroom and some online maths things. In theory he could do it on a tablet or at a push phone. DS2 school specify they need a tablet and they have to take this to school with them. All homework is set and handed in via Teams. If we'd bought him a laptop in Y6 we'd have wasted money as the tablet is compulsory.

Every school is different so posters confidently asserting that you do or don't need one is pointless. You need to find out from your child's school. I'm surprised there wasn't any info about this prior to starting. Contact the tutor or head of year - or if you know anyone in Y8/9 you could ask them. Even if it isn't a requirement, so much can be utilized online now - AI apps that allow you to "chat" to historical figures, BBC bitesize, loads of maths and science apps, brilliant weather data for geography etc. I think with good rules in place for home usage and parental apps - you can use microsoft family for this, they're a great educational tool.

Best to ask the school. In the meantime, have a look at options so that, if they reply and say "yes, he needs it for tomorrow" you don't panic and buy something by inappropriate.

I imagine a Chromebook would be easily high-enough spec; you can also get great deals on refurbished laptops online, so no need to spend a fortune.

I'd be inclined to make it a "family laptop", though, and insist it stays in the living room.

I'd get one if you don't have a family one. All DS's maths homework was done online throughout secondary school.

Does she have an iPad or tablet? We bought a keyboard and DS says it's ace and doesn't need a laptop separately

I believe all the secondaries round us have specific guidance on this: I think most of them require all students to have a Chromebook. So I won't be buying anything until I know which school he'll be at and what their requirement is.

We added a monitor, keyboard and mouse to his Xbox so he does all homework on there, using Google Classroom

If you have a laptop he can just use that.

It's useful but definitely not essential. As long as they have a family computer or iPad they can use for homework they'll be ok for year 7 .
It's useful for them to have their own when they're older and have more homework and revision to do though

I would get eventually one, yes. DDs and DS literally do all their homework on their laptop and finds it easier to have online flashcards and stuff like that. A lot of their homework is on the Internet and it just makes it much easier. Although DDs got their laptops because of lockdown and the fact that they both needed access to online study. We didn't really bother getting DS his own till his 12th birthday which is in August as Year 7s don't get a ton of homework and if he did, he would just use on of ours.

Yes this was our situation and DD didn't already have a tablet, only a phone, which I'd rather she got in the habit of putting the phone away for homework. We were essential workers in lockdown so we never really got into the lockdown learning set up.

If you email the year coordinator they'll let you know what will be helpful later on even if they don't "need" it now.

I’ve just bought a Chromebook for my Year 7 DD. She’s had a couple of pieces of research/writing type homework already, and while she could do it on her iPad it was proving very awkward. I figured if she was having this issue already, it was worth getting her something and the Chromebook seemed best value for what she needs.