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Original poster

To wish I'd never bought my children Ipads?

294 replies

Goodnurseorgremlin · 29/03/2025 08:22

I have six year old twins. They have never had ipads/tablets until this Christmas where I relented and bought them an ipad each.

Worst thing I ever did. I'm quite strict. with them They are only allowed an hour on a morning on weekends and same after school weekdays. It's still driving me insane. Pre ipad they would have been watching TV or playing at this time on a morning. Now they are glued to their ipads watching absolute brain dead kiddie trash on YouTube. I've had to send them to the kitchen for my sanity.

Can anyone relate? Is it too late to tell them santa needs the bloody things back?

OP posts:
Hercisback1 · 29/03/2025 08:23

Block YouTube on them.

HereintheloveofChristIstand · 29/03/2025 08:24

Remove them. They are way too young!

tonyhawks23 · 29/03/2025 08:24

They don't have to watch you tube on them though,why not just cebebeeies?makes no sense to watch junk,put them on number blocks or something educational.

redphonecase · 29/03/2025 08:24

You've allowed them far too much time. 15 minutes after school and half an hour weekend days if you must. Bizarre thing to buy for 6 year olds.

Could they be 'broken' for a bit?

Mynewnameis · 29/03/2025 08:24

It's really hard to block you tube!
I'm Android and use family link to restrict you tube to 1 hour a day.

HundredPercentUnsure · 29/03/2025 08:25

HereintheloveofChristIstand · 29/03/2025 08:24

Remove them. They are way too young!

Agree!

Eachpeachpearprune · 29/03/2025 08:25

I would just take them away. Let them run out of charge and say they’re broken/the chargers are broken. It sounds too stressful - not sure why they are needed. Mine is 5 and I’m not considering getting her her own tablet at all. My husband has one which she uses for her reading books online. She won’t be getting her own one.

DorothyStorm · 29/03/2025 08:25

HereintheloveofChristIstand · 29/03/2025 08:24

Remove them. They are way too young!

Remove them. Id say an hour was fine at the weekend with controlled access on children‘s settings but NOT in a morning. And certainly not a school morning.

but no dont tell them santa wants them back ffs. Youll have difficult teens if you dont set proper behaviour expectations at this age.

AmusedGoose · 29/03/2025 08:27

Tbh we would all be better off without constant access to tech. Chill out. If they are compliant it's their Candycrush!

Eenameenadeeka · 29/03/2025 08:27

If you don't want to take the tablets off them, put them into a kid's mode and only enable a few games that you don't mind them using. My children arent allowed to watch you tube, especially not alone on a tablet. So much rubbish on there.

cally201 · 29/03/2025 08:28

Go cold turkey or wean them off .

TickingAlongNicely · 29/03/2025 08:28

Remove YouTube. Find some fun but useful apps.

Its not the ipad here, its how they are using them.

Plus we found that it was better to have screen time later in the day.

roses2 · 29/03/2025 08:29

I’ve blocked YouTube and TikTok on the router and only allow YouTube for a bit on weekends

Original poster
Goodnurseorgremlin · 29/03/2025 08:32

The judgement is out in force I see🤣

They don't have an hour in the morning. They have an hour after school.

Most of the people I know kids were practically born with tablets in their hands. Thought I was doing pretty good by comparison.

They won't watch cebeebies. It's for babies in their eyes.

They do watch a lot of educational stuff on YouTube as well. Is it possible to set the controls so they can watch that but not the dross?

OP posts:
StumbleInTheDebris · 29/03/2025 08:32

Your mistake was buying one that was theirs. We bought a tablet purely for the kids to use for specific apps but they don't know that - we said it is mummy and daddy's tablet which we will let you use for xyz if we aren't using it.

When they have it they ask if they can play X game or watch Y video. We don't just hand it over for them to do whatever they want .... it helps make the time slightly more purposeful.

dialfor · 29/03/2025 08:33

‘Pre iPad they would have been watching TV of playing’ - so they had screen access and used it anyway, you have just changed the screen.

ThejoyofNC · 29/03/2025 08:35

You've currently got no controls on YouTube? Jesus OP I'm not being judgemental but that's just dangerous.

But basically, you gave them the iPads, you can take them away.

Explain that they're behaving like toddlers and when they can act grown up enough to have an iPad then you'll consider giving them back. Or just say they're broken.

ConnieSlow · 29/03/2025 08:35

But why are you looking at someone else for a solution or to blame when it’s YOU who started this and still in control of it. We have ONE iPad between the kids. We don’t do any screen time during the week, and then on a weekend they take turns. If there’s fighting and moaning then no one gets it. What have they learnt? To resolve and work out a schedule on their own, and they don’t even ask for screens during the week if they are bored! They find something to do.
you are the parent, stop acting like it’s out of your control. Make some new rules, stick to it, be firm, let them have their tantrums and then let it sink in their heads that this is the rules from now on.

GiraffeCup · 29/03/2025 08:35

Take them away....?

Not sure why you haven't done this.

StumbleInTheDebris · 29/03/2025 08:36

dialfor · 29/03/2025 08:33

‘Pre iPad they would have been watching TV of playing’ - so they had screen access and used it anyway, you have just changed the screen.

Cbeebies etc has great programmes so it's not really the same as scrolling endlessly through suggested videos of kids' self-made crap or dodgy animations of Anna and Elsa need abortions (some of the weird animations I've seen on YouTube)

WhySoManySocks · 29/03/2025 08:37

This is insane. 1h of Youtube a day for 6yolds, and you seem to not take any responsibility or control.

GiraffeCup · 29/03/2025 08:37

dialfor · 29/03/2025 08:33

‘Pre iPad they would have been watching TV of playing’ - so they had screen access and used it anyway, you have just changed the screen.

Watching YouTube on an iPad is not the same as watching something like Cbeebies or Disney+ on a TV.

The iPad makes it a solitary activity, the YouTube algorithm makes it display shit, shirt form content and is designed to be addictive.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 29/03/2025 08:41

Use the parental controls to limit YouTube time to 15 minutes and then it turns off. They’re right that CBeebies is too young for many 6 year olds. CBBC might be better or help them choose decent kids tv series. Download educational apps to help them enjoy ‘iPad time’ without being on YouTube. Is their homework on the iPad?

2in2022twoyearson · 29/03/2025 08:43

I skim read a book about technology and children a few years back. There's lots of research and advice not to give screens to babies and the dangers of teen technology, but not much on the 5-11 age group where parents normally relax a bit and let them watch more screens. This is actually a bad time, with their development. I can't remember the details why. From personal experience I have a 2 year old and a 6 year old. My 6 year old will be glued to anything that's on. Unlike your twins and her classmates she doesn't see anything as too babysih. They don't hold the 2 year olds attention in the same way.

Sorry for the ramble, I don't have an answer, except I've been considering a tablet for my DD as homework is mostly online, but I think we'll hold off. Maybe in the Easter holidays plan an exciting alternative? Are they sticking to the time limits and not tantruming after. Fwi my 6 year old has started back up with the tantrums, I think school is tiring, and it's nothing to do with screens for us.

RebeccaRebekah · 29/03/2025 08:43

I recently gave my 7 year old a tablet and regretted it! But then I blocked YouTube and made the parental controls much stronger and she's using it in more the way I envisaged now. I've blocked all Internet browsers too. She can read books on it (or have them read to her, or read aloud and have help with difficult words), do Duolingo, draw, take pictures, use school maths and spelling apps.
If she wants to watch TV she does it on a big screen.
Block everything then pick a few apps you would be completely happy with them using to download/unblock.