To not understand why anyone would buy these for a child (tech related)

[Gheesesndbuscuits]

I don’t understand why anyone would get their child an iPad or tablet. Especially under ten and while a toddler even!

I know this sounds like I think I’m superior having not done it, but however I asked the question it would have come across like that. I’m far from a perfect parent and rely on the tv far too much for childcare when I’m making dinner or need to drink my tea in peace.

But iPads and tablets I don’t get, they’re so interactive and addictive. I genuinely can’t understand why you’d get one for a child. Especially when there’s tv that is more passive (though I accept not good either!).

I think people seem forget about that.

You do what you want, I am just not sure why you would need 3 Ipads?
If you really HAD to have one, a single Ipad would be enough?

if anything the smaller screen is an advantage in timestables where you’re racing the clock.
They don't have the small screen when they race the clock at school, so not sure it's an advantage, but when it's just spelling and timetable, it can't be a bid deal.

It the other homework, and reading and everything that will be harder.

We also survived without washing machines, cars and antibiotics.

Because I needed a nanny but an ipad was cheaper.

I used to go into secondary schools a lot for CIN and similar meetings so was used to seeing kids on tablets. However I have been going into primary schools lately. Initially I was suprised to see children in reception have tablets at their desk but then remembered things are always evolving.
Maybe people were outraged when we stopped writing with a pot of ink and a quill but things move on and we adapt and change.
Using tablets is just the same.

I agree though about some children having too much screen time though and I am a big believer in team sports and outdoor activity for children to off set screen time.

I have 3 autistic kids and I am SO glad they were born before this thing took off.

It sounds judgemental but my sisters DD is 4 and non verbal autistic and she just sits with her own ipad AND her mums phone watching and playing apps at the same time. Usually that Ms Rachel or tue dancing fruit and some cake baking game.

But then the other day her eldest son (11) was here and was playing some weird game where he was a gangster and had to buy stuff to progress through the game (it was like a free app game on his phone) and it said he got sent to jail and the inmates were called stuff like Jizz McJizzface and there were sperm icons.

I told her and she just laughed. I honestly expected her to delete it immediately :/

Just in case no one told you it’s ok to embrace new things 😂
Children also didn’t use to have car seats like they do today, should we revert back to that as well?! 😂

No it’s not. Using a tablet doesn’t help with handwriting for example.

Yes it’s really sad. Nobody talking to each other

Mine didn’t have screens until aged three and only used the IPad when older primary age to do some homework. Shared mine until aged 15 when she saved up and bought her own. I was laughingly accused of being abusive for not allowing her to access screens as a toddler.

No it’s not. Using a tablet doesn’t help with handwriting for example.

I agree but i think hand writing will become a niche thing in the future.. I cant remember the last time I hand wrote something in either my work life or private life, except inital or put my signature on things.

Ds 1 has absolutely appalling writing and I used to go on at him when he was at school that he would never get a decent job if people couldn't read his writing. However I dont think he has hand written anything apart from birthday and mother and father's birthday card once he got on an apprenticeship 14 years ago and has progressively climbed his career ladder. Its not held his carer back. Ds2 is similar but at least I can read his writing!

Im not saying its a good or bad thing, its just my observation.

My friend was concerned about her son not had writing when started secondary 6 years ago. Now she says they rarely write, everything is on tablet and submitted.
This is of course anecdotal and other peoples experiences will be different.

To me the worse thing is seeing parents on tablets when they are pushing a pram or pushchair and not engaging with their child.

Depending on how they are using it, it can help with fine motor skills and there are also apps/programmes that target handwriting specifically that can be quite effective. Absolutely necessary? No.

Could you explain your thought process on why watching cartoons on a big screen is so much better then watching the same cartoon on iplayer, on a tablet screen?

Or for that matter, why you think it's fine to use big screens for childcare at home, while th drinking tea, but not little screens in the car, when the need for them to be quiet and not distracting you is much greater?

Mine have both had since being quite young (3-4), then my eldest upgraded to an ipad at 9, when his school asked for all to children to have one to work on. Tablets only have what you, as the parent choose to put on there.

Their biggest pros are also their biggest cons depending on how you look at it. Portability and versatility. Just like phones.

Their biggest pros are also their biggest cons depending on how you look at it. Portability and versatility. Just like phones
Indeed.
Im not going to criticise anyone, as I'm on my phone Mumsnetting as it is 34°c where I am and too hot to do anything else! Lol 😆

I think striving for balance (rather than extremes on either side) works best. That applies to most things when it comes to parenting tbf.

Why? Because as a young child (he was almost 3 when he got his tablet) with a CVI (cortical visual impairment) we were told by his VI teacher that the earlier we introduced an iPad the better the outcome would be. I am hopeful that, one day, he will be able to use assistive technology such as EyeGaze to speak. All of the apps on his iPad are geared towards teaching him to use the vision he has and just recently, at the grand old age of six, he's been able to show he can count to three using his communication aid. We are now using his tech to teach him to scan so eventually he might be able to communicate his choices.

For us tech is opening up a world that wouldn't have been available to him a few years ago, a world where he might have a voice and that cannot be a bad thing.

I think striving for balance (rather than extremes on either side) works best. That applies to most things when it comes to parenting tbf.
I absolutely agree with you!

Both adult kids say as I am ' the best mum ever!' which is a u turn from the teen years when I was ' the strictest mum ever!!!' 😆 🤣

@Gheesesndbuscuits YABU.

Mine have tablets. They are controlled using family link and time on a tablet is a privilege and earned.

I'm a teacher and have no qualms with kids using tablets sensibly.

What I hate are smartphones. I think kids shouldn't have these until they're 16.

I'm actually quite horrified by the amount of parents that give their kids unlimited screen time. Even my 15 year old has to hand his phone over at 9.30pm!

Smart phones are turning lots of kids into such bores.

I use a phone for our homework but an tablet would be easier cos the screen is bigger

but also surely you're not so lacking in imagination that you don't know the answer already.

laziness.
peer pressure.
convenience.
thinking it's getting them tech savvy early.
homework.
trying to "educate them"
social media pressure
peace and quiet
etc
etc
etc

a million reasons

that's amazing, and he sounds like he's doing so well on it.

but you also know op doesn't mean families like your own where the tech 4lreally is part of his medical / health care more than "just an iPad"

Like most other posters I'm in the middle and agree it's all about balance.
Both of my children (8 and 5) have a tablet. Sometimes they use them for educational reasons, sometimes just for leisure and enjoy watching the odd YouTube video. Often they go a week without being switched on.

My oldest is far beyond his educational age, very advanced, talented at Maths and Science with a young Adult reading age. Youngest is reaching all targets. Both do LOTS of extra curricular activities and hobbies. Both love sport, music and theatre. Both have travelled extensively and will use their tablets on long journeys along side, books, colouring, games, talking. Neither have ever been allowed them in restaurants or other people's homes/with company. Son also has a switch and enjoys open world fantasy and historical games.

I'm probably the opposite of a lazy parent stereotype. But I'm also the opposite of someone who wants to pretend they're better than other parents by pretending not to see that they have any genuine use or benefit.

YANBU. I’m a secondary school teacher and I have seen an increase in literacy issues, attention issues and poor social skills which I mostly attribute to tech usage in toddlers and small children. The issue with tech is it has allowed parents to minimise contact with their children and all skills have fallen behind.

For car journeys and airplanes.

Robotic vacuum cleaners and dishwashers too.

Children are a product of their environment, if you choose to delay the iPad while spending a lot of time on your phone you’re already programming them to be stuck on the internet, when they’re eventually allowed access.
It is much better to lead by example and have down time for the family to use screens, parents included, a healthy balance.
It is all very well banning them while they see friends, parents and teachers using screens, they become the forbidden fruit. We know how that worked out for parents that controlled and banned sweet food like it was the devil’s work.