Is my DS the only 6 year old in the UK

[nappyaddict]

Without access to a laptop, PC, ipad, tablet, itouch, ipod, nintendo DS, wii, xbox, leapster, leappad or playstation?

Because it seems that way! Am I depriving him?

I really don't think it's that important. Most of us posting on here didn't grow up with any of these things (well- you might have OP, but you're a younger MNer). Funnily enough we're all managing to use the internet, mouse, ipad whatever- these 'skills' aren't exactly difficult to pick up

We may not have- but the op's child's peers are. Very different.

my dd is seven .She pinches my ipod to play angry birds (thankyou, db) but apart from that is gadget free so far.

I wish I was more computer literate tbh.

Am I the only one who doesn't restrict screen time or internet access then? I've never stopped dd1 (6) from going on any of her electronic items and she knows more than I do already. She fixed the amp for me the other day when dd2 'broke' it.

Tbh she's not that fussed or addicted to anything so I guess I'm lucky and if she was I would start restricting but she'd rather play out with her friends most of the time.

I do think in this day and age that dc should at least know the basics.

Dd is 7 and has had a ds since 4, now has a 3ds. She has a camera which she loves and wants a laptop at Christmas

Ds1 is 6 next week and is getting a 3ds for it. He is giving his old ds to his little brother and has been asking for a tablet for Christmas since January and will get one

Ds2 is 3 and has an old ds of dd's which is broken so is really excited about getting a working one. He wants a pink 3ds for Christmas and has a leapad he loves.

We have a PlayStation and Wii downstairs which they've played for years and I recently dug out the old GameCube and hooked it up to an old tv upstairs for them. They need to ask to use it though, it's not on constantly and if the room is messy they're not allowed to use it until they've tidied.

I should point out though they're 3rd generation gamers, it's a common occurrence to find my dad, dp, me and the kids all gaming on a Sunday afternoon

Ds has an xbox and a ds. He uses my computer to go on YouTube and cbbc games. He can navigator his way round YouTube once I've put relevant search in but doesn't know how to search himself. His xbox is an old one but he'll probably be getting a 360 for xmas. Prob get him laptop when he's about ten. Currently six.

These children are growing up in a world where being comfortable with technology is likely to be more important than being able to write with pen and paper.

The only things I use my pen for these days are writing cheques for school, soon to be replaced with internet payments, and shopping lists, which I could easily do on my phone, and which I don't do when I'm shopping online.

Don't underestimate the impact of spending time using these things in how comfortable they are with using them. There's a reason why software engineering is dominated by men. It was always boys that had computers when I was growing up. I got one, a much more basic one than my brother though, and I ended up being a software engineer. I was unusual though. I don't think any of my girlfriends had them.

I wouldn't go so far as to say depriving, I'm sure they are perfectly happy, but I do think it will be a disadvantage to not grow up using these things in a society where the majority do.

My 9yr old and 5yr old have had access to computers and gadgets since before they were 2. As soon as they were old enough to work things and not just chew them. Neither of them have grown 2 heads and are both doing brilliantly at school. The baby (1) is desperate to get his hands on stuff but is still at the bashing randomly stage so he isn't allowed yet.

Has anybody pointed out the clear evidence linking screen time with sedentary lifestyle and obesity etc.?

I´m a bit taken aback that it would be possible for kids nowadays to feel left out at 6 years old if they don´t have regular access to expensive electronic equipment. And I don´t think a child will be at a lifelong disadvantage if s/he doesn´t know how to play on a wii or DS etc. at this age.

I´m not in the UK OP but am glad my children aren´t being brought up there. I think learning soft skills, dealing with real people, playing out, etc. is far more important than concentrating on ICT skills which will come in time any way.

I´m completely at ease with technology, was an expert in certain fields at work. DH is a technical whiz as a sideline to his real field of expertise. Neither of us even had a PC until adulthood.

I don't know if you're 'depriving him', but my view on technology is that this will be their world, much more than it is ours. To not introduce them to the gadgets that they will use for school, work, socialising, etc, is short-sighted as they will be in a tiny minority of kids who haven't been introduced to those things.

OTOH, I don't think kids should be immersed in computers and sedentary activities at a young age - there is a fine line between making sure they're au fait with technology and allowing it to take over their leisure time.

My dd is 8 and uses the PC to play Moshy MOnster games and Planet Sherston games. DS is 5 and sometimes plays on the PC with his big sis (age appropriate Planet Sherston games). That's all. We don't have any of the other things listed.

"I´m not in the UK OP but am glad my children aren´t being brought up there. I think learning soft skills, dealing with real people, playing out, etc. is far more important than concentrating on ICT skills which will come in time any way."

That is such a silly thing to say. of course it's not either\or, and nobody's saying concentrate on ICT skills to the detriment of other things.

I think it is a bit odd never to let your 6 year old use the internet. I don't want my DD growing up not knowing how to use technology. She has always seen me shop on the internet and I will often call her over and ask for her opinion on things that I am buying for her or on hotels etc that we might go to on holiday. She also really enjoys educational games and she likes writing emails to friends and family.

DS is almost 6 and has a LeapPad, he is not so interested in technology just yet, he'd rather play out or play safari with his animals. Occasionally he'll click onto Word or Paint on the family computer but he won't access the internet alone.

Reading this thread has made me realise how much dd1 does do online/with computers. She's just 4, is totally au fait with the iPhone, sends emails & Skypes with family, sees me shop online, looks at photos on Facebook with me sometimes, likes 'typing' in word docs, can put on her own programmes on cbeebies iplayer & YouTube.... Much more than I thought initially.

I really can't see anything "wrong" in a 6 yrs old with no access to electronic gadgets or the internet.

At 6, they are still quite young... they won't miss out.
Also this kind of technology isn't that difficult to use, is it. Even my 70 yrs old mother is able to operate an Ipad .
Even us are here happily chatting on the internet or buying stuff on amazon, despite having been born in the 1970s.

My eldest didn't have any gadget at 6, there was no need. Then he discovered a passion for football, and youtube became important to watch goals and bits of old World Championship. Then they spend more time at friends' and play together on the wii. Etc.

Children in year one do ICT and it will show that he never ever uses any computer devices/technology outside of school!

Does you local library have a kids computer section? Mine does, it has games, the internet, word processor, etc and with very good security and internet protection settings on. I let DS have a turn if we go to the library, as well as play in the play area and pick some books.

My DS is 7 (but a very young 7 as he has autism). He likes to look on google maps, look at pictures of things he likes (usually trains or robots), type his name very proudly, and go on the Cbeebies website and whispers youtube.

He has never been interested in consoles but I recently noticed he is more responsive to touch screen technology and as I couldn't afford an i-anything I got him a Vtech Innotab. He loves it! He''s amazed he can do the games and work the drawing app and so on - it's been a huge boost to his confidence and has meant he recently tried a Disney wii game. We've had a wii for 2 years which I use for exercise but he's never had the confidence to even try it. He now can join in conversations with his peers about games. This is a big thing for him. He struggles socially and having something in common with his classmates has been a big boost for him.

Obviously his screen time is limited but I wouldn't ever ban him from all electronic devices, I feel it would be detrimental to his development, both socially and academically.

I know families whose children have all the electronic gadgets money can buy and have had from an early age, something I don't agree with. I'm striving for a middle ground. It doesn't have to be all or nothing!

I actually think it's a bit sad that ICT is part of the EYFS. The playgroup DS went to didn't have a computer and I was very glad about it.

We go to the library to pick books for me to read to him, but they are too difficult for him to read by himself yet. I think library use has really decreased over the last few years and it's a shame. Since everyone now has internet access 24/7, no one even thinks to go and find books on the subject. I think it sort of takes the fun out of it having it instantly at your fingertips. I remember doing a school project on bees and another on castles and searching the library for appropiate books. I like to encourage him to make use of the library as a research tool as the saying goes if you don't use it, you lose it and it is also an important skill IMO. In uni you are expected to back up your work with research from books and I was encouraged to type up work in the library so you can use the reference books and also don't have to lug lots of books home.

He doesn't really bring any homework back from school yet (thankfully - I don't really agree with homework in primary school apart from reading) He brings a reading book home, but that gets changed once in a blue moon. He reads it a few times and then it goes back in his bag whilst we wait forever and a day before he gets a new one. I have asked them to send more books home but they won't. When he starts getting homework that may require use of a computer (I was in Y6, but understand it may be sooner as the NC has changed since then) we will probably get him his own computer like my parents got me when I reached that stage of my education. They use touch screen computers at his school and his co-ordination problems means he finds it hard to navigate a normal computer/laptop - another reason why it is pointless him using DP's laptop as he wouldn't be able to play any of the games on it anyway, so we will probably get him a tablet.

stinkymice What is the school reading website? I've not heard of it before and that could be something I would allow supervised computer access for.

Why is it sad? Sorry but you really arse sounding a bit precious and "look at me im a good parent and im ust off to weave some lentils with my children"

I read with my DD, she does suff on the computor, it helps with her reading! There were probably people who felt that automatic washing machines were the work of the devil and clothes should be washed by hand, but you know, they are part of life.

I dont think it is about teaching computors but using them as a resource

what has reading books got to do with computer use. my dd reads books and uses the comuter, would you believe it.

I also don't understand why you feel sad.

To be computer illiterate will be like being unable to read. If you think technology is all around now think how it's going to be in 15/20 years time. It is constantly evolving. They need to know how to use them and the sooner they start the better.

I agree that using the computer won't stop you from reading books and do other stuff.
But what's this anxiety about using technology otherwise you are left out?

Time spent on how to use a tablet? What, 15 minutes? Come on, most 6 yrs are faffing about playing Angry Birds (which is fine), not hacking the CIA database.

Mine had a DS each from the age of 5, but were limited in how long they could use it and rarely play with them now. We don't have an ipad or games console. I may be persuaded to get one if they ever decide they want one, but it will be shared and limited in use. They do have access to the internet via my PC, but again that is limited because although I let them do it themselves I insist on supervising so it is very much dependent on me having enough free time to sit there with them and watch what they do. As they get older, they will have their own laptops as this is fast becoming a necessity with schooling at secondary level. By that age, I hope they are savvy enough to be safe online, although I will be monitoring their usage quite closely until I am satisfied that they are mature enough to be afforded the same degree of privacy as an adult, which may be at 16 or may be 18 itself, who knows.

DO you have a TV?

Your DS will have access to a PC at school ( unless at a Steiner school, where your no screens approach would be commonplace).

I have a 6 yr old DS who has limited PC use at home, occasional game boy/ smart phone use for games and no TV at home. School report had him above expectation for ICT with good mouse control, he is also learning to touch type.

Yes we have a TV. And I do use the laptop so he can watch DVDs, films, things on you tube, listen to music, look at photos, hooked up to the TV via a HDMI cable.

I mentioned books because a few people on the thread mentioned they weren't worried because their DCs were good readers, that their DCs used the net to read books, that they use the computer when they go to pick books from the library etc No where have I said if DC use a computer it means they don't read books

I feel sad in the same way I feel sad that children in the UK are pushed from such an early age. I think there is too much pressure on kids being forced to learn to read so early in this country (amongst other things) Fab if they want to, but for a lot of kids they aren't ready for it, they feel pushed, they feel stupid if they don't get it or that they physically can't do these things because they are taught that they "should" be able to do certain things like reading, writing, adding and subtracting etc by now and now it seems computer literacy is being added on top of that. Kids in other countries don't start formal education until the year of their 7th birthday and they all turn out OK. I've sort of gone off on a tangent here but basically I don't think being computer illiterate or even illiterate at 6 is going to do you that much harm in the grand scheme of things.

I'm not against technology by any means, and I have said when the time comes for DS to need to use one that's fine and I am completley open to that. For example until today I had not heard of this school reading website. Chances are, once I've found out more about it, I will consider that an appropiate use as DS does struggle with reading and this could be an incentive for him. However I have just searched on google and can't find anything, so I am now wondering if it is the poster's DC's actual school's own website. DP has a kindle app on his laptop and I am wondering if I could download any appropriate books for him on that?

I am quite sympathetic to your reasoning OP. Actually we go to the library and look on the computer, it's great to be able to do both .

Internet use can be very positive though, another string to the bow, just done within boundaries so that they are only spending a short time a day doing it. Some examples for you. DS has a lazy eye and has to wear a patch at the moment. The orthoptist suggested a website he could go on from Moorfields eye hospital that he could go on, read about lazy eye/play games etc. He was able to get there himself- I read the story for him, although his reading is good so he could prob read himself, just I wanted to support him and explain anything he was unsure about. That was a great resource for him and he went back on there several times. He went to a party at the weekend and the entertainer gave party bags with his website on. DS went on there, entered an online "prize draw", reading the question, answering it himself. Not so keen myself on that last one, but I supervised and think it good DS learns a bit more about the world out there.

He is doing the Summer reading challenge at the library as I mentioned. They have a website which he has been on (storylab or something), although I think he was a bit disappointed with it as it's a bit limiting compared with cbeebies. He did find the bit about writing your own story though and had a go. He has had a go on websites (cbeebies maybe) where you make up your own poem/story, ones where you design your own house and garden. There's a wealth of stuff out there. Oxford Owl is full of free e books. What a resource! Actually we prefer reading real books (well I do!) so we use it rarely, but it was great for trying some different sort of books and finding DS's level when the school were giving too easy books. And yes, I think you can download books on the kindle- post on children's books and I'm sure someone will be there to offer advice .