9 year old not interested in technology

[maybeyoushoulddrive]

Not sure where to put this... Dd(9) isn't interested in using computers/tablets/mobile phones etc. On the one hand, it's great that she reads avidly, plays imaginative games, likes cooking, climbing trees etc etc BUT I can see her peers will be much more tech savvy than her and I worry she won't be able to access all that school/learning has to offer now and in the future.

So, do I push her to use the computer etc or do I wait for something to grab her? TBH I'm not that tech savvy either - I can email/internet/text/twitter - but we don't have the latest ipads or mobiles etc.

Any ideas? Should I be worried?

You would go down a treat on the current Aibu thread about kids not having iPads .

Tbh I wouldn't over worry but can a friend or family member help- maybe by showing how you can use technology to help with her interests (eg there are some lovely sites about what book to read next if you enjoy a certain one, finding tweets about current events or books to see opinion etc).

I wouldn't over think it as it will be a bit like learning other life skills - you pick them up from family , friends ,school etc or you don't (my dad has got to 61 being gloriously illiterate on any kind of home gadget but can use a work computer fine ).

And you sound normal so I wouldn't worry- dd will or won't take an interest and she is only 9.

She'll already be doing ITC classes at school so I really shouldn't worry about it.

Oh I'll go and search that one out! (bit scared - tend to stay away from AIBU!)

I guess I have been leaving the whole IT thing up to school, but just worried when I saw homework being handed in which looked very swish and done on a computer, whereas dds was mad and zany and hand written and drawn... Easy to panic

Are there any websites you could recommend which I could tentatively suggest or share with her? Dh is about to buy a tablet so we're entering the unknown world of apps too... I'm wondering if we need an ipod too (we mainly listen to the radio or cds) so we can learn how to download music.

I'm so worried stuff will whizz by us and we'll be technologically illiterate and unable to help her ie like my parents! They can't programme the DVD player and dh has to sort them out every time we visit

Thank you Gigondas for saying I sound normal - nicest thing I've heard for a while, if misplaced I fear

I know plenty of successful people who are not interested in technology. She will learn as much as she needs to learn when she sees why she needs it.

What Cory said. It's not a race.

My 10 yr old is the same. doesn't really matter apart from when she gets demolished on the Wii by our 5 yr old neighbour! then suddenly it seems important.

Websites my DD goes on / used to go on:

Rainbow Magic
CBBC horrible histories site
jacquelinewilson.co.uk

my stepdaughters love Pottermore (harry potter site) but I don't know much about that.

I just google whatever she's enjoying reading. Also she bought herself a kindle with her Christmas money this year, so now knows her way around Amazon. Lots of free classics now available.

She still doesn't love technology for its own sake like some kids do but is at least able to use it when she needs it.

I wouldn't worry about other children producing swish pieces of work on computers. The teacher will be clued up on the fact that their parents probably helped a lot and will still be looking for particular targets to be met which usually have nothing to do with how pretty it looks.

If she's not interested don't put push anything. Perhaps get one gizmo in the house for you all to share and learn to use together but if she doesn't want to be bothered with it let it go.

She will learn very quickly once she wants to and suddenly be talking about things which go straight over your head

Don't worry! Children should be children, allowed to play outside, cook, paint, draw etc without the worry about learning technology and keeping up with the Jones' with the latest iPad. I despair that my children will be overloaded by technology at such a young age, as video games are so awful when they should be doing other child things.

You all speak sense! I must learn not to panic and compare She is a very different girl compared with some of her peers, and that's very special really. Long may the love of Sylvanians and Enid Blyton last!