If ten year old is given a table, what do we give their sibling?

[Humblechicken]

Ten yr old DD could do with her own tablet or laptop now, she's using tech almost daily for homework and I'd prefer to put some child friendly controls on as she is getting to the age where she might start to hide what she is looking at. We currently have a shared tablet and a family computer- the shared tablet is fine for her five year old sibling as he is likely only using it when no one else needs to (except the 10 year old). The family computer can only be accessed after DP is done working for the day so not really an option for homework.

My dilemma is that DS who is five will want his own tablet if DD has one and so I need to find a gift or two that matches or comes close to the wow factor of a tablet. I'm not getting DS his own, we struggle to manage his tech time and I'm not adding more in the mix with him as it will cause drama. Any ideas please (except bike/scooter as he already has those)?

@bitchatty exactly

@Humblechicken a camera or some other tech-y toy that isn’t even time

An etchasketch

Why can't you tell him that DD is older and needs it for school?

Digital camera?

Trampoline
camera is a good idea from pp

can you let him look through the smyths catalogue and pick things he’d like? There must be a wow factor toy he’d love.

it’s hard but he needs to learn that his sister is older so will get different things and that when he is that age he’ll get the tablet too .

Yes I would tell him- but I know he will feel disappointed on Christmas day. He is only five and very much likes to have the same as DD as he idolises her and at his age it will mostly feel unfair that she has something so fun. So I'm wondering what we could get that would feel as fun to him. Unfortunately big things like chair or trampoline are impossible with our current living arrangements. He already has a vtech camera but he gets a bit stuck just playing games rather than photos. Is there a kid friendly one that is about photo taking only?

Yoto player?

You shouldn’t have to justify yourself to a 5yo, but if you feel you do just say that he will get something similar when he is older and needs one for school

I think in your shoes I’d buy a second family laptop and give it to them as a joint gift (or not for Christmas at all). Not because of the difficulty of buying DS a gift but because it’s easier to manage that way, your DS will need it as well in time and because a laptop is likely to be a better all-rounder for homework than a tablet.

So would I. It sounds like your family need a computer that can be used before your dh finishes work.

My girls have little LCD writing pads. They look like simple tablets but are just for drawing and writing.

Alternatively there are lots of great Leapfrog products that might work.

Kids kindle fire? Only £50 in Amazon sale, lots of child friendly games for 5 year old.

Then a proper tablet for the older child?

I found this at John Lewis & Partners. What do you think?  https://www.johnlewis.com/vtech-kidizoom-studio-hd-video-camera-set/p5113027?tmad=c&tmcampid=7&sshare=jlappioss_Y29tLmFwcGxlLlVJS2l0LmFjdGl2aXR5LkNvcHlUb1Bhc3RlYm9hcmQ=

🤣

A chair

Do you have a proper skateboarding place near you tha offers lessons? If so a skateboard and all the safety gear if he's an active child

This or don’t get your daughter it for Christmas get it for her as a necessity. My parents never did laptops for school as presents, they just got us them when it became apparent we needed them for school. My brother being two years older got his first.

Just tell him he'll get one when he's ten. What did DD get when she was 5? This will only get more divided over the next few years with phones and freedom and pocket money.

A five year gap can't possibly expect to match, so manage these expectations.

To answer the question, something in a bigger box so he feels he got the biggest present.

While I’m sure your DD will love it, it sounds like the tablet / laptop is primarily to facilitate homework because the family computer is out of bounds so I’d question whether it’s actually fair for your DD to get something that’s really a school necessity as her Christmas gift while her DB gets something “wow” that’s just for fun / pleasure.

I echo what PPs have said about getting a second family laptop & then the kids can get more run of the mill individual gifts.

Yoto player

Tonie box

I agree with getting another family laptop too.

Would the kids like large water pistols, swags for camping, inline skates, tennis rackets, tickets to a water park, pony riding lessons or a slim, one person trompoline?

Can you not get an Amazon fire? It’s child friendly, not expensive and you can put time limits on it. That way they’re both delighted and have something age appropriate.