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electronic gadgets- or lack of them

3 replies

mummymafia · 11/10/2015 22:25

My 10 yr old ds has no electronic gadgets at all. He tells me he is the only person he knows without anything electronic to his name (apart from his 7 year old brother- he's not electronic - he doesn't have any gadgets either!) & it is stopping him inviting certain friends around to play. Apparently I don't understand the meaning of 'round to play' anymore! We have a second hand wii which they play with from time to time , we have a Mac which I let them play on (friv, cbbc, YouTube etc) at the w/e & holidays in timed 'technology time', I let them play on my iPhone & kindle for a little bit every other day or so. We are always looking interesting things up on google & I show them videos posted on Facebook that I think they will enjoy. We live in the sticks & they live a very outdoors lifestyle, cycling, running, sailing, rolling in mud, playing in the lane with neighbours kids, climbing trees, collecting chickens eggs etc - all very idyllic & they love it, I know this for a fact. BUT I don't want to alienate them from their friends & put them at a disadvantage by not knowing some of the latest games, speak, etc to talk about when they are at school, especially my oldest who goes to secondary school in September. I have told him children who judge him for what he has or hasn't got are not real friends which he totally gets but I don't want him to be the social outcast either. We will get him a phone when he goes to secondary school but am thinking of getting him/them both a kindle for Christmas as well. My friends applaud me for managing to hold off for so long & get them into all things outdoorsy & naturey, but I believe it is all a fine balance & don't want him to be negatively impacted when he goes to secondary school. Any thoughts anyone? Hmm

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
KatyN · 12/10/2015 21:12

I am a bit more pro gadget. My son is only 4 but he is proficient with the iPad and will play games on it. Of course with us next to him.

I work in it so I am keen on technology. I also think this generation of children will type better than they write, will google everything (a reference library?? Who are you kidding) and many more things we have no idea of yet. I personally wouldn't want to hold them back from that. Of course it needs to be monitored but I don't see the benefit of a kindle.. I love mine but it is a one trick pony and not going to help your children embrace the digital age.. Soon they will need to learn to use technology wisely and have their own responsibility.

I don't think technology means you can't be out doorsy. Learning to turn off your phone is a crucial lesson (she says mning in bed).

Fwiw my husband works in a school where every child has an iPad. Their attitude to technology is really interesting.

KatyN · 12/10/2015 21:14

Minecraft. Massive craze but actually quite an interesting concept if building.. Or get them a raspberry pi and see what they can programme??

ffffffedup · 12/10/2015 21:30

They've got a wii and a mac and have access to your iPhone and kindle well to me that means they do have electronic gadgets???? In my dc school they do a lot if things on ipads and laptops I'm sure that's just the way of the world these days

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