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Parenting

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Original poster

Would you let your child take an iPad to the beach?

65 replies

Justgettingbye · 13/08/2021 17:49

I'm on holiday in England and we plonked down next to another family. I first saw the boy running around holding an iPad and then he spent most of the time sat glued to it.

Do other parents take iPads for their young kids? I'd probably count teenagers out of it.

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ivfbabymomma1 · 13/08/2021 20:17

I let my child watch his iPad in the pram if I have to drag him shopping, I always think I bet I get soooooo judged for this. But I can get what I need and he's so bored so 🤷🏻‍♀️

I wouldn't take it to the beach though - fear of it getting broken

ivfbabymomma1 · 13/08/2021 20:17

* not bored

CathyorClaire · 13/08/2021 20:36

Having seen a baby in its high chair glued to one while its parents ate in the hotel restaurant morining and evening, I'm not surprised.

It wasn't my kid and I enjoyed the peace though so probably not the best judge.

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Ticketchancer · 13/08/2021 20:37

@CathyorClaire

Having seen a baby in its high chair glued to one while its parents ate in the hotel restaurant morining and evening, I'm not surprised.

It wasn't my kid and I enjoyed the peace though so probably not the best judge.

Equally baby crying and fussing some busy body asks mn if they should call the social

Original poster

Justgettingbye · 13/08/2021 20:42

@Sirzy

I used to take a book with me to the beach as a child. How does that differ from taking an iPad (assuming proper cases etc to protect)?

I suppose it is the same as in a form of entertainment but feels different.

My daughter watches YouTube and it's really annoying American kids videos but if you're doing a game/more educational thing on it probably more like a book.

OP posts:

Original poster

Justgettingbye · 13/08/2021 20:43

With my first I was way too quick to get the screen out to shut her up as I felt id be judged for having a screaming child but then i realised I got more judged for using a screen. So you can't win I know.

OP posts:

Kanaloa · 14/08/2021 11:38

I think what worries me more about iPads/technology is that they are more addictive. These games are set up to encourage you to keep playing for as long as possible. Same as gaming or watching tv - to me it’s something to do for half an hour/an hour in the evening, not something to carry with you and do for hours each day.

I still wouldn’t judge if I saw another kid using their iPad when out and about. Not because of sn etc, just because it’s none of my business. I’m sure other parents will probably judge me when they see my kids snaffling a bag of wotsits while they pull out carrot sticks they’ve chopped at home. Everyone does things their own way.

Kanaloa · 14/08/2021 11:38

I meant what worries me more about iPads/gaming compared with bringing a book. Also, I can read a book before my child and be totally aware of what they’ll be reading, whereas with iPads and games I prefer to be able to actually watch them as they play because you can’t always tell everything about a game by having a quick look at it.

SupermanWithTheGreyHair · 14/08/2021 11:43

Why not? If you’re there for a while they can still have time playing in the sand, in the sea, running around as well as a bit of time on an iPad. I don’t worry what strangers want to judge me for, we just get on with our own day.

golddustwomen · 14/08/2021 11:44

Yes, we did. As well as playing in the sea, collecting shells, crabbing, building sandcastles, they lay down on a towel and played games on the iPad. Nothing wrong with it. We was also away this year during the week long heatwave and they needed half hour time outs from the sun under the umbrella throughout the day.

SE13Mummy · 14/08/2021 12:05

No... because my DC don't have iPads/tablets but the 12-yr-old would have their head in a book and the 16-yr-old would almost certainly have their phone with them so it's not as though they'd necessarily be doing 'beach activities' all the time. If a family takes iPads to the beach because it's what makes it works for them, I really don't see the issue. Families who fly noisy drones or play loud music at the beach I'm less keen on.

Hhhh3345566 · 14/08/2021 12:41

I wouldn’t judge? For all you know that child could have been screaming for the last few hours and parents need a break. Who cares really ?

Mistyplanet · 14/08/2021 21:00

I brought one last time we went to the beach in cornwall during the heatwave. It was very hot and i knew wed need to take some breaks from the sun in our tent to stop the kids becoming sunburnt. We brought it purely to keep the kids in the tent a little and then go back out again rather than them becoming bored inside the tent and asking to go home.

Mistyplanet · 14/08/2021 21:07

Also I have 3 kids and the middle one really didnt want to go to the beach. If the two other kids are enjoying the beach and one wants to go home- rather than us all having to leave the one that's not happy could sit and watch the tablet for 20 mins or so to relax while the other 2 have fun. Its not ideal but at least 2 kids are having the experience rather than us all going home.

Parentingdilemmas · 14/08/2021 22:54

Everyone talking about special needs etc - I don’t think the OP was going down that path so unfair to bash OP about it

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