How old were your kids when you got them a tablet/iPad?

[RachBakesCakes]

The advice is conflicting so wanted to hear from parents

My son got a tablet shortly after he turned 5, because we went into lockdown and he basically needed one for daily home school.

He is on it too much at age 8, as are all his friends. He does lots of sports and is very active, but still too much screen time at home.

Eldest (13) was around 4 I think, had an old phone from about 7. Youngest (4.5) has used one since about 2. Each to their own!

I know very few children who don't have tablets.

Mine got theirs at 2. At the time, we didn't have a TV which was part of the reason.

They get about 30 mins in the morning every morning, which is largely to give me and DH a bit of a chance to get ready etc. On weekends, they might get another hour or so on each day. And when travelling, our rule is that public transport within London is no screens, we read or play games, long distance trains/flights, they can use their tablets.

Our kids are quite high energy, they get a lot of time outside and doing other things, we have no family support so we are with them a lot and don't get much of a break. I am ok with them having a bit of tablet time.

That’s not a bit that’s around 6 hours a week. A full school day more or less. From the age of 2, that’s a lot. I would’ve just bought a TV, they’re still screens but less damaging than tablets.

Why don’t you take it off him?

They also spend about 6 hours a week not putting their socks and shoes on when we need to go somewhere...

And they also spend about 6 hours a week reading books with us. About 10 hours a week playing outside.

Is it the optimal use of their time? No. But it makes our lives run more smoothly. I make it about 6% of their waking hours which I am not going to get too worried about.

I do think it can go too far - I have a friend who says "oh my 6 year old can spend all day in bed on their tablet at the weekend" and I just think to myself "well yeah if you have zero limits, that's what they will do".

We don't take flights and our journeys are rarely over 5 hours so I don't need to and I'd rather not introduce it now. I survived looking after a newborn in lockdown with a 2.5 year old looking for constant entertainment in the house and I've trained my children to sit nicely in the car or in a restaurant (because that's what it is - the ones who can sit nicely without a tablet have practised doing so, aren't just naturally better behaved) so to me the cons outweigh any benefits. Having said that, I would 100% be getting one for a flight to Australia! I think you'd be mad not to OP.

Youngest was 3 now 4 when she went on an iPad but it’s on timer for 10 mins maybe once a week.
Older was probably 5 same with a timer now 7 gets 20-30 mins maybe 3 times a week if she’s lucky
we definitely never take an iPad out they have toys to entertain themselves in restaurants etc

I got DD an Amazon Fire tablet. Total waste of money - she never uses it.

Oh sorry got it when she was 5

Again it’s not either or. We’ve never taken our tablet to a restaurant and he sits there perfectly behaved. But that doesn’t mean that I judge others who do use one in restaurants or on car journeys. For different people there will be different pros and cons, if not having one works for you then great! But also for people who it does work for, also great!

Same @TerrorOwls - DS has had an Amazon fire since he was 5, which was bought during a stint in hospital. He very rarely asks to play on it at home but we have brought it with us on holiday. It was useful on the plane and during some dinners. We play on it with him and screen time has been restricted when we are at home. It has family settings etc.

My son is older now and plays chess online. This year I've still got blasted that he should have a proper board. Which then someone gave him because they believe it's better to have a physical set, however no one can play him. It's annoyed me so much because it would be ideal for him to have a chess set but the fact is he is better than them so he plays online, he has no one to play on the board . He can't win really I hate that

She got a kids kindle fire aged 2 for travel (did basic colouring games/watched shows), has used it more since maybe 3 and half, she's now 7, she has a mix of fun games and learning games, plays them all, she also has Disney plus and audio books.
I think it's helped her, at school she scores top in IT on her reports.
At the moment we let her have almost free reign with it as when we say it's time to put it away she does, if she starts pushing back then we'll look at imposing time restrictions.
She isn't allowed it at the dinner table or when we go out for drinks at the pub.

@Alphabetica my dd1 can sit nicely in a restaurant too, chatting to us or colouring. But sometimes she might also like to watch her favourite cartoon whilst we finish our meal or deal with her little sister.

She doesn't demand it as soon as we walk into a restaurant, sometimes she doesn't ask for it at all, sometimes it's offered to her as she has sat still at the table, eaten her food and been very well behaved.

I honestly don't understand this perspective that it's an either/or situation. Just like TV or any interactive toy, time using it can beneficial if used right.
Sometimes I will ask her if she'd like her iPad for the car and she'll say no, she'd prefer to take a different toy.

My best friend severely restricted her DD's tv use and she became obsessed with it, sitting staring intently when it was on, asking as soon as she walked in a room with a tv if she could watch it.
On the flip side, we've always had tv on in the background and my dd will sometimes sit to watch a certain programme, but will also continue to play with her toys in the same room without giving the tv a second glance. It's all just about balance

I'm not sure why I keep getting pulled up on it not being either/or, more so than many other posters with a similar perspective. I've said I agree it can be useful for a flight or long car journey. I'm just choosing not to spend my money on one because it wouldn't be particularly useful to me, in the same way I happen not to have bought a toy kitchen or whatever.