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Original poster

MIL has got DS a computer for his 4th birthday. WWYD?

30 replies

justaphase · 24/09/2009 15:58

I need some perspective here. I know that there is no avoiding the games and computers but I wanted to put it off for as long as possible for my kids, at least while I can control what they play with. I want him to run outside and use his imagination, not sit in front of a screen.
Am I being precious, is he going to be obsessed with the stuff anyway in six months? Or are most kids this age not bothered and he will just ignore it?
His birthday is in 2 weeks, he just proudly told me yesterday that she has got this for him. I gather it is a kid's laptop with some education activities and several games.
I just want to take it from her and hide it.

Or maybe I should only show him the education activities and make sure he gets really bored with the thing quickly ....

Am I overreacting?

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rubyslippers · 24/09/2009 16:00

i thought you meant a real computer ...

DS has one kid's laptop (3.4) which he isn't enamoured with

don't see the issue myself

MoonTheLoon · 24/09/2009 16:04

You are overreacting, my DS1 used to use our laptop when he was 4, he would go on Cbeebies or Beconscot websites. It taught him computer skills and fine motor skills with the mouse.

Say thank you nicely

Original poster
justaphase · 24/09/2009 16:11

hmmm, I suspected you might say that. OK, I will just hope he finds it boring then

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EldonAve · 24/09/2009 16:16

You can still limit his screen time

LoveBeingAMummy · 24/09/2009 16:18

Can you find out wihch one it is and have a look online?

MoonTheLoon · 24/09/2009 16:20

I never let my DS on it for more than half an hour, it doesn't turn them into zombies! He takes great pleasure in many things, this is just one of them.

Original poster
justaphase · 24/09/2009 16:21

I can limit his screen time but it just adds another battle. I think boring him is the way to go. In fact, I might insist on him doing some educational activities regularly [evil]

OP posts:
Elk · 24/09/2009 16:30

dd2 (nearly 4)loves computers she enjoys the cbeebies website and would spend hours on it if she could. Those childrens computers with a few educational bits on she has looked at and then ignored.

Dd1 was given a nintendo ds for her 3rd birthday, although she has been given fairly free access to it, it is only in the last 6 months or so she has really got into it, she is 6.

We also have a family Wii which we all play on together.

thedollshouse · 24/09/2009 16:36

They are great for long car journeys.

cluckyagain · 24/09/2009 16:38

Honestly - that sounds like a lovely present - if it's only a kids computer it will be fine and very enjoyable for your ds.

MoonTheLoon · 24/09/2009 16:42

I have resisted the computer games like Nintendo stuff but DS has had a Leapster for a couple of years and he still loves it. The thing about that is it's fun but not so fun that he wants it for hours and it's educational (depending on the games you buy). DS1 is 5.6 and I'm wondering how long I can hold off with the Nintendo stuff.

llareggub · 24/09/2009 16:48

Elk, really? A DS for a 3rd birthday? My DS is 3 next month and I'd never think of buying him a DS. What games would a 3 year old play? Is there some sort of benefit to it which has passed me by? DS is as likely to play frisbee with it I think. He has no concept of looking after expensive things at all. I'd imagined this sort of device for an 7, 8 year old maybe.

alison222 · 24/09/2009 16:54

my chiildren are aged 8 and 6 and my mum has just asked if she can buy one for them for Christmas. I am still mulling this over as DS is a computer freak and I might have to hide it under my pillow in order for him to sleep if he has one. I can't decide and he will be 9 before X-mas

thedollshouse · 24/09/2009 18:58

MTL. I was thinking of getting ds a leapster for xmas as he has outgrown his laptop and I don't want to go down the ds route yet. Would you recommend it? He is 5.

TotalChaos · 24/09/2009 19:10

these kiddie type laptops don't tend to have good screens, often the screens are small and black on grey, I really don't think it's going to be addictive.

MoonTheLoon · 25/09/2009 09:54

Leapster is excellent dollshouse, my DS has about 8 or 9 different cartridges (game came with 3) which he has built up over the last two years, some are fun ones (Cars, Spiderman etc.) and others are educational like maths. He plays on it in the car or if he justs wants a bit of quiet time away from his younger brother. He is not addicted to it by any means. For us it was money well spent.

francagoestohollywood · 25/09/2009 10:11

It largely depends on your son's personality.
Both my dc weren't interested at all in laptops etc at that age. Still aren't that bothered now, and they are 7 and 5.

MrsMagnolia · 25/09/2009 10:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

thirtypence · 25/09/2009 10:14

Leapster is still great for 6.5 years boy with a year 4 maths age. Would highly recommend one.

VulpusinaWilfsuit · 25/09/2009 10:25

Say thank you?

Presumably this has been said before on this thread?

Anyhow, if you limit it, you will find that computers, like any information tool are all about what you do on them. School classrooms pretty much all have them so what's the problem?

overmydeadbody · 25/09/2009 10:30

yes you are over-reacting.

Presuably you have said thank you?

Nothing wrong with computers. It's all about variety.

I limit how muh reading my DS does as I want him to do other things apart form just read for hours on end. It's the same with computers.

Nothgin wrong with computers and computer games.

overmydeadbody · 25/09/2009 10:32

I agree with MrsMagnolia though, I'd much prefer a real computer.

clayre · 25/09/2009 10:34

I think your over reacting, last year on my dd's school report card one of the negative things was she needed to improve her keyboard skills, she was only in P1, they learn computer skills from nursery all you can do is monitor it at home.

ElectricElephant · 25/09/2009 10:40

Tell he she is freakishly organised - Xmas is 3 months away yet!

wannaBe · 25/09/2009 11:00

tbh I think there's a vast difference between allowing a 4 year old access to a computer/games console and giving them one of their very own.

I think it is important that children learn computer skills (games consoles optional though), as computers are part of every day life, and the younger they gain some computer skills the easier they will find it. But a computer is not a cheap item, and if you have a computer in the house already there really is no need for a 4 year old to have a computer of their very own.

Also, if we're buying them their own computers/expensive games consoles at three/four, what do you buy them when they're seven/eight?

It strikes me that children are being bought everything when they're so young, and consequently will grow up with the expectation that they will be given whatever they want.

Is it any wonder that kids are growing up with no concept of the value of money.