Page 3 | Does your children's primary school have iPads?

RedRobyn2021 · 2024-03-22T20:30:37+00:00

Really shocked to learn today that the primary school in our catchment gives children iPads from reception Is this the norm now? Why are schools doing this when we have been told screen time should be avoided? Doesn't WHO say no more than an hour a day, less is better for under 5s? Yet 4yos are being given iPads?

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Marblessolveeverything · 09/04/2024 18:25

@Leah5678 our school has a set of 30 per year so they alternate between the two classes. They are in otter boxes none have been damaged since started in 2015.

They are used every second day, and allow all learners to access the curriculum at their comfort. The school is very tech savvy and principal has an IT background.

Lottemarine · 23/08/2024 12:31

Hi, I agree I think it’s too much. Many primary schools in our area are paperless and use an iPad instead from reception all the way up. I think at primary school level that’s overkill. Fair enough having the odd computing lessons but when it’s incorporated into many aspects of the curriculum it’s too much and kids don’t know how to hold a pen and write anymore, that’s ridiculous.

There are many studies that talk about the effects of blue screen and how over time it can create anxiety and depression amongst young kids, as its so insular.

Kids at this age should be outdoors and interacting with their peers not computers. It’s no wonder kids don’t know how to make eye contact and have started wearing glasses at 5 years old. Even my optician talked about this.

Theres a lot to be said for a Waldolf education system which doesn’t use iPads until high school and to be honest if you think about it, in fact most of the kids born in the 80s/90s were doing this and are no less computer incompetent. What ever happened to wipe boards?!

It seems a great way for Apple to increase their shares tenfold by introducing it into the primary school system.

Original poster

RedRobyn2021 · 23/08/2024 18:00

SwordToFlamethrower · 04/04/2024 16:43

Reason #629307328 we are glad to be home educating

That's the thing isn't it, you'd think from some of the comments in this thread that screens hadn't been proven to be damaging for our children (and us tbh)

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Original poster

RedRobyn2021 · 23/08/2024 18:02

lightinthebox · 04/04/2024 17:19

I genuinely believe you are making life difficult for your child by not allowing screens for educational purposes.

The inability to distinguish education from everyday use isn’t great. Things like coding are such an important of a lot of jobs now and by not allowing screen use you are really just making life difficult for your child.

What jobs require coding? 🤔

I think things like iPad are designed to be easy to use, that's why my 80yo grandmother has one (she got it in her late 70s from my mother) and has picked it up fine

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Original poster

RedRobyn2021 · 23/08/2024 18:03

Leah5678 · 09/04/2024 11:01

I worked at a primary school up till 2022 and some of the answers on here are baffling to me. In my experience 95% of the work was done old school style. Occasionally (like once a fortnight) the laptops would be whipped out for an IT lesson (from year two onwards) no different from the paints occasionally being whipped out for art lessons. The atlases for geography etc.
Not much had changed since I went to primary school in the 00s.
The older kids did do maths homework on times table rockstars. That was it really.

Regarding the replies on here how the hell does a school afford an iPad for every child?? Can't be cheap and they must get broken a lot.
I agree with your sentiment btw op.

Thank you, reading through the comments I thought I was living in a parallel universe

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Original poster

RedRobyn2021 · 23/08/2024 18:06

Lottemarine · 23/08/2024 12:31

Hi, I agree I think it’s too much. Many primary schools in our area are paperless and use an iPad instead from reception all the way up. I think at primary school level that’s overkill. Fair enough having the odd computing lessons but when it’s incorporated into many aspects of the curriculum it’s too much and kids don’t know how to hold a pen and write anymore, that’s ridiculous.

There are many studies that talk about the effects of blue screen and how over time it can create anxiety and depression amongst young kids, as its so insular.

Kids at this age should be outdoors and interacting with their peers not computers. It’s no wonder kids don’t know how to make eye contact and have started wearing glasses at 5 years old. Even my optician talked about this.

Theres a lot to be said for a Waldolf education system which doesn’t use iPads until high school and to be honest if you think about it, in fact most of the kids born in the 80s/90s were doing this and are no less computer incompetent. What ever happened to wipe boards?!

It seems a great way for Apple to increase their shares tenfold by introducing it into the primary school system.

Edited

Exactly my thoughts

We have learnt to use iPads and iPhones just fine because they are designed to be easy to use!

Some of these comments are so determined to defend their own choices for their kids that they aren't even considering the facts

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BoleynMemories13 · 25/08/2024 05:50

Lottemarine · 23/08/2024 12:31

Hi, I agree I think it’s too much. Many primary schools in our area are paperless and use an iPad instead from reception all the way up. I think at primary school level that’s overkill. Fair enough having the odd computing lessons but when it’s incorporated into many aspects of the curriculum it’s too much and kids don’t know how to hold a pen and write anymore, that’s ridiculous.

There are many studies that talk about the effects of blue screen and how over time it can create anxiety and depression amongst young kids, as its so insular.

Kids at this age should be outdoors and interacting with their peers not computers. It’s no wonder kids don’t know how to make eye contact and have started wearing glasses at 5 years old. Even my optician talked about this.

Theres a lot to be said for a Waldolf education system which doesn’t use iPads until high school and to be honest if you think about it, in fact most of the kids born in the 80s/90s were doing this and are no less computer incompetent. What ever happened to wipe boards?!

It seems a great way for Apple to increase their shares tenfold by introducing it into the primary school system.

Edited

Paperless Primary schools? 😂 They'd find it hard to achieve any of the government expected standards in English then, since handwriting is explicitly mentioned. Letter formation etc is mentioned in order to achieve the Early Learning Goals right from Reception. Sure, there are apps to practise finger tracing etc, which schools might use to supplement, but you won't find a single mainstream school who don't teach children to write using writing implements.

OP, we have 4 iPads in my Reception class. They're loaded with useful apps and come out once a week for the children to all have a 10 minute turn. They are definitely not glued to them all day, every day.

Technology is routinely used in schools, to enhance learning, not to replace conventional means of teaching. I use my interactive whiteboard every day to enhance my lessons, but we definitely use pens and paper (and whiteboards, and chalk, felt tips, crayons, paint etc too!).