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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

how old are your kids and have they got a lap top/own computer and/or mobile phone?

32 replies

hatwoman · 14/02/2011 18:56

not really sure if education is the right place to ask ...but I am thinking about secondary school and wondering how much secondary school kids need to use a computer for homework etc. and the mobile phone bit is just out of interest really. we have two computers in the house but dh and I both work from home and so we tend to be on them a lot of the time.

OP posts:
generalhaig · 14/02/2011 19:10

ds1 had a cheap PAYG mobile when he went to secondary as he had a train journey and we needed to know if his train was cancelled or delayed. After keeping it safe for a year he got a slightly better PAYG version as a reward for doing well in his end of year exams - he's just had his first 'proper' phone as a 14th birthday present.

He'd love a laptop but he doesn't actually need it that much for homework and I only want him using the internet on the home computer in the living room as that way I can keep an eye on what he's doing, so I've told him that when he can afford to buy his own he can have one - seeing as he wants a Mac Air it'll be a cold day in hell Grin

PixieOnaLeaf · 14/02/2011 19:14

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bellavita · 14/02/2011 19:19

DS1 nearly 14 got a mobile before secondary and we bought him a laptop for Christmas in Yr7. He is taking music as a GCSE and we will be buying him an iMac.

Ds2 who is 11 has had a mobile and a net book si ce Yr5

Snorbs · 14/02/2011 19:25

DS is 12. He got a PAYG mobile phone for his birthday just after he started at secondary.

He uses the family computer for homework as that way I can keep an eye on what he does on it. He'll need to be a lot older before I let him have a laptop he can use without supervision. He does roughly half his homework on the computer.

Marjoriew · 14/02/2011 19:28

Grandson is 11 and has his own laptop since he was 7. He's HE and uses it quite a lot.
He's only allowed to use it in the sitting room where I can supervise him.

seimum · 14/02/2011 19:42

DCs got phones (cheap PAYG ones) when they went to secondary. DD2 (17) recently got a fancier one with internet access etc (instead of a pocket money increase).

They have always used the home computers (but we have 3) - DD1 got her own laptop for her 18th when she went to university, and so will DD2.

I've found they don't actually need to use the computer that much for homework (maybe 1/2 hour a night) until they get to having to write GCSE/A level coursework etc.

And it's best to supervise to make sure that homework is actually happening.

cat64 · 14/02/2011 19:54

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fruitshootsandheaves · 14/02/2011 19:58

Yes to all except DS2(9) who has nothing although he may soon be getting DD's old cast off computer PC, which he won't use much as it's not lego or gun shaped.

BrokenRing · 15/02/2011 10:01

Ours got phones at 12/13 yrs, and have stuck with cheap PAYG ones for several years.

We have lots of computers though - three of the four have their own computer, plus their dad has one and I have one which the youngest uses when they're home from school. They're all networked so we can use the one printer.

bruffin · 15/02/2011 10:07

Ours got their mobiles in yr5/6 because I was travelling by train and needed to contact them if the train was late.

They are 13 and 15 now. 5 year old has just bought his own laptop and DD uses home pc or DH's work laptop.

trefusis · 15/02/2011 10:10

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BigBadMummy · 15/02/2011 10:13

DD1 is 16. Had laptop in Year 10 when she started doing GCSEs. Had a mobile in Year 8. In Year 10 she got a BlackBerry on a contract

DS1 is 15. Had a laptop in Year 8. Had a mobile from Year 7. Now on a contract with a BlackBerry

DD2 is 12. Has a pay as you go mobile and no laptop. But she does have a desktop in her room.

Shodan · 15/02/2011 10:14

Ds2 is 15 and has had his own phone and laptop since year 6. The phone is on a contract and forms part of his monthly allowance.

He wouldn't have got a laptop so early from us as we had a home PC in addition to our laptops, but his bloody father bought him one instead of paying maintenance Angry so he has that still.

Ormirian · 15/02/2011 10:17

DD is 11 and has a netbook. She had a phone too but never used it or charged it Hmm

DS1 is 14 and has a netbook and a phone.

Madsometimes · 15/02/2011 11:10

Dd1 in Y6 got a mobile for Christmas but rarely uses it. My husband is buying a new work laptop (he's self employed) and so she got his old one - yesterday. Her laptop is better than mine.

steeleyes · 15/02/2011 12:50

DS has had a mobile phone since he was 6 - an old one of mine that he mostly used for games until he was 10, then occasionally used it for calls. I plan to get him an Android phone soon so he can use Google Calendar etc to organise himself.

He got a free laptop in Year 6 through Home Access. But only uses it for games as school doesn't set homework and it's too heavy to carry into school.

MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic · 15/02/2011 12:56

DS1 (13 tomorrow Grin) has had a PAYG mobile since the start of Yr7. DS2 (10) will get one in September when he does the same.

We have two family PCs and my laptop, all of which are networked and have internet access (PCs are in the living room) They don't need their own personal ones atm. DS1 generally does PC based homework at school anyway.

sue52 · 15/02/2011 12:57

DD had a phone from the summer of year 6 when she started to get the bus home from school on her own. She had a laptop from year 7 when she joined her senior school.

amothersplaceisinthewrong · 15/02/2011 13:01

Mine got Mobiles as a "present" for starting in Year 7. Desktop computers at home from year 7 with internet access in their bedrooms (we have a network in the house with four computers on it), laptops as a "present" for getting into Univeristy.

circular · 15/02/2011 13:37

DD1 (yr9) had a cheap PAYG mobile since yr5. The had to hand them in at schol and collect them end of day. It was needed as she did so many after school clubs with times always changing that DH never knew if, when or where to pick her up from. Upgraded iaround her 12th birthday, to a cheap touchscreen. Have only just put her on a rolling month contract as she had been so good with it.
She has had one of our old PCs in her room since yr7 which does for a bit of emailing, homework. But she is increasingly borrowing DHs mac for music stuff, and my laptop when she needs windows 7. Have resisted getting her own laptop as worried she will be forever on facebook.

DD2 (8, yr 3) got a cheap payg phone a few months ago. She asked for it as a birthday present, mainly uses it for video clips and texting friends so it is more of a toy. She had a netbook for her 7th birthday as she loves writing song lyrics, poems and stories so wanted it mainly for word documents. She only has a school email address. Does a bit of surfing, mainly for video and film clips. A few online maths, word, arty games/ puzzles. All pretty harmless / educational.

LadyGlencoraPalliser · 15/02/2011 13:42

Same as many on here - DD got a cheap Payg mobile when starting secondary. She and her two younger siblings share a computer which is in shared living space - but we have said we will pay half towards a laptop for her 14th birthday in July if she can save up the other half.

muddyangels123 · 15/02/2011 13:54

DS1 19 - He got his 1st computer at 11 & PAYG mobile at 12.

DS2 14 - He got his computer at 11 & PAYG mobile.

DD 9 - Has my old laptop to use downstairs for homework/CBBC.

DD will be getting a PAYG mobile when she starts Guides next year. Also, her own computer when she is 11.

circular · 15/02/2011 14:36

DD1 (yr9) had a cheap PAYG mobile since yr5. The had to hand them in at schol and collect them end of day. It was needed as she did so many after school clubs with times always changing that DH never knew if, when or where to pick her up from. Upgraded iaround her 12th birthday, to a cheap touchscreen. Have only just put her on a rolling month contract as she had been so good with it.
She has had one of our old PCs in her room since yr7 which does for a bit of emailing, homework. But she is increasingly borrowing DHs mac for music stuff, and my laptop when she needs windows 7. Have resisted getting her own laptop as worried she will be forever on facebook.

DD2 (8, yr 3) got a cheap payg phone a few months ago. She asked for it as a birthday present, mainly uses it for video clips and texting friends so it is more of a toy. She had a netbook for her 7th birthday as she loves writing song lyrics, poems and stories so wanted it mainly for word documents. She only has a school email address. Does a bit of surfing, mainly for video and film clips. A few online maths, word, arty games/ puzzles. All pretty harmless / educational.

roisin · 15/02/2011 18:29

ds1 got a mobile when he started secondary and, having begged for one for years, has rarely used it since (2.5 yrs).

He had shared computer access at home anyway, but he got his own laptop at the start of yr9. But this doesn't live in his bedroom.

We'll do the same when ds2 is 13.

HSMM · 15/02/2011 20:40

My DD got a laptop and a mobile for starting Secondary School.

The laptop is in the living room where I have full view of the screen and she uses it nearly every day for homework.

The phone is the cheapest PAYG I could find, so noone will want to steal it.

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