ASD/MLD dd. To get her a "gadget" or not?

[charlieandlola]

DD is 10 soon and obsessed with using my iphone and our laptop for watching cbeebies characters and rollercoasters on you tuber.
Her twin brother is getting an ipod touch for his birthday and am not sure whether to get dd her own "gadget" or not.
Once she is on the computer or iphone she becomes compeltely absorbed in it, can easily spend hours and hours on it, without a break. When we tell her to stop, she gets v anxoius and often violent.
Her meltdown can last for hours afterwards.
She has however learnt to type, is doing phonics and is coming on really well.
She hates being left out and denied things that her brother has, so if we don't I can see her getting v upset.
We have held off getting an ipad for us all due to concerns about how she will self regulate.
Yet we are torn as there are some apps I can see she could engage with.
What do you do with your ASD children

It is very tricky. I have had to put our desk top computer away when ds became obsessed with YouTube teletubbies clips and we had similar massive meltdowns. It might. However be possible to limit iPad to just apps if you hide the safari icon and then lock the device. This way the only visible icons on the screen would be the ones you are allowing her to have. I have done this with dd. she has an iPad with app cbeeebies style games. I have not shown her how to access YouTube as I know she will become obsessed and this would then cause the same issues with older ds. I think you also have to set the rules in advance as I find that by the time the obsession is established usually very quickly it is too late to go back and set the rule.

I have a timetimer on my phone and ipad! The children know that when the gadget buzzes it's game over. Now that they pay attention to that I usually let them finish whatever level or episode they are on..

starlight, we have tried timers, she has in the past just taken the timer and smashed it to the floor in temper, so haven't tried using my iphone for that...

You have to weigh up the cost versus benefit I suppose. We decided not to get one for ds1 for the moment as he is similarly prone to huge tantrums when it is removed. It is though a shame so I know where you are coming from.