Is it worth buying a ‘first laptop’? (introducing a computer to a 6 year old)

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DS is 6, and I have largely kept him away from computers and computer games.

However, there was a thread on here recently that said that children do need to be familiar with computers and, actually, I grew up with computers myself - used to write little stories and programme games etc.

So how does one introduce children to computers, these days? We don’t have ipads and no family computer, as one might have had a few years ago.

A quick Google search says that VTECH do a ‘first laptop’ - would this be the thing? There are devices specifically for Minecraft, but I don’t really understand what that is.

I really hope someone can come along and point me in the right direction.

no, get a proper commuter, I don't understand how any household manages without!

A laptop? Or a big clunky thing?

People just have laptops these days. You can buy monitor to connect your laptop to if you need a bigger screen. Buy a laptop you can all use.

They aren't tricky to master, he has plenty of time to learn when he's older. Imaginative freeplay, spending time outdoors, helping with chores, learning to cook, reading, etc etc. All vastly now beneficial than getting a laptop at age 6.

A child can have a well rounded childhood doing all the things listed above and have a computer.

I would buy a cheap Chromebook. You can get refurbished ones for around £100 or less. Perfectly adequate for a 6 year old. They can play (educational) games on the CBeebies / CBBC / Bitesize website, and even do some coding. They can write stories in Google Docs (like Word) and add pictures etc.

Google has excellent parental controls that you can apply to Chromebooks being used by children, which you control with an app on your phone (you can download Android or iPhone versions).

Do you do everything on your phone? If not, what do you use?
I wouldn't get a "kids" device. I'd get a standard one, protect it appropriately, and install relevant apps/games.

I'm with fartface - I wouldn't get a vtech thing, get a proper computer - you're going to need to be able to use it yourself of course, so you can set it all up/help out..

Make sure it's a recent enough one that it can support minecraft and you'll be well away.

We just started using the computers at the library. No need to buy anything. It always meant no tantrums about stopping as when the time is up, it's up!

This is still serving us well and my DC are now 10 and 8.

I'm surprise he isn't already able to use one via school, or do they not do computing lessons?

I teach computing to 4-7 year olds in their weekly computing lessons at school. They use desktop computers, laptops and ChromeBooks from age 4. It really doesn't take them long to master using a mouse and then the keyboard ime.

I think these days a 'my first' type one isn't necessary and a waste of your money.

It doesn't need to be an either/or.
It's very much possible to do all of that whilst still being able to use a computer occasionally.

I just think it's ridiculous to buy a laptop of any description for a 6 year old child. There's no rush to learn computing skills, it's baked into modern life. The child won't be behind. In my dc's primary school they have classroom chromebooks and ipads, they get lessons on how to safely and appropriately use them. I'm not against kids using them, obviously. I just don't see the need to own one at age 6!

As pro-tech as I am, I would wait until he shows some kind of interest himself. Unless of course he gets into something like Lego mindstorm (a robot kit, which you need a computer to program). About the only thing you're going to be able to teach an unmotivated 6 year old on a computer is how to use a keyboard and mouse.

just a lap top!

IMHO Ipads are better for young kids, but make sure age restrictions are in place

You really don't need to. He'll start to learn stuff at primary school, and presumably once at secondary will have access to a laptop. Within 20 mins he'll know more than you.

The one thing kids do NOT need these days is an introduction to computing skills. Older people maybe, kids - naaaah.

I wouldn't get anything for now. He won't be lacking in opportunities to use computers. At some point he'll need a laptop for homework etc but probably not until secondary.

We got a ASUS Chromebook Flip recently. I have a work laptop and my child had started to ask to write his name on it with the keyboard then was learning to write other names (he's younger at age 4). We had been thinking about getting a family one as all we had was my work one, and a lot of websites etc are blocked on that so we holiday search etc on phones and felt a laptop would be better.

He's had it around a month and only used it maybe 4 times, there are a lot of educational things you can find with bite size etc and he doesn't have anything on there to watch shows etc at present. You make a parent account which you'd use to pay for anything, then a child account and download what you want to be available on that account. We haven't bought anything paid as yet, just phonics games numbers/maths games, one about space he wanted etc.

It doubles up as a touch screen and a normal laptop so they can get a little bit of experience on both

One thing that the senior school computer teacher impressed on me is that the kids all struggle with using the computer mouse, they are all so used to touch screen everything or the laptop inbuilt mouse. I will make sure that my younger DC has some practice with an external mouse prior to going into senior school and she has started doing some BBC dance mat typing lessons when she wants to. I wouldn't go out of my way to buy a new device if not needed for anything else though.

Yes get a laptop. I'm surprised a 6 year old hasn't been using one at school

I wouldn't be surprised if the schools are all using tablets now at that age. Much easier to lock it down than a computer, especially Windows machines.

The best thing for your dc's development would be to keep them off a computer and any other screens as much as possible. No child needs to practise computer skills at 6, outside of school lessons.

The dc can use a family laptop/desktop/iPad when necessary for school or studies. Be sure to help with good research sources and using an online dictionary.

About Year 5/6, I'd rethink and start typing lessons if they have not done them already in school.

This will not put your child behind academically, but likely much ahead.

Thank you everybody. This is really useful. You have saved me some ££.

We went to the library yesterday and they do indeed have computers with mouses. I will take him there to do his Summer Reading Challenge reviews. Sorted!