Children's laptops- which one?

C-J-T

We're hoping to get my little boy a laptop for his birthday. I'd like one with a keyboard and possibly a mouse- so he learns basic computer skills. He is going to be 3, but is quite good with his letters and numbers etc. I have seen a couple of VTech ones today (the Progress one seems quite good), but would really appreciate anyone's opinions or recommendations. Thank you. x:j

mrs_marty

Hi there, Im sure my son had a vtech one, he didnt play with it long in fact it ended up put away in a cupboard, probably still there :rotfl:But it was good for the short time he gave it

Kimberley82

we had a few of these but in the end got the children a real laptop far better

BitterAndTwisted

A lap-top for a three year old?

C-J-T

Yes- the one I looked at this morning seemed quite good for letter sounds and phonics. Don't panic- no internet connection! Just educational games- fun ones. :rotfl:

LEJC

Sorry ... I was going to tell you that weve just renewed our sons laptop and gone for the HP deal in pc world at £349...great for doing his homework etc fairly sturdy for absorbing the odd knock...but I must have had a brain freeze I read your sons age as 13 the same as my son rather than 3...absolute appologies...

at that age we just let ours use the main computer at home and loaded a few educational things and also let him use cbbc etc...
supervised and in short periods of time...
We taught him it wasnt a toy and he was really respectful of the fact that he was using something "big for adults"

The idea of a "toy" lap top is good but I cant help but think that supervised there are some really good websites around that do encourage youngsters and you wouldnt get the internet access on a toy computer so it does limit the uses...
Once your child starts school you will find that they use proper computers and at that point the "toy" one may become of little interest to them...as they will be taught to use more adult looking set ups than something like an obvious toy.

fluffnutter

I think 3's a bit young, tbh. He'll learn motor skills (which is essentially what you're talking about when you say keyboard and mouse) using any toy aimed at a 3 year old - it doesn't need to be a pretend laptop. He'll just see it as a toy - he won't give a monkey's that it's emulating a computer. When he's a bit older, supervised play/learning on the home PC is the way forward.

MX5huggy

Get him an iPad, my 20 month old loves it. There are some great apps.

Sometimes he lets me use it as well.

victory

20 month old has an ipad? wow:D

MX5huggy

victory wrote: »

20 month old has an ipad? wow:D

Sorry I mislead you, its an iPad 2 so he can skype his friends.

victory

MX5huggy wrote: »

Sorry I mislead you, its an iPad 2 so he can skype his friends.

wow:D.............................................