Kids and Technology

balletshoes

Foggster wrote: »

Kindle - not sure why people dont consider these to be "proper books"! As far as money saving goes, these are great gadgets and I have easily realised the cost of the kindle against the cost of e-books as opposed to paper/hard backs. Daughter doesnt have one, she has the app on her...........Ipad!

for me its because I like pages, I like the feel of a book in my hands, I usually get my books from the library, and I just haven't got on with the kindle. Thats why I haven't got one .
I also don't like ipads because they are all touchscreen (I feel the same way about all touch phones - I just about chucked my DD's phone out the window the first time I tried to put credit on it :mad:).

My DD gets on great with all these things, but I don't, so I'll be dragged kicking and screaming into the land of no buttons way behind her .

Foggster

balletshoes wrote: »

for me its because I like pages, I like the feel of a book in my hands, I usually get my books from the library, and I just haven't got on with the kindle. Thats why I haven't got one .
I also don't like ipads because they are all touchscreen (I feel the same way about all touch phones - I just about chucked my DD's phone out the window the first time I tried to put credit on it :mad:).

My DD gets on great with all these things, but I don't, so I'll be dragged kicking and screaming into the land of no buttons way behind her .

Back to horses and their courses. I still purchase "reference" books but on the whole the kindle saves much time and money. For me, I dont have an easily accessible library due to work, commuting and living somewhat rurally, it would cost me a fortune in overdue fees!:rotfl:

bylromarha

Broadly I'd say each to their own when it comes to these devices, but for me and mine, any sort of technology and screen time was for after they could do it already without the technology.

Kindle may come for my avid readers (age 6 and 8) this Cmas as they read every opportunity they get.

They borrow our DSs every now and then, but only because they can play alone and together without the DS. The Wii gets lots of family fun time, but they rarely want to play their single player games as they enjoy the together feel it brings...which we developed on board games.

I really feel that for some people technology is the easy option (how many times have I heard "they're so much better at their colours/numbers/letters as they're always on xxx app"?). How much quicker would the child have picked it up if their primary carer had spoken with them and taught them those things?

I have already seen how Facebook has stopped adults talking so much to each other and how people get so consumed in their mobiles - just do some people watching, or analyse how often you "just have to finish this" on your phone when your child is trying to talk to you. I did both and it scared me - made me make sure my phone was far from reach when around my husband and kids as I got so sucked in so quickly and ignored them for periods of time while I just finished off something.

Just my 2 pence worth.

KateBob

*Louise* wrote: »

The main items of contention seem to be:

Mobile Phone 10 years as DD was starting to play out with her friends
Kindle 9 years for DD but suspect DS will get one this year at 7
Games Console Technically this was brought for us so the kids have had use for some time, probably about 5
Handheld Console 8 for DD and 6 for DS but under supervision
Laptop 8 for DD, DS hasn't got one yet
Ipad/Android Not yet!

What are your preferences age-wise for your child/ren?

These are the ages we went for

FBaby

NewKittenHelp wrote: »

My point was outside of money and addressing people who say that children are 'too young' for computers.

If you're the kind of parent who can't say 'no' then you probably would buy the latest upgrades, but most parents are able to be sensible.:)

I totally agree that introducing children to technology as and when they are ready for it is totally right. It is how our world is evolving however I totally disagree with your second comment. Parents find harder and harder to say no to their kids using social pressure and the rest at justification. children can access technology borrowing from their parents, at school, libraries etc.... They don't need the latest technology when their use is still limited to games, videos and chatting yet many parents have no qualms buying the latest fade on credit they can't afford to repay because of its cool factor or because they feel guilty saying no or prioritising it over more important activities. that is the problem not the technology itself.

NewKittenHelp

FBaby wrote: »

I totally agree that introducing children to technology as and when they are ready for it is totally right. It is how our world is evolving however I totally disagree with your second comment. Parents find harder and harder to say no to their kids using social pressure and the rest at justification. children can access technology borrowing from their parents, at school, libraries etc.... They don't need the latest technology when their use is still limited to games, videos and chatting yet many parents have no qualms buying the latest fade on credit they can't afford to repay because of its cool factor or because they feel guilty saying no or prioritising it over more important activities. that is the problem not the technology itself.

I didn't say they did. But as I said - if you're the type of parent who can't say no, then it won't make a difference if you're buying them an iPad or a gigantic bar of chocolate every time they ask.

suki1001

Started with a DS at 7, but only because my in-laws gave my dd one they'd bought and didn't use for Christmas. They got sucked in by the brain training fad! Otherwise I'd have left it later.

Joint ps3 at 8/10 - they play with it though (not everyday or for ages), but it gets used. Unlike some of the plastic tat from argos that's been stuck in a cupboard (other people's purchases - I hasten to add). I quite liked how nicely they played together on little big planet - good bit of teamwork.

Kindle - only have the paper kind

Notebook - got one earlier for them to share. We both work from home (internet business) and it's never 9-5, so they use theirs next to us. My oh would never let them go on his laptop, not worth the risk in case anything went wrong.

dd got mobile phone at christmas because she started to go out with friends and she's just started secondary school.