should 9yr old be allowed unsupervised access to computer?

zaksmum

The computer has no parental controls on it but when visiting the 9yr old wants to go on it without supervision/restriction.

His older teenage brother is allowed on it without supervision.

Worried about what the 9yr old might stumble across which is why we don't allow him to use it if we're not keeping an eye on things.

Ms_Chocaholic

No, no and no
How old is the older teenage brother; if he's not that much older his use of the internet should also be supervised.

poppy10_2

Of course not. Do you really need to ask this question?

C_Mababejive

No.............

bestpud

No, definitely not!

spendingmad

Could you not add parental controls? Problem solved!

Although I still would not give full unsupervised access and wouldake sure the pc is somewhere were you can keep popping in to see what they are lookin at

Jinx

You already know the answer to this and we all agree with you.

My daughter wasnt allowed unsupervised access to the internet until she was about 16, our PC was in the hall and I reserved the right to check who she was speaking to and looking at as a condition of use. And we had open and frank conversations re the downsides of the internet.

SplanK

Even with controls - IMHO no child should be allowed on the computer unsupervised. There are plenty of ways around controls and stuff thats not caught. IMHO even phone internet access should be blocked!! There are some rather dark and nasty places on the internet.

It suprises me how many parents let their kids on computers unsupervised AND then are shocked as to what they get up to, then place the blame on "the internet" rather than there lack of control!

However the issue comes when they have a natural flair for tech which you should encorage

Erinnire

Not a 9years old no.

Nicki

should 9yr old be allowed unsupervised access to computer?

Yes, of course. Why on earth not?

(:D If you can think of reasons why not, then I think you have answered your own question!)

zaksmum

Thanks everyone. I know I could put the parental controls in place but really I believe "No" should suffice. And as Splank says, you can still get dodgy stuff even with them.

I've typed something perfectly innocent into the search and had the most horrendous images pop up.

The older brother's 13 but only interested in XBox stuff. He is supervised though by having one of us in the room with him and keeping an eye on things.