Teenager and laptop

Lunar_Eclipse

Both my children, 12 & 13, need a computer & internet access daily to do their homework, but use a family computer to do so. They tend to share one large laptop that is always plugged in at a desk like a desktop, but we do have another laptop & 2 iPads in the house if they need access at the same time.

No intention of buying them a personal laptop and whilst they haven't asked or hinted, I have no doubt they will want one by sixth form. Most of their friends already have iPads. Phones aren't gifts, unless they are clearly a want, eg daughter moving from iPhone to Blackberry: totally unnecessary.

Computer access is a need, but a personal computer would always be a want.

daisiegg

Lunar_Eclipse wrote: »

Both my children, 12 & 13, need a computer & internet access daily to do their homework, but use a family computer to do so. They tend to share one large laptop that is always plugged in at a desk like a desktop, but we do have another laptop & 2 iPads in the house if they need access at the same time.

No intention of buying them a personal laptop and whilst they haven't asked or hinted, I have no doubt they will want one by sixth form. Most of their friends already have iPads. Phones aren't gifts, unless they are clearly a want, eg daughter moving from iPhone to Blackberry: totally unnecessary.

Computer access is a need, but a personal computer would always be a want.

I think any phone for a child is a want, and particularly a smartphone. Personally if a child of mine wanted a phone it would be given as a Christmas or birthday gift and they would be expected to use their own money to pay for their phone credit - no contracts until they are old enough to enter into one themselves.

So speaks the currently childless woman.....I fully give you all permission to make me eat my hat when I go right back on all my good intentions when I have my own kids!

earthmother

My son's high school (he's in yr8) asked that the new yr7 intake bring their tablets to school for lessons if they have them ... and 'suggested' that they it would be a good idea to purchase them if not (they even offer a HP scheme for them).

It's not spread to the older years yet, but I'm sure it will eventually ... and a lot of his homework is already set online through various sites.

My two KS2 kids also get online work from time to time - they even have access to a school version of facebook now, with safe research links etc ... so far we manage with my PC and hubbys laptop, but we can see that we'll need at least one other as they move up the system.

As for the side question of the need for a phone - once they go to high school, especially if they have to travel on the school bus/public transport/do after school events, then it is pretty useful, if not important, to have at least a basic PAYG phone.

Lunar_Eclipse

daisiegg wrote: »

I think any phone for a child is a want

I probably agree, though not in the way I expect you meant. In our family, the *want* was by me, the parent, for the child to have a phone.

I wanted DD1 to have a phone when she started travelling by train to school. She has to change twice, taking 3 trains each way, and did so from 11, upon starting secondary school. It's important that we can keep in touch regarding transport and issues, particularly since we do not live within walking distance of the train station!

DD2 has gone to a different senior school & actually isn't permitted to take a phone. Personally, it's a minor inconvenience, though she's delighted because she doesn't want to be a typical teenager attached to their mobile phone (her words.) Mobile phones help our family life run smoother, if we can communicate things in real time, via text, as they occur during the day. Our life is extremely busy and they help, but we are not slaves to them. They are a tool. Mobiles are left to charge when we're at home; we don't have them with us at the dinner table or anything (I think that is the height of bad manners actually.)

Given the above, it should come as no surprise that I pay the phone contract (which is cheap.)

jellyhead

daisiegg wrote: »

I think any phone for a child is a want, and particularly a smartphone. Personally if a child of mine wanted a phone it would be given as a Christmas or birthday gift and they would be expected to use their own money to pay for their phone credit - no contracts until they are old enough to enter into one themselves.

So speaks the currently childless woman.....I fully give you all permission to make me eat my hat when I go right back on all my good intentions when I have my own kids!

I used to scoff when the primary school children flashed their phones about, but once mine went to secondary school I wanted him to have one.

This was back in the days where phones weren't for facebook or youtube though. I think when my youngest goes to secondary I might look for a basic phone for him. I wouldn't want it to be worth stealing.