Tablet for a 4 year old?

im-lost

notanewuser wrote: »

So when somebody wants to do something stupid we should all just let them without saying a word?

If a 18 year old wants to get into £50k worth of debt because they want a porsche, or somebody wants to quit work because they don't like the colour of their employer's carpets?

stupid in your opinion maybe, but in many others its an excellent idea

my neice has just started secondary school, at the ripe old age of about 11, and they have all been given ipads by the school to do their homework, and take notes in lessons, its part of modern life, kids will HAVE to use these things and will in all likelihood be using them in daily life when they enter the workplace.

and are you really comparing buying a sub £100 tablet to buying a Porsche? really?

notanewuser

im-lost wrote: »

stupid in your opinion maybe, but in many others its an excellent idea..

and are you really comparing buying a sub £100 tablet to buying a Porsche? really?

A tablet FOR A 4 YEAR OLD. Not for a family, including the 4 year old.

Yes, I think it's stupid. Here's betting the child bought his own tablet at 4 will want a Porsche bought for him at 18.

im-lost

notanewuser wrote: »

A tablet FOR A 4 YEAR OLD. Not for a family, including the 4 year old.

Yes, I think it's stupid. Here's betting the child bought his own tablet at 4 will want a Porsche bought for him at 18.

im also sure the 4 year old who gets used to this kind of technology will also be more advanced than those that have been making mudpies and eating worms

now, im not saying kids shouldnt be kids, but getting them in to the habit of using gadgets and all that can only be a good thing imo, after all, they will have to use them going forward.

notanewuser

im-lost wrote: »

im also sure the 4 year old who gets used to this kind of technology will also be more advanced than those that have been making mudpies and eating worms

now, im not saying kids shouldnt be kids, but getting them in to the habit of using gadgets and all that can only be a good thing imo, after all, they will have to use them going forward.

You're not reading what I'm saying!!!

I'm all for them using them. DD has had access to my phone and iPad for a good 2 years - she'll be 3 in 2 weeks. She's brilliant with them - plays games i cant make head nor tale of. Her dad is an IT consultant. I have been using computers since I was 3 years old. I know of the benefits.

Difference is that I wouldn't buy a tablet for the sole use of a 4 year old. Or an 8 year old for that matter. DH and I let her use OURS. She doesn't need one of her own, nor would I be doing any favours if I bought her one.

It's about balance. Some time with technology and some making mud pies.

iwannastopworrying

I am ignoring all the crap on here about "how dare you decide what to buy your child - I have an opinion about this and no one should disagree with me, it's my right to speak" blah blah blah.

In an attempt to help you out with ideas, me and husband have been doing similar research. Our kids are 7 and 9 - they have had Acer netbooks for 2 years (incidentally, this has not caused them to grow two heads or turn to Satan - it has meant that when they eventually come in from playing outside all day, they have their own little laptops instead of hogging the macs we use for work).

Anyway, Acer laptops now clogged up and laggy, so we are looking at 2 tablets. We would love to get ipads, but we can't afford it and they can't share - logistics won't work! Initially we were looking at the Nexus 7 - not the new one, but the old one which carphone warehouse has got for about £130. Then Tesco threw a spanner in the works with the Hudl - cheaper but possibly slightly slower? Don't know, will be interested in other comments, once people have finished hoisting up their judgey pants.

Tigsteroonie

On a similar vein - apart from the Nabi which comes with a suitable case - has anybody found a decent rugged case for an Android tablet (as opposed to an iPod or iPad)?

I'd like to start using my tablet with our son (yes, he's 4 too!) for symbol/speech purposes, as one of many possible communication tools. But it would need serious protection from drops/throws and I haven't found anything suitable for a generic 7" tablet.

(Goes off to check whether Nabi cases can be bought separately .... Oooooh, they can. Maybe I'll get one.)

Topher81

I'm sorry but seriously an Ipad for a 4 year old !!!!!! (mind my french) My sister in law lets her kids play with her samsung S3 (expensive phone) and they drop it all the time, im sorry but for a 4 year old they should be useing one of them leappad tablets which are designed for the age group.
Saying that my daughter is 9 and I am getting her the google nexus 7 for christmas but big difference between 4 and 9 and it's mostly so she can keep in contact with her mum without useing my phonebill =p

flea72

Topher81 wrote: »

I'm sorry but seriously an Ipad for a 4 year old !!!!!! (mind my french) My sister in law lets her kids play with her samsung S3 (expensive phone) and they drop it all the time, im sorry but for a 4 year old they should be useing one of them leappad tablets which are designed for the age group.
Saying that my daughter is 9 and I am getting her the google nexus 7 for christmas but big difference between 4 and 9 and it's mostly so she can keep in contact with her mum without useing my phonebill =p

Kids soon loose interest in leapad type tablets because the activities are so limited. by the time a child starts school, they know the difference in capabilities between an ipad/pc and a leapad and they know which they prefer.

Games are also so expensive for leapad style devices. By the time you have bought the console and 2 games, you are into the price bracket for a nexus. I would also say the lifespan of a tablet is better, as you dont outgrow it agewise.

As i said, my DD has had an ipod touch since she was 5 (if i could have afforded an ipad at the tme, i would most likely have bought her one instead). She uses mine or her sisters ipads on a daily basis, so £1 for £1 quite a sound investment

I dont understand this idea that its ok for a child to play on an adults ipad/iphone, but not actually own one for their personal use. if they were going to break it, jd much rather they learnt the lesson with their own property, rather than with mine. So we have rules in place, to minimise possible accidents, ie sit down when using it and no cartwheels in the vicinity of someone using an ipad (constant danger with girls)

Those who are against a child having an ipad, seem to be based on cost/adult envy, rather than disapproval of its usage. So if you could get one for about £150, or you won it in a competition, would your view be different?

I agree that as a standalone item its beyond my idea of whats acceptable as a present. but there were items that my Parents bought me as a child that were expensive (ie bike) that were classed as joint christmas/bday present, with family chipping in too. Does ipad not all into this category?

notanewuser

flea72 wrote: »

I dont understand this idea that its ok for a child to play on an adults ipad/iphone, but not actually own one for their personal use. if they were going to break it, jd much rather they learnt the lesson with their own property, rather than with mine. So we have rules in place, to minimise possible accidents, ie sit down when using it and no cartwheels in the vicinity of someone using an ipad (constant danger with girls)

Those who are against a child having an ipad, seem to be based on cost/adult envy, rather than disapproval of its usage. So if you could get one for about £150, or you won it in a competition, would your view be different?

Absolutely not about the cost for me.

flea72

notanewuser wrote: »

Absolutely not about the cost for me.

So why not?