What age for child to own a kindle/tablet device?

jackomdj

Just thought of something extra to add.

It is also about using them at the right time and the children looking after them properly.

We went to a soft play area. I was really shocked to see a little boy running around in the football/basketball area with one. He then put it on the side (in the football area) and went off! IMO he deserved for it to get jumped upon by someone!

Soleil_lune

From the age they can operate it/understand it. If that is 7 or 8, then 7 or 8.

gunsandbanjos

moomoomama27 wrote: »

My rule is not before 9 or 10! There is no need for a child under that to have one in my opinion. Plenty of time for grown up gadgets later on!!

I just bought my daughter an iPad mini, she's 9, nearly 10.

She's in and out of hospital all the time and kinda wish I'd got her one a little earlier, there's only so much time you can distract a stressed or in pain child with I spy etc!

Slinky

I read a report on the BBC a couple of weeks back that 28% of 3-4 year olds have tablets.

I haven't got one and I'm nearly 50..... Looked at some at the weekend, got confused and gave up again.

Goldiegirl

Depends on the child - but when they are old enough to look after it properly

Lunar_Eclipse

Deleted_User wrote: »

At what age would you think it is acceptable for a child to own a kindle/tablet/internet device?

Do children need their own or is borrowing their parent's sufficient, or do they not need to use one at all?

All opinions welcome please.

Re: Kindles:

Acceptable? As soon as they can read.

Yes borrowing is sufficient and of course they don't need to use one at all. (Some children wouldn't even want to use one.)

I don't see a kindle as being like a mobile phone, laptop or personal TV. It's an expensive reading device, so personally, I think it comes down to affordability, preference and maturity of the child to take care of it. The one that connects to the internet is another thing entirely. We don't have computers (or phones) in bedrooms, so I'd struggle a bit with this version; I know kids who were bought one to encourage reading, but play games on them in bed instead.

My daughter got one when they first came out. She's an avid book reader and prefers to read books on the kindle. I think she was 8 or 9; she still uses it at 13, although it has been replaced by warranty. Other daughter has no interest in using or having one.

Edit: Neither the 12 or 13 year olds have tablets. They have access to one though. I think they definitely have their place, but not as a regular leisure activity of choice, in our house. I see a lot of young kids with them who treat them like they're a £5 toy, and also a lot being used in restaurants, with dinner.

I will confess to thinking about getting the 12 year old an iPad mini for Christmas, caus she's quite interested in computer programming and making games, but have decided it's an unnecessary expense and not something I want to encourage (screen use.)

SunshineButterfly

For Christmas this year I have bought my 5 year old an Ipod touch and my 3 year old a childrens tablet. Both are connected to the internet, but both have block on downloads, spending, internet etc.

They will have age appropriate games, music, films, educational learning apps on there and nothing more. And their time on it will also be limited.

I do not see the issue with it. Aslong as the parental guidance is there and things above their age limit is blocked. And of course aslong as they are not allowed to be on it constantly.

tom9980

Can you guys think carefully i know most people on this forum will be fine but a child in my partners reception class cannot hold a pencil and has barely any experience of mark making. The reason? his parents pacified him by giving him a tablet of course he cant even form a single letter of his own name.

So while i am in favor of technology it should be as an extension of not in place of, so do be careful.

HTB_newbie

My children are 4 and 2 and love using their age appropriate apps on the family Ipad. Some apps are really educationally and my eldest helps the youngest and offers encouragement to her to get e.g. the fruit beginning with the right letter.

Both really enjoy the Ipad apps and take it in turns to do the tasks, so I think it is really beneficial for them and would consider getting them an Ipad to share at some point.

I agree with a lot of the comments that when it is supervised and time limited - these can be a really fun and educational.

brians_daughter

DS2 was bought one just before he turned 3. He had delayed speech and there are specialist apps you can use that enable a child to communicate effectively with others. DD is 7 and doesnt have one as we see no need for her to have one.

Its all about what the benefits are to a specific child rather than the age of the child IMO