Laptop for 9 year old??

[Queenofknickers]

My DS is driving me mad with "everyone else at school has a laptop" Can anyone tell me if they need a laptop at 9? Plus what on earth do they do on it?? He has Internet access already on his ipod and can use my computer if he needed to word process. However I might be stuck in the dark ages?

[amazingmumof6]

no, I don't think they do.

we bought one for DS1 for Christmas as he'd just started secondary school (year 7) and it is easier for him to do homework in his own time and separate from family pc.
but even that doesn't warrant a laptop, DS1 got lucky, coz we got carried away after tutor day where we found out he's doing brilliantly at school!
so it was a grand gesture rather than a real necessity.

his younger brothers are pestering us (even my 3 year old, bless him!) but we tell them that they can have one also when they are year 7 and do well, then ignore the pleas and nagging.

they have so much crap already, and DS1's laptop gets used for playing on Minecraft by all of them, most of the time - although DS1 always does his homework on time and to a high standard so I guess it was worth it. (?)

[morethanpotatoprints]

No, it isn't essential but I would say access is important.
My dd is H.ed and does all her wp on my laptop, we share it.

[difficultpickle]

I was going to say Minecraft! Ds bought a netbook when he was 7. I thought it was the perfect size for him but now nearly 9 he pesters the life out of me to use my laptop. He also uses it for emails, writing stories and doing powerpoint presentations.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Hmm DD's school issues every child with a mini iPad for years 1 and 2 that then switches to a full sized iPad in juniors these belong to the school, but go backwards and forwards to school and home. Widely used in class and homework. This school is by no means unique. From year 3 she has pretty much need access to a computer for at least three pieces of homework per week.

[Mominatrix]

No, they don't need one. DS has one, and he never uses it as it has very restricted links to the internet, no games, and is on a timer - i.e., no fun. He uses it one a week to type up some homework assignments (Word, Powerpoint), something which will ramp up next year. He also uses it to make songs on Garage Band and edit some videos he makes.

[ThreeBeeOneGee]

They need access to a computer, but that doesn't mean they need their own personal computer.

We have two computers shared between the six of us: me, DH, DS1 (Y8), DS2 (Y6), DS3 and DD (both Y4). It's fine.

[Tasmania]

Do you not have an old laptop that your DS can use? I go through so many that my "discarded" ones have long since found owners that still use them, e.g. gave one I used around 2003/04 (God, I've only realised now that's a decade ago) for about 18 months, before handing it to my then technophobe mom. It remained in storage until about 2 years ago, when mom discovered the world of Facebook... she still uses it now. It's a Sony Vaio, but you don't need much to run MS Office for homework, IMHO.

Macbook Pros are quite fantastic in that they are sturdy and never look out of fashion... so make good hand-me-downs.

[kimmills222]

Yes, I agree that a laptop would make it easier for him to learn things easily and help hime perform better but make sure that he does not have internet access all day long. If he has make sure that you have a little control over it because this is also the age when he can get carried away with all things adult.

[McPheelingTheSpring]

No. He's a child.

Simple really.

[nlondondad]

My response is to say:

1. If you have no computer at home, you should get one.
   

BUT

Rather than a lap top you might find that an ipad plus a seperate keyboard did the trick.

1. My son, who is doing his A2s has no laptop. He uses computers in school, and the desktop machine, on which I am typing this, at home.
   

1. When his sister went to university we got her an iBook which she found hugely useful.
   

before then she used our desktop machine.

[Elibean]

No, they don't need one OP - but I'm sure they'd all like one!

I have a 9 year old dd. She does have an ancient laptop of dh's, from which YouTube has been removed, countless nanny-ban thingies added, etc. She doesn't use it much, tbh, but she likes having it on her desk the way my 6 year old likes having an old (non-functioning) mobile phone on her desk

She uses the desktop for all homework type stuff anyway.

[SoldeInvierno]

My Ds is 9 and uses his laptop all the time for homework: word, pptx, simple research for history and geography. Of course he could use mine if he didnt have his own, but it would drive me mad

[auntevil]

Mine have i-pads. Partly for entertainment, partly for school.
There are so many e-based initiatives at school, reading bugs, blogs, mle etc and they are given homework on this format each week.
To save argument as to which of the 5 people who need the mac over the weekend/evening, each has their own, so there is no excuse for not getting homework done.
Parental blockers essential!

[happygardening]

Both my DS's have used laptop from about yr 4/5 at school becasue they are both dyslexic IMO the earlier you start using one the quicker you learn to type at any sensible speed thus can really feel the benefit of using one in lessons and in an exam situation.

[pollywollydoodle]

we are lucky, dd 9 was given a netbook by school to use until yr 6.
she does online marked homework, maths games, powerpoint presentations for school and plays games, writes stories and looks at youtube (for angry orange singing gangnam style )
not essential in our house as we have a shared computer but lovely for her to have and we don't have to juggle times when her dad is using it a lot for work

[MTSgroupie]

We have two desktops which sits in the box room study. DCs use those. We also have laptops but we discourage DCs from using those alone in their rooms.

[agreenmouse]

As your ds already has access to the internet via his ipod, I doubt getting a laptop will end up being as exciting as he thinks.
If/when you go for a laptop I would take your time and choose carefully - before you know it there will be a different ?must-have? model he might be talking about.
As for what he would/could do on it, I have a blog here on Mumsnet in the Education section which you might like to consider introducing him to if he is learning, or would like to learn French and/or Spanish. It's called 'A Green Mouse' www.agreenmouse.com/category/blog/

[hardboiled]

DS will get one only when he starts secondary, it will be an old hand-me-down from us.