Have any of your 6 yr olds got their own laptop?

[LucyJones]

Or is it me who thinks it's completely unnecessary

and where do we stand on 6 yr olds and ds lites?

[roisin]

No. My boys are 10 and 12 and do not have their own laptops. We have a shared PC in the house and a shared (non-internet enabled) laptop. Anyone needing computer access needs to negotiate/liaise with other members of the househole.

[CantSupinate]

We let DS have DH's old laptop when DS was about 6yo.
It wasn't Internet connected, he used it to play games like Castle Creator.

Um, not sure about the 'We' business, lol.
My 6yo sons would have ended up throwing their DS/DS-lite across the room in fury, hence why I wouldn't give one to my sons.

[littleducks]

MY three year old has one (or at least has to 'share' with her bro who is only 1 so doesnt use it). She uses it occassionally for reading eggs or starfall.

We only did it so it could be on maximum saecurity settings and it didnt matter if she messed it up, and we had an old one going spare (dh works in IT and is a geek)

I wouldnt buy a child one tbh, but it does help having it seperate as she has messed up settings and it hasnt mattered/affected mine or dhs work

[orienteerer]

Errr, laptop completely unnecessary!
DS Lite - I'm probably in the minority but they are banned in this household (we don't have Wii either).

[Clary]

My soon to be 7yo claims he is the only child in his class not to have a DS.

I am a bit about it but certainly lots and lots of them do have one.

DD got hers at 7 so I have said the same to DS. It's fine imo once they can a) read (needed for games) and b) take care of a breakable £100 toy (6yo answers yes to both those).

Laptop tho, no way, no need, why why why?

[SusieCarmichael]

my dd has her own laptop (it was my old one) she loves it and plays on cbeebies and nick jnr

she also has a ds (because of dp) i wouldn't have spent the money myself but she does play junior brain training if that makes it any better!

[FalafelAtYourFeet]

7 year old DD got a DS lite about a year ago and hardly ever plays with it, really. It's good for long car journeys.

But at the idea of the laptop- what on earth would a 6 year old do with a laptop anyway?

[SusieCarmichael]

sorry, dd is 4 btw

[Clary]

sorry post is rather confusing wrt DS (my son) and DS (gaming toy).

I mean that he is probably going to get one once he is 7! He would never throw a toy across the room but that's why I wouldn't buy one for a 3yo.

[Trafficcone]

Feck no!! My 15 yr old doesn't have his own, he'll get one when he leaves for Uni unless he buys his own sooner. Are there no benefits to being an adult anymore? A laptop is an adults tool not a childs toy.

[LucyJones]

yes ds is saying he is the only one who hasn't got a ds and is being goaded about ti so I'm tempted for his 6th b/day but I'm at a complete loss as to why he would need a laptop

it wouldnt be connnected to the internet so he wouldnt be able to play on cbeebies site and I don't think he needs to type up his home work just yet

[SusieCarmichael]

but why can't it be a childs toy/tool?

[LucyJones]

because it's expensive and I haven't got one?!!

[Clary]

Yes doesn't a lapotp cost about £300 or so?

DS at £80 is bad enough IMO.

[duckyfuzz]

either of my 6yos has their own laptop, they do have a dsi each though and mostly use the camera and sound recorder to make each other giggle

[Fruitysunshine]

I think children need to read and write from books first before moving onto technology and even then all in good time. What's the rush?

If DD (9) wants to playing her car parking games she does it on my one on which she gets 10-15mins and then off she gets.

School homework does not need a laptop to do her homework and if she needs to research something then she brings home books.

I don't think I am draconian about computer access but I see a lot more benefit in being able to use books more than being able to surf on a computer.

So I agree with OP - it is completely unnecessary for 6yr olds to have laptops.

[emy72]

We have loads of laptops in our house as we work in IT but we haven't given any to our children. My DD1 is 5 and my DS1 3 and a half, and although they occasionally watch something on the laptop or play a game, I always put it on for them and it's me who controls usage. We don't have any computer games such as DS or Wii they are banned! Both kids, especially the 3 year old is very computer literate, (can put on his own games, etc) but I wouldn't let him loose on a computer tbh - especially not one with internet connection.

[SusieCarmichael]

well dd had my old one so fair enough, i wouldn't have went and paid for her to get one, especially if i didn't even have one myself. i'm not saying everyones child should have one but if they are fortunate enough to then i don't get all the faces, its ok for her to learn how to use a laptop especially in todays world when these skills will be needed

i am also teaching her to read and write, obviously these are important things also

[Miggsie]

Laptops are erganomically SHITE, and a good way to really mess up your child's muscular and skeletal development.

Nice rounded shoulders and a stoop anyone?

[littleducks]

They use laptops at dd's preschool so i guess its what she is used to. (Old computers were stolen after a break in so i think they were replaced with laptops so they could be locked away at night)

I would never ever buy a desk top so will just make sure she doesnt use it too much, though to be fair she does writing/plays with dolls in some pretty weird positions....like a bat hanging off an armchair etc...so im not too worried about 10/15 mins sitting up to a desk with a laptop

[Toffeemuffin]

Both my dts, aged 6, have access to a laptop each - but the laptops don't belong to them they are a household item - they also have a Ds each and a Wii - they respect technology in that they are very careful when using it. But shock horror - they also love art, writing, reading, imaginitive play, going out on bike rides, visiting museums etc.

They have all these gadgets but that doesn't mean they are plugged in 24/7. I find it very easy to restrict their usage, it falls under the same category as the TV - they all come supplied with an off switch and in this house we ain't afraid to use it.

[LucyJones]

to be honest I think it was more the little git who came to tea the other day who went 'hands up if you've got your own laptop' and put his hand up
arrogant little

[MrsWobbleTheWaitress]

A few questions:

1. since when did something being a necessity become the only reason for giving it to a child?
   
   
2. do your 6yos really not do anything on a laptop? Mine has been using one competently and properly since she was about 3!
   
   The only reason ours dont' have their own is because of money. We have two in the house, though, and I tend to let them use one of them exclusively so they don't break mine! Although I don't think they'd break it anyway as they're very competent.