Tell us: Does your child have their own computer?

8 years ago

Kids growing up not only using, but owning their own technological appliances of some kind, be they devices to read on, mobile phones, games consoles or computers, is the ever increasing norm.

But, do your children have their own computers? If they use a communal computer, what is the age at which you'd let them have their own?

11. Reception · More Info

And, if they are allowed their own devices, do you have certain rules in place, such as how long they are allowed on them each day?

Leave all thoughts and opinions below!

Yes they do

No they don't

Featured Answer

lisa77226

8 years ago

I really think it should wait until they understand the cost and effort involved to earn that amount of money, meanwhile they learn not to depend on it. Call me old fashioned but I wholly despise the throw away culture right now. I grew up in Canada and had more 'things' than my English husband had growing up but I really feel like I'm an anomaly among my peers. I use tech to make my life easier but I don't rely on it to amuse me. I own a suite of Apple devices myself and don't feel the need to upgrade until they die (laptop is 9 years old, iPad is almost 5 years old and I upgraded my phone last year from a 5 year old model!) I'd hate my kids to feel like devices are essentials and would want them to learn to 'live' without them in their daily life. I'm actually really passionate about this subject. Too many millennials are addicted to their devices and need the next coolest thing. I miss interesting conversation as well, so many people have their faces in devices when socialising. Ok, off my soapbox now....

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Comments (7)

lisa77226
8 years ago
Btw, I'm only 39.
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whiteburgundy
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Hi. My son has his own desktop and printer now, from the beginning of Year 7. He is 12 and a half. We bought these because we had decided that he should now have his own study area, which is in his playroom/media room, but we now call it his study. He used to do his homework on the computer near the kitchen downstairs. He is using our old home office desk. His Tv and Xbox are also in the study and it is also where he socialises with friends for a sleepover. It has a sofa bed in it.

We have emphasised how lucky he is to have this and that computer is for school work mainly. We have rules to the effect that once he starts homework on a weekday evening he cannot fool around on the internet. Until it is all finished. This works well for us. I should say, only for reassurance purposes, not boasting, that he is a top student at a very selective private school, never hands homework in late and was described by his form teacher at parents evening as "an academic high flyer". He also is on grade 6 piano, 3 trombone and loves playing football more than being on the internet or Xbox. So, it can work. It depends on you and I guess the child.

I would add that obviously we are a wealthy household, so not everyone can afford to do what we've done. Also, I would say that he has a problem of entitlement, a little. He is a very nice child but doesn't really get how lucky he is. We are not sure how to counteract this but recently I read that children do benefit from having chores. So, I am going explain how to clean his toilet (he has dyspraxia) and then he is going to do it every Sunday night and it will be inspected. If he fails inspection, he does it again until its right! Only then will he be paid pocket money for the week (which we are now bringing in because he is starting to go out with friends on his own at the weekend).

I recently did some financial housekeeping and cancelled lots of subcriptions like Spotify premium, EA games, karaoke apps and the like and explained how much they all cost per year. He sort of gets that money doesn't grow on trees now. But not quite..yet.

Hope this helps. Not sure it was quite on point.
whiteburgundy
8 years ago
He has my very old iPhone 5 btw and an iPad which he got for Christmas 2016.
spookyduderino
8 years ago
My sons both had laptops from about the age of 10. They started with cheap models because as a single parent with sporadic self employed income, that's all I could afford. They were well aware of the cost, and understood that any upgrades would be their own responsibility. Throughout their lives they have generally received gifts of money from relatives for birthdays and Christmas, and have mostly saved it until they 'need' something expensive. When they are prepared to do this I will contribute where possible. They now have desktops in their rooms. My youngest son (now 15) pretty much built his after designing the spec himself. If I had stifled the use of technology, and tried to hold back the inevitable tide of the digital age because of my own preferences (I prefer looking at trees to screens!) I would have blocked his technological creativity. He intends to study maths and computing at university, and is an absolute godsend when I, or anyone else in the family, have gadget problems! My eldest son was less interested in the science of technology, and more into the whole social/entertainment side of it. He had a second hand iPhone from the age of 15, and a basic sim only contract. Having the freedom of technology did not seem to impair his ability to function as a human in the world. He's now studying at Cambridge.
Aminata Kanu
8 years ago
I have been thinking about this recently, whether to let my children have a PC in their rooms. My children are 4 and 6 and they each have a tablet - the Samsung kids one which they have now discontinued. You can set the timer and it will lock when the time is up. They've had them for roughly two years. They use my PC for educational and other games. They each get roughly 30 minutes on the PC everyday if they wish. The tablets they only get at weekends. I don't like them using these devices if an adult is not present. I like to know which websites they are visiting and to stop something if I think it is inappropriate. I am pleased about Kids YouTube which has saved me hovering over them. But then again I am a mother who things a TV is a bad idea, so we don't have one. They've got friends with Xboxes and Playstations but they have not asked for them. They get home after 5pm and are in bed by 8pm most days so perhaps they just don't have the time.
Sonia
4 months ago
After watching the drama Adolescence I think parents need to check exactly what their children are viewing. It could make your hair curl.

Tell us: Does your child have their own computer?

lisa77226

Comments (7)

lisa77226

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