When is the right time to let a child use a tablet?

Question

I'm just wondering how you ladies feel about kids constantly being on tablets/IPads.

I personally am not really a fan, I worked with kids through high school/into college and the 4/5 year olds would have conversations like "when we get home we should all get on puritans and play ____" and I'm not talking educational games here, I'm talking princesses, dress up, ect. There were even children as young as two with their "own" iPads to play on, and I'm not talking their mom or dads, I'm talking an iPad mini of their own.

I completely understand that the future is in the tech world, and that being tech savvy is so important. As well as the fact that there are so many games and apps that are educational! But from what I've seen through work and my own nieces it seems to be the new "tv addiction" our parents were warned about when we were young.

iPads seem to be the new pacifier, parents hand them to their kids at dinners and in the car (the car I understand more so) to keep them quiet and spaced out.

I know I sound old and whiny like our parents and grandparents before us, but I remember days of playing outside and make believe that didn't need to be constantly revolving around the Internet (as much as the Internet is so so amazing) my fiance's little sister is right with an iPad and won't take her eyes off the screen, YouTube videos of shopkins with 100+ videos watched in a day, it just frustrates me because I honestly don't know when the right age is...
So ladies what's your opinion??
Sorry for the long post.

Answer

I'd say any age. A tablet is a tool, there are so many educational apps. My son is 5 and I am the only one who has the password to his tablet. He can only use apps that I download, and only access the Internet when I put in the password. We live in a tech world. I'm glad I've taught my son how to use technology. If I think he needs to be doing something else, I tell him no when he asks for it. My son still plays outside but the tablet offers him something to do when we are at the doctors, or running errands. All things in moderation.

Answer

Oh gosh I read the question wrong and thought you meant how old should your child be when you allow them to swallow tablets instead of liquid medicine so I did the wrong age group!!😂
I'd say 12 years old and above.

Answer

I want to have a separate tablet/iPad for my kids, but not let them have it all the time. I live 14 hours away from my family so it would be nice for them to have something in the car but I wouldn't let them have it all the time. I would have some educational games on there, probably a coloring app. I grew up without a tablet/iPad and turned out just fine so my kids will too. But I know so many people who have young children like 2 that have their own. Like they don't even know exactly what it is or what to do with it lol idk I'd just rather my kids use their imagination and play outside.

Answer

Never! I wish they weren't invented, kids no longer know how to play outside or be sociable.  They get bored very easy if battery's die and if told told to play outside they look at you as if you're fucking stupid.

Answer

My dad got my 2 year old a child tablet for her birthday she hardly uses it though

Answer

No no no no no. Children do not need tablets of their own. My children will have limited screen time.

Answer

Personally my son only got a tablet this year he is 9 and is used only for school or long trips that are 6hrs +

However he has used an old phone of mine for educational games only and stories

Answer

My daughter is 19 months and uses my tablet. It's the mickey mouse app tho

Answer

It's ok in moderation or on occasion. My Dad had limited mobility and so he plays games with my son on his tablet. The annoying part is that my son does try to get on our phones any chance we get even though we don't allow him to play on our phones. It's frustrating how much he wants to play on it. He's only 2.5 years and I worry that this will be a long time battle.

Answer

I'm only 26 but when I was younger you couldn't get me to stay in, after school I was out with friends and then back in for dinner then back out again, I was back home for about 7pm for bath and bed for school next morning. Nowadays it's totally different - it's also not as safe as what it used to be especially where I live (Glasgow) you hear some horrible stories of kids being taken and going missing I wouldn't want to let my children go out I'd be too worried. My daughters only 3 so have plenty of time to think of that lol, but I have an iPad for my studies and she sometimes wants to play her games or watch a movie on sky app which I let her do, I think as long as it's educational and there's a time limit to how long they are on it, 2016 is totally different from years ago. Everyone is different I suppose though 😋

When is the right time to let a child use a tablet?

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