Our fourth grade requires the children to have them. Private school outside DC

2.5. It was a family iPad but it ended up becoming his with all the kids apps and we got our own. All were gifts.

We have a four and a six year old. We have two family tablets (an iPad and a Fire), but we use them almost exclusively for travel. Occasionally we will let them have 20 or 30 min. of tablet time on the weekend, but it's not a regular thing. It does make travel much easier (we travel across country a couple times a year to visit family), but I think it's probably good not to get into the habit of regular tablet use at this age.

My almost 12 yr old and almost 9 yr old don't have their own. *I* have an iPad which I generously allow them to use sometimes.

I think it is better to start with a family electronic. It is not theirs. It is something the family shares. Gives you more control.

My 8.5 year old has been begging for a year, but I'm not budging.

It's better that he has to share mine. He's an only child and lessons in sharing are few and far between.

OP here. Thanks for the advice. My next question would be, do you all have a home computer for them to use? We currently do not have one. My husband has a work lap top so we don't allow kids on that. I just use my phone. My lap top died and I didn't bother replacing it.

With no computer or tablet at home, will my kids be at any disadvantage? At what point will they need something at home for school work, etc.

I keep telling my kids I'm getting a tablet first, and I still don't have one yet (nor does their dad).

I think I'll get one soon, and the kids can use it too sometimes (they're 9 and 11)

And I think the "wait til they ask for one" answer is not too useful. If exposed to them, they'll ask for one at 2!

13:02 here - fwiw neither my 11yo or my 8yo have a tablet. Although they both liberally use mine. They both have touch ipods that they got around the age of 7 & 9.

Anonymous wrote:wait until he is asking for one.

+1. No child needs a tablet. But he will likely see kids with tablets at school and if he decides its something he wants, he'll start asking for it.

wait until he is asking for one.

At what age did you get your child a tablet type thing? I don't even know where to begin. We have avoided it so far, but DS will be 5 and I am thinking perhaps now is the right time to introduce it. DH and I each have a few kids apps on our phone, and DH has some on his Ipad... so DS has toyed around with apps a bit. But I think it would be nice to have a designated kid tablet for the car and such.

Any advice appreciated.