When (if ever) would you get them their own laptop? - Page 4

[zebra15]

I got DS his in Feb 2010. He was 9 and needed it for online classes for homeschooling. I was going to do it anyway, we went wireless at the house and dumped the huge desktop last summer when I got a laptop. I was able to find a smokin deal for him at Staples for around $400.00 and it gets the job done. For a first computer, that I use from time to time its great. He really only uses it for interent and MS Word.

I mainly did it so I didnt have to continually share my computer.

[moominmamma]

For us frugality, simplicity, the value of sharing, and ease of supervision of internet use has led us to have two family desktop computers in high-traffic areas. Three kids and two parents share. (My 16yo has her own personal laptop, but she bought it with her wages from her part-time job -- and she lives part-time away from home, and uses the laptop for communication with us when she's there.) Personally I would not want a net-savvy younger child to have that kind of privacy. At age 8 or 9 it might not be a problem. But at 11 or 13 -- I definitely don't want my kids holed up in a corner with a private little fold-up screen doing goodness-knows-what.

Miranda

[Linda on the move]

Originally Posted by moominmamma

But at 11 or 13 -- I definitely don't want my kids holed up in a corner with a private little fold-up screen doing goodness-knows-what.

My 11 and 13 year olds each have their own very nice lap tops that we gave them for Christmas. I have GREAT kids. One is learning to program and the other is really into games like ZooTycoon and Spore.

I find the whole idea that kids of a certain age will do something horrid really offensive. It's so ageist. There's nothing dirty or nasty about a lap top. It's just a machine.

My kids also have their own cells phones, which they do wild things like call their grandmother!

[One_Girl]

My dd can buy herself one when she saves enough money to. I don't have a laptop so if anyone is going to get one with my money it will be me. I also don't like the idea of her having something with that much access to uncensored material, especially as she gets older. My brother accessed a lot of inappropriate materials when he was a teen and had a nasty drinking and drug problem that I think meeting random people on the internet helped him sustain. I used to go on dating sites to meet much older men when I was a teen, I am lucky none of them turned out to be too horrible. I hope that my dd and I continue to be close and connected throughout her teen years, but I am not ready to put all of my faith in hope.

[moominmamma]

Originally Posted by Linda on the move

I find the whole idea that kids of a certain age will do something horrid really offensive. It's so ageist.

Sorry I offended you. I'm only speaking from experience. I've never had an 8-year-old search up porn, but I have an 11yo and a 13yo and I know that my 13yo has done "curious" things on the internet that I'd rather he didn't. I trust him to not get himself into serious trouble, and he's a really great kid too, who also does a lot of programming and modding and owned his own domain and maintained an extensive website on it for a couple of years. But I'd rather not have him exposed to needless temptation that privacy affords. Ageism or not, a 13-year-old male is subject to different temptations than an 8-year-old one.

I know about my teens' surfing habits because they use a shared family computer and I can keep an eye on what they're up to. I can express my concerns and re-iterate my values at the earliest signs of things awry.

Just my experience.

Miranda

[Linda on the move]

never mind.

My kids are trustworthy. I'm sure you know your children best.

[momtokea]

Originally Posted by Linda on the move

My 11 and 13 year olds each have their own very nice lap tops that we gave them for Christmas. I have GREAT kids. One is learning to program and the other is really into games like ZooTycoon and Spore.

I find the whole idea that kids of a certain age will do something horrid really offensive. It's so ageist. There's nothing dirty or nasty about a lap top. It's just a machine.

My kids also have their own cells phones, which they do wild things like call their grandmother!

Wow.

[MamaMonica]

Hi ladies- just a reminder to please be respectful when posting. Thank you for your cooperation.