From what age did your grandchildren start to use gadgets?

My grandchildren (6, 7, 8 & 11) all have their own tablets. They use them and they play on them. The also read, watch TV, swim, go to Beavers/Cubs, play tennis, play instruments, access a wide out of school hobbies and activities and have friends around to play.

In other words the technology is just one part of their life. But none are allowed access to social media, and the elder one is being coached and made aware, both by parents and his school, of the dangers he might encounter on such sites when he is eventually alllowed access.

It’s when technology takes over that people should start to worry and limit use. Technology is here to stay, I’m using it now and so was the OP to start this thread. So long as it’s use is appropriate then I’ve no problem with children using tablets, phones, etc.

My GD, now 7, used her dad’s iPhone to watch little films and play simple games from about 3. They were a distraction and she only spent a short time before she was off doing something else. I was surprised when it first happened but the advantages outweighed my technophobe concerns. Now she has her own tablet but her use is minimal and monitored. We spent the day with them this weekend and no one took out a phone or a tablet all day.

My grandchildren are five and nearly nine. The younger one shows no interest in gadgets at home, though she may use them at school - I don’t know. The nearly nine-year-old will play games on his father’s phone if given the chance, but his time on it is very strictly rationed, and this causes rows from time to time. I gather limiting children’s screen time is a major problem of modern parenting. His time is very full with school, reading, sport, homework, piano, cub scouts and so on, so gadgets are still a minor part of it, thank goodness.

Of course he uses computers etc at school, so is familiar with them. He doesn’t yet own any of his own. The recognised time to get their own phones seems to be when they start secondary school.

I heard Mary Berry say that visiting family have to leave their phones in a basket by the front door - adults and children. I mentioned this when I was at the hairdressers where all three of the hairdressers are Mums with 2 or 3 children, mainly of school age but one is a toddler of about 3 maybe. All the Mums have rules about the use of gadgets and phones at home. This is the only way they can behave like a family.

My hairdresser has 3 at school and they have to leave their phones in the kitchen until after tea (homework is done before tea). They can have the gadgets after tea for an hour and that's it in the week. At the weekend they're allowed more time, but all the children have hobbies outside of the house too. The oldest boy is at secondary school and he does have his laptop in his room when he goes to bed, but he's not good at staying awake once he's in bed.

I think ground rules are needed and you've got to enforce them, especially if the DGC are visiting. You do need to give some thought to what they will be able to do if they don't have their gadgets though (I'm including phones when I say gadgets). Your house, your rules.

DS is never off his phone and no longer seems able to hear anything I say. Now his children are following him as you say Nellie. DGS (10) can spend more than 8 hours a day on his phone, watching rubbish. DGD (8) sometimes has her phone
banned as her behaviour can be appalling but she finds my ipad and hides behind the bed to use it! She seems to watch adverts, often American, for dolls, other toys, ponies and u tube videos of (IMO) awful pop singing and dancing girls in skimpy outfits. 6 year old DGD still plays properly with dolls, lego , puzzles and imaginary games but is easily seduced by anything on a screen.

While I agree that they need some knowledge of technology in this day and age, I worry about the psychological effects. If I try to get them off I am now getting verbal abuse and moody behaviour. Their parents think I am over reacting and that it is normal.

They are lovely intelligent children as long as they are not in front of a screen but it is hard work to get them away. Surely I am not the only one to be worried. To me a technology is about communication and in their case it is destroying it!

https://signal-corridor.live/uploads/talk/201801/medium-171424-6ecb84aa7fafca7300c8da3f808c24b1.jpg%3C/span%3E https://signal-corridor.live/uploads/talk/201801/medium-918961-c093ae6edf093097baa0893a1b9c8bf5.jpg%3C/span%3E

This thread has reminded me of the toy phones from years ago and how the noise would drive you up the wall!

Marydoll I agree with your answer on the other thread. At least the OP is thinking about the educational benefits of using technology. I think the introduction of the Hudl by Tesco some years ago now was a big driver for children to move from using a computer to using a tablet that was easy for a child to use. So many children have their own iPad and I'm not sure if I think that's a good idea simply because of the cost. At least the Hudl was a reasonable price.

None of 3, 5, 5 own gadgets but each has access to a parent’s which have downloaded appropriate child’s stuff on them. DGS, who is very bright, has learnt a lot about animals, their habitats and habits. All three know how to use them. And also how to look after them.

All animals including us learn about things by observing others of their species and just copying grown ups.

Birds and just about every creature that is nurtured by a parent does this, so "we" our childen and animals of all sorts see what a parent does and copies.

So they will pick up the car keys, mobile phones, etc because they see their parents using them.
The young animal appreciates that these objects are valuable tools to parents, (and the kids walk off with them and loose them) hide them, drop them down the toilet and generally be a pest with them.

Not an easy question to answer. DGC, 10 & 7, use the computer under supervision and know how to use their parent's mobile phones and are certainly comfortable with modern technology but they have own no screen based technology themselves; no computer games, or x boxes and have never showed much interest in them.

They are both doing very well at school. Whether that is because or despite their controlled access to screen based equipment I don't know. All their friend's parents have a similar approach to use of technology, so they are not exceptional.

Poster has also started a similar thread.
www.gransnet.com/forums/grandparenting/1244533-Educational-computer-games

I agree. Any child starting school who has never used some kind of gadget will be at a disadvantage. What's the difference between using a tablet or the Leap Frog or VTech gadgets of years ago? Gadgets have lots of ways play can be fun whilst developing skills and learning.

They don't have to spend all day using any toy gadget or any other kind of toy.

A phone is a different matter, but most young children don't have one.

my eldest GD could switch the computer on and access games when she was two.Its a necessity nowadays that they can use tech stuff as they get homework on computers nowadays .In fact I learned to use a computer alongside my son in school when he was 6 ,24 years ago so its been around a while .I'd be more concerned if they couldn't use laptops etc,puts them at a disadvantage

My DGD played with their mam's phones from as soon as they could grip. Now they switch them on and access age appropriate games.