Post by prettyinpearls on Nov 23, 2015 8:49:06 GMT -5
I can't tell if you're anti-tablet or just anti-ipad because of the price tag associated with it. If it's the latter, you can get a kid's edition of the Kindle Fire for $85 right now.
My DS1 (6) is getting an ipad mini for Christmas, but that's only because I'm buying it for a fraction of the price from a co-worker who won it in a raffle and already has three of them and "doesn't need it". Score! That being said, he uses my iPad all the time for learning games, including Raz that is through his school. He's reading books on his own and listening to them as well and loves it. He does get 10 minutes of his screen time for "free play" which he uses for games or watching videos on YouTube.
Post by irishbride2 on Nov 23, 2015 8:52:35 GMT -5
Both of ,y kids, 5 and 2, have hand me down first gen iPads that they mostly just use when we fly. Occasionally they get to play when we need a few more minutes of sleep on the weekends, but thy don't have unrestricted access to them.
But i don't think it's a big deal to tell her no. Our five year old knows Santa asks parents if the gifts are ok before he brings them. She also has to give Santa around five good ideas and he usually brings two....but the list are just ideas. Santa can bring whatever.
We do what others have posted; the girls put at least three or four items on their Santa wish list, and then Santa picks. You could tell her that Santa doesn't do electronics, or more specifically that Santa doesn't do iPads. One of my kids always manages to pick out the year's hottest toy for Santa, so I have to scramble to find it. The other one makes up shit that doesn't actually exist (last year it was an underwater sea fairy mermaid costume). I can't decide which is worse.
I can tell you that as much as I enjoy the magic of Christmas, being Santa is the single biggest pain in the ass as a parent. Good luck and god speed.
I had to tie the extras on to the back since it was just a two seater.
I love this.
My sister and I had the camper elleblue was talking about. It really was awesome.
When DH was 8, his dad asked him what he wanted for Christmas. H said a hot tub. His dad said they were too expensive. H said he would just ask Santa for it. His dad said, "I have to pay Santa back for the presents." LOL.
Well, of course you don't want her to be disappointed on Xmas day. But of course it's madness to get a five year old an iPad. She's five, I don't care how many people buy inappropriate toys for their children, you don't have to. And seriously, I don't think many 5 ear olds have their own iPads.
I'd quit talking about it with her, entirely. She'll bring it up again, and you can say "well, I've told you that I don't think that's going to happen, so let's just not talk about it any more". When my kids were little, all and I mean ALL they wanted one year was a game boy. NOT happening. Never happened. They were disappointed, and I had to just get over their disappointment, and give them those things that we thought were best for them (which Game Boys were not on that list.)
Did they ever get Game Boys at all? Or any gaming system?
Post by SpartanGirl on Nov 23, 2015 9:09:41 GMT -5
My son has asked repeatedly for an iPad as well. We tell our kids that parents and Santa are a team. Santa won't bring gifts that we don't approve.
We have a family iPad that the kids all use. They do use them a lot in school. That said, none of my kids (not even my 10 year old) is getting their own iPad from Santa.
Post by penguingrrl on Nov 23, 2015 9:15:27 GMT -5
My girls are both getting android tablets this year. H was able to get them for $70 through work, so within our general budget. We don't have a tablet at home at all. We've had multiple kids from school come over and not understand that we don't have a tablet. Like, they ask where ours is to show my kids something and when I say there isn't one they don't believe me.
But a huge part of the reason my kids are getting them is that I'm tired of them fighting over my laptop to do their homework and this was cheaper than buying a single laptop. My third grader's homework is like 99% computer based, so if this means I regain access to my laptop in the afternoons it's worth it to me.
My son kept telling me I better get ready for a dog because we're getting one. I finally said "oh, really?" with a raised eyebrow, and he says "I put it on my Christmas list!" Cue a long talk about how Santa still had to clear some things with moms and dads so I wouldn't hold my breath.
I also don't think an ipad is necessarily an inappropriate gift for a 5 year old. Like anything, I think its all about how its used. In a supervised setting with restrictions, I think why not?
I would get refrub or something and make it like her only big gift.
DD has my first generation iPad that was handed down from me. She watches netflix (kids) and some of her movies when we are in the car for long periods. She got it at about 5.
Post by illgetthere on Nov 23, 2015 10:31:45 GMT -5
I think tablets are perfectly acceptable for a 5 year old as long as there are restrictions, but I would never spend the money for an iPad. I second the Kindle fire though; s1 got one at 5 and is on his second now at 10. The new ones for 49 seem really good; expandable memory, durable, etc.
Idk, I don't think it's ridiculous. It's actually been an incredible learning tool for my kindergarteners...the school supplies one and they use one at home. They are taught to be very responsible with it, and frankly, if you monitor it closely, I don't see the problem.
Our 4.5-year-old has an iPad mini. Or should I say HAD. He lost it. Because HE'S FOUR.
He didn't get it as a gift - both H and I work in digital and had several in the house, so H cleared one off and locked it down for him - just educational apps and music. I'm irritated, mostly at H, and I don't plan to buy him another one any time soon.
She doesn't. She's four (well, five yesterday) and convinced that if she had one she'd magically be allowed to watch anything she wants, whenever she wants! and play games! because that is how her friends describe these devices. I'm sure their parents put in limits, but who brags about limits on the playground?
Yeah. Do you guys have one? Can you share with her? My kids get iPad time or tv time, their choice. It's limited to an hour a day on weekdays, depending on our mood on weekends. We have two, but sometimes mommy and daddy use both and they are stuck with the TV. I also gave them my old iPod touch but that one has no shows and is not connected to the internet. So it is really just music, which I don't limit. My kids are 1, 5 and 8.
We don't do personal electronic devices in our house for the kids. We have a family computer and DH has an iPad and playstation that he is happy to share with the kids. We see no reason to buy them their own. That hasn't stopped DS from asking for one every single Christmas. He thinks if he gets his own iPad he'll be able to play minecraft 8 hours a day. Nope.
I just ignore his request every year. He's even gone as far as writing a letter to Santa to ask for an iPad. I still ignore it. His list usually contains at least one other ridiculous item, like a zip line, that he also doesn't get. He does notice on Christmas morning but he's too busy playing with all the other cool presents he received to dwell on it. Santa doesn't bring everything you want.
Post by hopecounts on Nov 23, 2015 10:54:30 GMT -5
DD has a hand me down iPad mini (from her uncle) it's been a great learning tool. She does endless words/letters/numbers, starfall, abc mouse, social skills videos/apps, and so on. She has supervised access only (except for long drives) and we do it with her to reinforce whatever. She's learned a lot from it.
I just say that Santa knows what we won't allow in the house, and Santa doesn't break any of mommy and daddy's rules. Puts the onus on us; Santa is still magical.
Some of these responses make me scream bah hambug!
You do realize that having a iPad or similar item in the home is the norm nowadays. Especially since smart phones became the absolute norm in most homes. What is so bad with a kid wanting one and given into this want. I guess if you compare it to the other toys out there price isn't that expensive.
It's also a easy thing to take away or control since it's portable.
Post by DarcyLongfellow on Nov 23, 2015 11:04:19 GMT -5
We also say that Santa only brings presents that mom and dad are okay with. So we can just shut down requests that we have no intention of buying (we did that last year when DD1 requested one of those huge battery powered ride on cars).
If you're not opposed, I'd let her start using your tablet or phone for occasional apps. There are several that are actually educational. DD1's school uses RAZ Kids, and it's really helped with her reading.
I'd also be game for buying her a cheaper tablet and just calling it an iPad. We did that one year when all DD1 wanted was an EZ Bake Oven, and I read that the ones they sell now are crap, so we bought her a little mini cupcake cooker and called it an EZ Bake Oven.
My 5 year old wants an ipad too. I told her that while Santa CAN get her anything she wants, I, as her mother, get the final say on what he actually brings. It actually mollified her. She's getting a kindle fire, though.
How do I do an eyeroll emoticon from my phone? This wouldn't be an issue if I were on my iPad.
what/who are you rolling at?
The not really a question posed as a parenting dilemma. If you all want to believe that Sonrisa is at a loss on how to tell her kid no iPad for Christmas, I have some really cheap Apple products to sell you.
Post by gretchenindisguise on Nov 23, 2015 11:18:30 GMT -5
When L asks for things we don't want to get her, we do the Santa asks parents thing first. Otherwise we'd have 5 puppies.
On the tablet issue - L has one. She got it last year for Christmas when she was 5. It's not an ipad, it's android based - and it's been good for us/her. She plays games on it, some fun - some educational. And yes - she even watches shows on it sometimes. I love zoning out in front of the tv sometimes, so meh.
Post by gretchenindisguise on Nov 23, 2015 11:24:38 GMT -5
Oh and she makes these AMAZING youtube videos* staring herself. I love them and will love them forever and ever. She puts her tablet on selfie mode and just does randomness. It's hilarious and amazing.
*we don't let her actually publish them on youtube
Post by litebright on Nov 23, 2015 11:25:27 GMT -5
Tell her that Santa gives parents veto power/doesn't give kids presents that parents don't agree to. That means you take the fall and so when iPads show up under other people's trees, you don't have to explain why Santa didn't bring one to her.
It's perfectly fine for her not to have a tablet at this age, if that's your preference.
That said, both my kids (5 and 7) are getting iPad minis from their grandparents this year. My DD1 actually got a slight ding on her most recent report card on whether she uses technology age-appropriately as part of her school work, and I suspect it's because we basically default to no tech at home. So DH and I were okay with it when my parents suggested iPads for Christmas.
That's a toughie. I think I would take the fall for this one and tell her that you wrote Santa and told him to not bring an iPad because XYZ and that he needs to know what else she wants. That sucks, but I supposed it's better than her being crushed on Christmas.
I've only read this far but yes, make sure it's still clear there's no possibility so she isn't holding out hope.
I'm with you, Sonrisa. I think there's no reason for kids [ETA that age] to have their own devices.
A good compromise might be to give her coupons in her stocking for X minutes of iPad time per day for a week or something along those lines. Or whatever you already have in the house.