From what age did your grandchildren start to use gadgets?

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201801/medium-171424-6ecb84aa7fafca7300c8da3f808c24b1.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201801/medium-918961-c093ae6edf093097baa0893a1b9c8bf5.jpg

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

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!

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.

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.

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 (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 teenage DGS could put a dvd on when he was two!
The younger DGC have iPad time and games for the computer.Nothing wrong with it IMHO this is the world we live in now, and technology is moving on all the time.
It would only be a problem if children never do anything else , no sports/play etc.

My grandchildren all started using IPads before going to school but “screen time” including TV is strictly limited! Reading has high profile and Lego! One GS had to take the 11+ on computer!

I do not have GC but I do have two children.

My son is 3 and my daughter is 19 months.

Both own Amazon Kids Kindles and know how to use them to access the games and shows they want. My son can open and operate my phone and has been able to for a number of years.
We have SkyQ and my son knows how to activate the voice control to get what he wants on TV and my daughter does try but her speech isn't developed enough for it to understand her.

We also own Alexa and they can both command it but again my daughters speech isn't there just yet.

We also own XBox and PS4 and my son is starting to learn how to play them.

We love technology in our home. Things are only going to develop more and we don't want to hinder their knowledge.

Our use of modern technology does not hinder other aspects. My son attends rugby and football, my daughter is about to start sign Language classes and when he grows up my son says he wants to be an excavator driver.
What ever they choose the reality is they will need a firm understanding of technology.

7 and 6 year old are allowed iPads in the back of the car for films etc on long car journeys. And the 3 year old is allowed a “toy” with games and activities on it.
But a Kindle or iPad for an 18 month old???

My 2 year old granddaughter knows how to use my phone to find videos and YouTube on iPad. Obviously she only uses under supervision though

Actually some of the games on these devices are surprisingly good for hand eye coordination and stimulating thinking skills.

The first word uttered by my sons baby niece, not mummy or daddy but iPad! That just says it all!!

Xymox.... You are absolutely right to be worried about all this technology at such an early age... My grandkids are boy 10 and girl 6 and they are allowed to go on my phone or their mums for 40 mins a day. Even tele is limited to 1 hour a day. The eldest was just given a mobile for Xmas because he now rides a bike to school 2 miles away and has to cross couple of busy roads.... so sometimes he's late from school. Now he can ring the parents or me and tell us what's happening. He is NOT allowed the phone at school... they all have to go into the office till lunch time ...and then again they put them back into office and pick them up at home time. He's us now the only 'millionaire reader' at his school which he achieved within first half -term. He reads avidly. His sister is on year 3 level readers while still in year 1. Limiting their technology both parents believe is beneficial. Of course non of us can go backwards and wouldn't want to.... but these hints are tools and shouldn't be used for ALL a child's entertainment OR worse as babysitters.

'But these things are tools'

Yes, my two year old grandson knows how to access my iPad. And phone to watch CBB's and you tube kids.

I always sit with him and it's quite educational really.
But have to hide it when we want him to do other stuff, like get his coat and shoes on etc.