From what age did your grandchildren start to use gadgets?

My DD's are older (20s) and started using a PC from the age of 2-3 and used to love the Cbeebies games - DD1 taught herself to read using them at 4.

One of DD2's first gadgets was a Kindle - she wanted it so that she didn't have to lug so many heavy books.

Thanks s * Wilma*, am trying to find the big button option for my phone. Is it straightfirward and is there a charge for the app. .?

The other big advantage of these gadgets is on long journeys.
Parents these days have no fear if long journeys, compared with the fidgeting, seat kicking, bickering and "are we nearly there yet?" that used to make travelling a nightmare!

I was just thinking how much a mobile phone would have made my childhood so much happier. I was a rather clingy child who would cry so much I would vomit when my parents had to leave me in the care of someone else. They were promoters and had to go out quite a bit in the evenings to make sure things were running smoothly, but could easily have taken a quick call from me when I needed reassurance that they were coming back. And a quick video of where they were would have taken my mind off my self-pity. Later when it was harder to find reliable babysitters I was sent to boarding school at 6. To have a mobile phone then that I could use to have a quick comforting chat would have made all the difference to that miserable experience - we were only allowed to borrow the office phone under exceptional circumstances, and a weekly letter wasn't really a substitute for the immediacy of a chat.

In the distant past a child would spend hours in solitary amusement with a book. Was there all the heart-searching by adults about that? Computers/phones, etc. are a way of life and will become more and more so over the next few years. As with all things, children need to be taught safe usage from as young an age as possible, and ensure they are in control if the equipment, not it in control of them. So, no minimum age for them to start.

I've recently attended a safeguarding course for work entitled 'Keeping children safe online in the digital world' (or something like that)
One of the things I learnt about was a thing called Homehalo. It sits next to the router and controls access to the Wi-Fi for each device individually so everyone in the house can have personal limits. It's controlled by admin (mum and dad!) using a password system. The guy running the course had each of his kids' phones set to be able to access at different times for different lengths of time and they all went off an hour or more before bed. Each child had to show that homework etc had been done before they got access. Costs about £5/month but I reckon it's worth it

Some 40 years ago, when my DDs were in Primary School. a salesman for Encyclopedia Britannica came to the door and started his spiel. I was in a fiesty mood that morning and cut him short saying 'Encyclopedias contain the past. computers are the future'. The next day we went as a family and bought a Sinclair Spectrum, took it home and were soon all (except DH) adept at programming in games, spreadsheets, music. Within a few years we had a proper PC and the rest is history. Both DDs were well ahead of the game, it was particularly beneficial for DD2 who was/is dyslexic and I had a valuable skill to add to my CV.

Steve451
I can`t understand why anyone would not support modern technology either , you would be putting your children at such a disadvantage . Actually it has been around for so long now can we actually call it a modern trend anymore ? My GC can all use ipads, phones etc , the world has moved on , parents can limit the time spent as they are in charge . What will happen when XYmox`s GC go to school and are so far behind their peers because the others have grown up with `modern trends` !!

FarNorth in Germany a mobile phone is called a handy!

All my Mum wants to do is make and receive calls, and send texts. She doesn't even have her mobile switched on unless she is going to be using it. Must admit that last bit drives me mad.

varian my Mum has Raynaud's disease and struggles with the keypad on her phone. She has a 10" tablet and I made the keyboard a bit bigger for her. Did you know that you can change the size of your keyboard? On my phone I use a different keyboard called the Big Button keyboard that I downloaded as an app because I struggle with the size of the keys too. Why not have a look for a big button keyboard for your tablet?

Wilma, I've heard a few friends complain that they have no idea how to work their smartphones, can send texts but can't read any etc.
I've thought, if you don't actually need one that complicated, why get one?
Mine does calls, texts, a few other things that are handy, but it isn't smart.
Me neither.

I find my fingers are too fat when I use a 7 inch tablet. Smartphones are all smaller so might be easier for wee folk with wee fingers. I can't be bothered with using a stylus. How do you smart grannies manage?

My Mum has a mobile, but it's not a smartphone. She struggles with the one she's got and doesn't want a smartphone. She's quite technically able in other ways, but seems to have a mental block when it comes to her mobile.

"At what age do you think a granny should acquire a smart phone? I haven't got one yet." Neither have I Varian. Though when I was in hospital recently husband lent me his, and I managed to call home a few times.
I agree it's too late to put the genie back in the lamp now, but the aspect that worries me is that it cuts down the time children have for exercise, face to face socialising and forming relationships, to some extent original thinking, etc.
As for when our grandchildren started, one family is almost banned altogether, another is rationed, and the eldest is an adult now, I don't think she had one as a young child.

I started programming in Algol in 1964 and worked through many generations of computers since but I don't have a smartphone. My DGC have had them since starting secondary school. I might ask their advice.

I was always at the forefront with technology. Did anyone else learn BBC Basic and try to write programmes with it? I also have no problem with gadgets. They have so many uses and can teach concepts in an interesting exciting way when used well. My concern is the amount of time my DGC spend, often curled up in awkward looking positions, and watching mostly rubbish. DS sometimes realises this and tells them, 'Just 5 more minutes'. Hours later they are still there as he has been on his phone! So far they are active in other ways such as sport, but we no longer seem to spend time on walks, adventures or just playing out. I have no control now as I am accused of 'nagging' or moaning', even by the children. I am not their parent so don't have the control I had with my own DC.

My GS (aged 3) likes to use the torch on my phone.When I stay he will come into my bed in a morning and we'll play hiding under the covers from monsters and making shadows on the ceiling with our hands. The other morning (around6.30am) he turned off the torch announced "It's dark Granny. Go to sleep." I snuggled down pretending-and went back to sleep. I woke to noises and giggles. He'd found the ring tones selection and was workng his way through it, giggling at each one. When we got up I found he'd turned my phone vibrate!

I see toddlers in pushchairs using mums mobile phone, and they know how to use them better than I do. But I think that some people let the children have them too much. On the other hand some mothers talk to their children, and it seems to me that these children are much better at having conversations, and are happier.

At what age do you think a granny should acquire a smart phone? I haven't got one yet.

I am pretty dependent on my grandchildren to sort out my technology problems....they find it so easy.
All their parents are technology wizards, and I am intrigued to know when they be overtaken by their children.

Xymox
At what age are your family thinking of bringing their children into the 21st century?

My DS (8) had an iPad mini for his 4th birthday. I found lots of educational apps for him to use and he now has a reading and spelling ability of a mid-teens teenager, and is well ahead of his peers at school in terms of use of language and numbers. He also goes to swimming club and attends a computer coding club after school.
I think it’s shortsighted to treat technology as the enemy.

I remember playing happily with a toy phone and later a toy switchboard, so it didn't surprise me to see a little lad in a pram playing with a toy smart phone the other day.

In our family, parents keep an eye on how much time children spend on computers, phone or tablet and monitor use of the internet and what is being watched on TV. No phones at the table!

Modern technology is necessary, and it is very necessary to teach children to use it responsibly.

My 3 have been using gadgets since they were very small.

These days a lot of schools set homework on line (Mathletics springs to mind) so its important that children are familiar with using an ipad or computer and mouse.

My grandson who has just gone 8 hates sitting down doing homework but thoroughly enjoys mathletics and doesn't see it as work at all.