At what age do kids have computers/laptops
- Thread starter wigster
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Well my nephew was 10 when he got his first PC (older spec but he was happy) now 1 year later he has a laptop (c2d 2gb ram etc).
I think its still too young to have a laptop. But in the end its up to you at what age you give in to them wanting a laptop
I think its still too young to have a laptop. But in the end its up to you at what age you give in to them wanting a laptop
I was about 9 or 10 (now 17) and can say from experience that you probably don't want your kid on the internet at that age.
If you do, at least set up some sort of security until she's older. I've seen some Twitter pages of young teens (13 and 14) and some of the stuff I've read is shocking tbh.
A computer on its own couldn't hurt though.
If you do, at least set up some sort of security until she's older. I've seen some Twitter pages of young teens (13 and 14) and some of the stuff I've read is shocking tbh.
A computer on its own couldn't hurt though.
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My first computer was bought for me at the age of 12. Hoever, an Amstrad CPC464 isn't exactly internet ready. In fact, it wasn't ready for anything
My first computer was bought for me at the age of 12. Hoever, an Amstrad CPC464 isn't exactly internet ready. In fact, it wasn't ready for anything
Lol
Hard to say what age is right. Restrict internet access and whats the worst that could happen?
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Kids nowadays seem to have everything adults do by the time they are 10! Why do we rush kids into growing up (or pretending to grow up) so quickly. Anyway, that's another debate...
We have categorically said they can't have their own laptops or PCs until they are 16 and providing they work hard at school - we stand quite firm on this.
We have categorically said they can't have their own laptops or PCs until they are 16 and providing they work hard at school - we stand quite firm on this.
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i think its imperitive that kids use computers from an early age
maybe get them a eeepc (or similar) and turn off the wireless features at the bios level (or in Control panel and create a guest account for them)
that way the only internet access availible will be wired when you can monitor it
i want my kid to be writing in c# by the age of 10
(provided they enjoy it of course)
maybe get them a eeepc (or similar) and turn off the wireless features at the bios level (or in Control panel and create a guest account for them)
that way the only internet access availible will be wired when you can monitor it
i want my kid to be writing in c# by the age of 10
(provided they enjoy it of course)
In my opinion kids should Only have Consoles until they are 14 & then the PC/Laptop should be in the Front room & usage should be Heavily monitored/controlled.
If it was down to me I would Ban All kids from the interwebs.
If it was down to me I would Ban All kids from the interwebs.
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I'm 23 now and didn't have my own laptop till I went to uni. I personally see no reason for a child to have there own PC if there is one available already. Mobile phones generally come with Internet access these days anyway so they can access Facebook etc anywhere.
18th birthday present for daughter was a laptop. Until that age I would not consider giving either of my children their "own" pc or laptop. Instead we have had a number of PCs and more recently laptops which anyone in the family could use (with software installation allowed on some but not others. The challenge as they get older is having enough PCs of sufficient spec that we can play games together.
The level of supervision is what will vary with your child's maturity and the extent to which you have set access controls on internet useage.
I agree that pc skills are key and, from that point of view banning internet totally until 14 doesn't quite do it for me. It might be the sort of age when I am less looking over the shoulder all the time and more reviewing sites visited and letting the child know I am doing so.
[edit] Of course if one of my kids built their own pc then I would encourage and would have to allow it to be labelled as 'his' pc. But it would be used in a public place and I would expect others to be allowed to use it and to have activity reporting on. (yes one of my kids did over-ride that on one occaision and we had a chat about it!)
The level of supervision is what will vary with your child's maturity and the extent to which you have set access controls on internet useage.
I agree that pc skills are key and, from that point of view banning internet totally until 14 doesn't quite do it for me. It might be the sort of age when I am less looking over the shoulder all the time and more reviewing sites visited and letting the child know I am doing so.
[edit] Of course if one of my kids built their own pc then I would encourage and would have to allow it to be labelled as 'his' pc. But it would be used in a public place and I would expect others to be allowed to use it and to have activity reporting on. (yes one of my kids did over-ride that on one occaision and we had a chat about it!)
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My kids phone wouldn't have Internet access.
Do the older kids need laptops for school work,Someone told me one time that the teachers encouraged them to do their work on a pc/laptop.
Computer and school now let me think when i was at school the first computers were acorn,And it was only certain kids who could use them.
Computer and school now let me think when i was at school the first computers were acorn,And it was only certain kids who could use them.
my girlfriends sister, has had a laptop since she was 12 she is now 15.
Unfortunately this has had a really negative affect, in 3 years she never leaves her room, is always on msn/facebook and never talks to you in person.But as soon as you log on to msn she'll chat away fine.
having seen this happen, i'd suggest limited use mainly for educational puroposes homework research etc.
Unfortunately this has had a really negative affect, in 3 years she never leaves her room, is always on msn/facebook and never talks to you in person.But as soon as you log on to msn she'll chat away fine.
having seen this happen, i'd suggest limited use mainly for educational puroposes homework research etc.
Soldato
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I'm with Engram. (it the internet that the issue - a pc by it's self it only a tool)
But when I was a teenager I was the only one in my class that didn't have a tv in my room. 20 plus years later and both my parents and my own family only have the on TV
my first pc - I build myself - oced [email protected]
Pc's were for work for me - and it wasn't untill and left uni that I needed one of my own (the uni had 24h design studios so I work their with friends, with the odd game of quake at 3am to keep up going
My four year old uses my home pc, every other day or so for 30minutes,
The G7's sensitivity switching is very usefull so he doesn't over shoot icons on Cbebee's or sesame street.
But he has 100% supervision and a time limit.
Funny thing is, he's always pointing out how loud other peoples pc's are - Can't think why
Edit: internet phones for kids - maybe at 16ish but not before.
I'd rather take them sking or something else exciting to make sure that have some street cred
As with moth things its a balance
But when I was a teenager I was the only one in my class that didn't have a tv in my room. 20 plus years later and both my parents and my own family only have the on TV
my first pc - I build myself - oced [email protected]
Pc's were for work for me - and it wasn't untill and left uni that I needed one of my own (the uni had 24h design studios so I work their with friends, with the odd game of quake at 3am to keep up going
My four year old uses my home pc, every other day or so for 30minutes,
The G7's sensitivity switching is very usefull so he doesn't over shoot icons on Cbebee's or sesame street.
But he has 100% supervision and a time limit.
Funny thing is, he's always pointing out how loud other peoples pc's are - Can't think why
Edit: internet phones for kids - maybe at 16ish but not before.
I'd rather take them sking or something else exciting to make sure that have some street cred
As with moth things its a balance
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I were about 8 when I got my first one with a P100 and 8 meg ram. I used it to play Aladdin, Lion King, and other kiddie games.
At 12 I got a K6-II 450 + Rage Fury that could play all the latest 3D games but with sluggish FPS, and I got crazy addicted to Civ 2, AOE, C+C, + Baldurs Gate but still did well at school.
I didnt have Internet until I went to uni at 19, and never had a TV in my room (I dont like TV anyway).
IMO kids should be allowed to have their video games, but Internet is dangerous, and they shouldnt have that until at least 16 years old. Just make sure they are still getting their homework done and limit how long they play for.
At 12 I got a K6-II 450 + Rage Fury that could play all the latest 3D games but with sluggish FPS, and I got crazy addicted to Civ 2, AOE, C+C, + Baldurs Gate but still did well at school.
I didnt have Internet until I went to uni at 19, and never had a TV in my room (I dont like TV anyway).
IMO kids should be allowed to have their video games, but Internet is dangerous, and they shouldnt have that until at least 16 years old. Just make sure they are still getting their homework done and limit how long they play for.
I have had a laptop since i was around 10 (I am now 15) Nearly everyone i know has both a desktop and laptop.....I dont really see the harm in it tbh because if you put a privacy block on your browser then nothing can happen really...
I was around 10ish when I got my first computer (about 9 years ago) and although I relished in it, I certainly don't think it was the best thing that could have happened 
My views are use parent's PC's under strict supervision and time limits until they are about 12. At that time, get them a console to keep them happy for a few years - but again with restricted times to use it.
From 12 onwards they should be able to use the internet on parent's PC for school work projects etc, perhaps MSN can't hurt either - but nothing else.
Once they turn 16 they can have a choice - a PC or laptop. From my own experience, a laptop is probably better, as a PC will get rather addictive and their grades etc will reflect that - GCSEs they might get away with it but certainly not A levels!!
Once they're 18 they can get whatever they want
My views are use parent's PC's under strict supervision and time limits until they are about 12. At that time, get them a console to keep them happy for a few years - but again with restricted times to use it.
From 12 onwards they should be able to use the internet on parent's PC for school work projects etc, perhaps MSN can't hurt either - but nothing else.
Once they turn 16 they can have a choice - a PC or laptop. From my own experience, a laptop is probably better, as a PC will get rather addictive and their grades etc will reflect that - GCSEs they might get away with it but certainly not A levels!!
Once they're 18 they can get whatever they want