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Kids And Laptops
- Thread starter Beach Hut
- Start date
Woodchip
It's all about the bikes
I grew up from a very early age (about 3) with a computer in the house. We started with a ZX81, then a Commodore Vic 20, followed by Spectrum +2, +3 and a +2a. After then was a big step to an Atari 520 STe (upgraded later to with the 512 expansion), then an Amiga 500+. Then the world of PCs...
I thank my parents for it now, as I was learning how to use computers at the same rate they were developing. I used to be somewhat of a master at programming in BASIC on the speccys.
Personally, with the amount of dubious information on the net I would be reluctant to buy my kids (not that I have any that I know of) a laptop. A desktop PC in a communal area of the house, with good family protection is a much better idea. Also desktops can be upgraded a damn sight easier, and you can get ergonomic mice and keyboards to reduce the chances of your kids getting RSI (save that for the boys in their teens
) which would look a lot better with a desktop than a lappy.
I thank my parents for it now, as I was learning how to use computers at the same rate they were developing. I used to be somewhat of a master at programming in BASIC on the speccys.
Personally, with the amount of dubious information on the net I would be reluctant to buy my kids (not that I have any that I know of) a laptop. A desktop PC in a communal area of the house, with good family protection is a much better idea. Also desktops can be upgraded a damn sight easier, and you can get ergonomic mice and keyboards to reduce the chances of your kids getting RSI (save that for the boys in their teens
) which would look a lot better with a desktop than a lappy.
- Jul 7, 2003
- 47,641
My school had the old brown BBC Microcomputers, and only nerds could do anything technical with them. They hadn't invented the internet at that point 
We also had a 48k Spectrum at home.
Some schools issue laptops to their students as standard now- St Paul's in Burgess Hill give all their Year 7 and 9 students brand new ones, while those in other years have to put up with slightly more second hand ones, booo. Mind you, I doubt a computer linked to the school network would be much use for students wishing to download stacks of online porn (or would it??).
We also had a 48k Spectrum at home.
Some schools issue laptops to their students as standard now- St Paul's in Burgess Hill give all their Year 7 and 9 students brand new ones, while those in other years have to put up with slightly more second hand ones, booo. Mind you, I doubt a computer linked to the school network would be much use for students wishing to download stacks of online porn (or would it??).
Wardy
NSC's Benefits Guru
It is all about trust. I would have no problem with my kids having a laptop at that age. I would though occasionally check what they were downloading and looking at. This can be either via the history cach or some other software. All the time they are using it in a sensible way then allow them to continue. If they start breaking the rules then set harsher ones.
My children have been brought up to know right from wrong. They know that if I say they cannot do something it is for a good reason. They may try and push it a little but in the end they see sense. Tell and show them the bad things and explain why they should not give out personal details etc. If you do not trust your own children then who do you trust?
My children have been brought up to know right from wrong. They know that if I say they cannot do something it is for a good reason. They may try and push it a little but in the end they see sense. Tell and show them the bad things and explain why they should not give out personal details etc. If you do not trust your own children then who do you trust?
withdeanwombat
Well-known member
when i was 15 there were no laptops
When I was fifteen there were no bloody mobile phones,either.
I had a job (Job,he said,loosely ) at a building society head office not that far from the mecca (sorry teddybear lovers) that was The Goldstone.One of those jobs fretting about other peoples' money,and it depended very largely on computers.The computer there was about the same size as the Bletchley Park codebreakers,and needed the nearby beam engine to power it.You had to tiptoe past the computer mill in case you made it crash.Its dust free atmosphere was perfect for asthmatics,and the damned thing coughed out ream upon ream of account details on fashionable green and white lined paper.
Now we're giving portable computers with access to endless filth and trivia to tots.We're going mad,I tell'ee
Woodchip
It's all about the bikes
That'll be Alliance and Leicester then. I'm sat there at this precise moment, getting exceedingly bored waiting for the rain.
NS Herald
Well-known member
My older kids, 16 & 14 would both like their own desktop pc's (my daughter wrecked my laptop) for college/school work plus the 14 year old would like the ability to play lots of games and maybe some video editiing etc. (not porn..)
Have looked around and my question is will there be some good offers in the post Christmas sales??
Ta
Have looked around and my question is will there be some good offers in the post Christmas sales??
Ta
Don't get me started
One Nation under CCTV
- Jul 24, 2007
- 349
|Make sure you have parental control software, I caught my 12-13 year old son looking at some really choice stuff on a website "a kid gave me" at school.
There is some really nasty stuff out there, it sure blew my old stork story out the water..
There is some really nasty stuff out there, it sure blew my old stork story out the water..
bhaexpress
New member
Try Net Nanny, it does give you a lot of control over and above what IE and other browsers rovide.
We live in the computer age.
By 9, there are some kids round the globe that can write extremely complicated software.
In my opinion you should give a child a PC (laptop or otherwise) at whatever age you can get them interested in it.
I have a little boy that turns 3 in February. He can already open programs, and play rudimentary childrens PC games, and he loves it, cos Daddy has a "cucumber"!! OK, so he can't actually say computer
Every other child he knows of his age, hasn't even seen one yet.
Just think of the advantages you are offering them by getting them interested.
If he wants one, I say let him have one - nay - encourage it.
By 9, there are some kids round the globe that can write extremely complicated software.
In my opinion you should give a child a PC (laptop or otherwise) at whatever age you can get them interested in it.
I have a little boy that turns 3 in February. He can already open programs, and play rudimentary childrens PC games, and he loves it, cos Daddy has a "cucumber"!! OK, so he can't actually say computer
Every other child he knows of his age, hasn't even seen one yet.
Just think of the advantages you are offering them by getting them interested.
If he wants one, I say let him have one - nay - encourage it.
As long as you set decent control levels then it shouldn't be a problem.
They work with PCs from year R at school to why not at home?
They work with PCs from year R at school to why not at home?
My son had the use of a pc from around the age of 3 or 4, by the age of 9 he was editing and uploading several websites that he set up about things that interested him. He's just turned 11 now and I think being able to use a pc and surf the internet has done wonders for his vocabulary and written English. I know there's a lot of bad stuff on the net but there's also a lot of stuff that can help you learn too. I do use parental control software but only to keep track of what sort of things he's up to online.
I know you've decided not to get mini a mobile yet but, at least round here, nearly all the kids had them around the time they reach 11, so that might be on mini's list very soon!
I know you've decided not to get mini a mobile yet but, at least round here, nearly all the kids had them around the time they reach 11, so that might be on mini's list very soon!