Is 9.5 years old too young for a computer?

[HeKnowsMyName]

DH is wanting to get DD one for Christmas this year but I'm not sure. She does have our old computer in her room and she can type/play on it. He wants something to help her with schoolwork. I'm just not sure she is ready yet.

 

[rosenherman]

DH is wanting to get DD one for Christmas this year but I'm not sure. She does have our old computer in her room and she can type/play on it. He wants something to help her with schoolwork. I'm just not sure she is ready yet.

While I don't know your daughter, I do think that a computer is fine and she has one. If she wants one with unrestricted internet access, I think she's too young. If you have one in the family room, kitchen, dining room; where ever your family hangs out that would be a different kettle of fish. Her access could be constantly monitored until she's older.

 

[HeKnowsMyName]

We won't let her keep it in her room I don't think. He is thinking laptop so she can keep it in the Family Room with us. She will NEVER not be monitored.

 

[GolfingMom]

Can she use the computer you use?

 

[HeKnowsMyName]

She plays games on it and such. She has typed stuff in word. I don't really want her to have a laptop/computer yet. I don't know why he does.

 

[myanchor]

Maybe hubby want to really be the one playing on the laptop? When you do give her her own computer I suggest setting the vista parental controls or getting filtering software either from your provider or another source or monitoring software such as Spectorsoft. I got it and used it with my son and older daughter. I had to caution them many times and restrict many sites.

 

[GolfingMom]

She plays games on it and such. She has typed stuff in word. I don't really want her to have a laptop/computer yet. I don't know why he does.

I guess I don't understand why she needs her own, ESP. if you plan on homeschooling her in the future. I don't get it.
We all share one computer at home.

 

[xDenax]

I won't even get a laptop for myself, I sure wouldn't buy one for a child.

 

[Norton Woman]

Parents ask me this sort of thing at parent consultation evenings. Regarding schoolwork: she doesn't actually need one for schoolwork, but perhaps a point to consider is that a child may well be disadvantaged in the 21st century without one.

My nine year old daughter is the eldest of my four children. I have one computer smack bang in the middle of the kitchen which every member of the family uses. Everybody values it so I don't worry about anyone wrecking it. There's always someone about to monitor its use and the amount of time the children spend on it. Internet parental controls are still a must. One for my daughter specifically? No - I don't think there's a need at nine to have one of her own. As for doing schoolwork on it, well - schoolwork done at home is most effective when a parent is helping/guiding/ prompting, so the computer needs to be in the family room in that case. I think just one, high spec family computer is adequate at the sort of age you're talking about, with working parents having their own if they need to.

One minor point - a laptop could be carried all over the house and over time, you'll lose control over how your daughter uses it.

 

[MrsVanB]

No, I don't believe a 9 1/2 year old needs to have their own computer. Kids did fine in school for years before computers came along. I think the situation you have now sounds ideal - just let her use the one you already have under supervision. Maybe your hubby needs to be taught a lesson in sharing also lol.

 

[HeKnowsMyName]

Maybe hubby want to really be the one playing on the laptop?

No, DH has his own laptop. I honestly can't figure out WHY he wants her to have one but I think I am going to put my little foot down. It's more than we generally spend for Christmas gifts anyway. I think the Dell lollipop commercial is getting to him.

 

[moonkitty]

If the child is going to be monitored on the computer, you believe she is responsible enough not to break an computer/lap-top; and you can afford to buy her one then I see no reason why not.


My hubby is a computer tech. and he is very much into technology. He fixes and repairs computers and lap-tops. He is also able to get very good deals on spare computer parts, and is an expert builder. So our house has more computers than people. His most recent addition was a lap top that was given, yes given to him, by a family friend--it wasn't working and his friend wanted to know how much it would be to fix it, and if it could be up-graded. It was only a bad hard-drive; only about $50 but it could not be up-graded to the standards that his friend wanted. So the guy just gave it to my hubby!!! My hubby had an extra lap-top hard-drive and got it up and running in about an hour. While it is not supper fast, it is no slower than most net-books. So now we have a 5th computer. LOL.


Do we need this many computers? No. Does it come in handy? Yes. These past few years I have been in college and I needed a computer, there was times when my hubby needed to be on the computer for his job; and my kids needed the computer for homework. Having more than one computer has allowed us to be able to work on our own time and get things done quickly; and that has freed up more time for us to be together as a family.


Take for example a typical after school day. I come home from college classes with a report I have to write for the next day. My hubby comes home from work and his boss wants him to looked up some information and reviews on a new software that they may want to buy, My daughter's class has all of her text books on line so instead of having to carry home a big book she can go on-line and read the chapter and answer the questions her teacher has assigned for homework.


]Now if we only had one computer it would take us several hours for us to all get down what we needed to get done. By the time my hubby has looked up the information, my daughter to read the chapter and answer the questions, and me to write the report we wouldn't have much time left to do something together. But with each of us having a computer to work on we can get our stuff done and still have time left over to go to a moive, or take a walk as a family.

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[tiffyof6ntwins]

I wouldnt even consider letting my 11 yr old have a computer of her own, so no at 9.5 i dont believe they need one of their own. we have 3 lap tops in our house but never is my 11 yr old or 8 yr old allowed on it first without permission and second without a parent around. they can not take it even into the other room if without either myself or husband in the same room.