https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 12 Apr 2026 17:04:34 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-buy-your-child-a-computerlaptop#post-938570 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 11:26:53 +0000 Adira 938570@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My brother and I had to share a computer and didn't have our own until we bought them ourselves. I'd like to do the same with my children, but it may depend on how much they really need one for homework and stuff. I can definitely see them having to use computers more than I did when I was growing up! So I'm leaning towards NOT buying them one, but I'm not ruling it out altogether. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-buy-your-child-a-computerlaptop#post-938558 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 11:24:14 +0000 rachiecakes 938558@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We each have our own laptops that we use for work. I definitely would not let my kids use it.<br /> I would consider a laptop for them as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-buy-your-child-a-computerlaptop#post-938546 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 11:20:48 +0000 loveisstrange 938546@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>She can have a desktop set up in a common location, not in her room. Usage will be monitored and limited and when she gets older, the wifi password will change every day and it will be a "if you want the wifi password today, complete these things and then come ask". </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-buy-your-child-a-computerlaptop#post-938537 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 11:17:19 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 938537@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We'll probably have a kids computer. We will definitely monitor the Internet usage. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-buy-your-child-a-computerlaptop#post-938522 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 11:12:52 +0000 chopsuey 938522@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We plan on buying an iMac and putting it in a common area for the kids to use.<br /> They'll get a laptop when they go to college. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-buy-your-child-a-computerlaptop#post-938509 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 11:09:36 +0000 pui 938509@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I was a kid we had a family computer we all shared in the family room. I didn't get my own laptop until I was 18, which I bought myself. I will probably do something similar.</p> <p>I will probably get my teenage child a simple cell phone for practical purposes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-buy-your-child-a-computerlaptop#post-938455 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 10:56:26 +0000 ShootingStar 938455@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, we will buy our kid(s) at least one laptop, and as they grow older probably one for each child. DH and I both work in the software industry and tech is very important to us, as is our kids' ability to use it. I imagine by the time they're in middle school they will need some sort of device (computer or tablet, or whatever's next) to complete most of their homework, therefore a shared device seems unrealistic.</p> <p>Also, we hate desktops and I can't see buying them for our kids. We'll just have to come up with some rules when the time comes for where and when they can use the computer(s). DH's also pretty techy, so if need be he can add or write some type of program with time restrictions on it.</p> <p>I'm happy that we can provide these things for our kids, and we will work on fiscal responsibility in other ways. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-buy-your-child-a-computerlaptop#post-938367 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 10:28:02 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 938367@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Cameback to add, unless we move and have a different version family room configuration, the family PC will be in my home office. We will have tight internet controls and length of usage will be monitored. I I still want my kids to visit the library I and use actual books for research papers and projects. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-buy-your-child-a-computerlaptop#post-938357 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 10:23:17 +0000 Mrsbells 938357@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A desktop for homework and that sort of thing but not a laptop as those arent really good for your back </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-buy-your-child-a-computerlaptop#post-938355 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 10:22:21 +0000 MrsTiz 938355@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>By the time LO is old enough for a laptop, i'm sure he'll need one for school and all that..I know a very large chunk of my school things I needed a computer for and can only imagine what it will be like in 15 years. I'll buy him one for that reason. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-buy-your-child-a-computerlaptop#post-938349 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 10:20:53 +0000 Freckles 938349@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're also going to have a family computer for shared use. I agree with @Rubies about no computers in the bedroom! I also don't see the need for kids to have laptops. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-buy-your-child-a-computerlaptop#post-938335 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 10:15:28 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 938335@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't know about a laptop for a kid. Laptops have legs and can easily be stolen, lost, or damaged. I wouldn't want my child or myself to waste money and risk it when a family PC and flash drive will work. I definitely see myself gifting their first laptop for college. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-buy-your-child-a-computerlaptop#post-938273 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 10:03:33 +0000 Rubies 938273@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Family computer in the living room. There will be no computers in bedrooms. I'm very adament about that one thing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-buy-your-child-a-computerlaptop#post-938262 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 10:02:36 +0000 mediagirl 938262@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We will have a home computer that she can use under our supervision. I will have to see what things look like in high school when the time comes. I know for sure if we do buy her a laptop, it will be a perfectly fine cheap computer. There is no need for her to have a top of the line Apple swindle. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-buy-your-child-a-computerlaptop#post-938253 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 10:01:07 +0000 avivoca 938253@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think we will have a family computer in a central location that can be easily monitored. I also like the idea of teaching her to save her money for one if she needs it (like for college). My niece and nephew are SO spoiled, with grandparents buying them all the latest gadgets (for example, they both got a Kindle Fire AND a laptop for Christmas; you can't buy one one thing and not get the other the same) and they have no concept of saving. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-buy-your-child-a-computerlaptop#post-938242 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 09:58:28 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 938242@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We will likely buy a family computer. Right now, mine is used for business &amp; my husband has a laptop that's used for work. Neither of us would want our kids using our work computers!</p> <p>We would also closely monitor Internet usage. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-buy-your-child-a-computerlaptop#post-938199 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 09:45:36 +0000 regberadaisy 938199@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Pen: ha! M gets $50/month now. ;)</p> <p>Not so sure about making them save for one if they needed it for homework though. Which they very likely will. Probably a good idea for personal use. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-buy-your-child-a-computerlaptop#post-938191 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 09:43:55 +0000 Mrs. Pen 938191@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lovejoy: same! there were a lot of rules. I bought my own laptop with my own money when I was 18, and my parents still had rules about using internet in my room!</p> <p>@looch: yeah, I feel schooling has changed so much though! I mean, I am finishing much of my degree online! Even in high school, I used the internet mainly for research and writing papers (I graduated in '08). I feel like it will be very commonplace for homework to be online, as it mostly is now anyway (for jr/sr high anyway). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-buy-your-child-a-computerlaptop#post-938175 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 09:38:31 +0000 travelingnanny 938175@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I will prob do what my family did and have a family computer in the family room. My opinion could change once I have kids though. Who knows what kind of technology will be around then too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-buy-your-child-a-computerlaptop#post-938166 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 09:36:47 +0000 Mrs. Lovejoy 938166@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think we'll have a desktop in the family room where it can be monitored. I'm sure she'll want a laptop, but the Internet scares me! Who knows how much more will be available/creepy when LOs are older.. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-buy-your-child-a-computerlaptop#post-938163 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 09:36:25 +0000 looch 938163@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am still undecided on these matters. Right now, we have 5 computers in our home, so there are more than enough.</p> <p>I have to see how it plays out in terms of schooling. I didn't need to do work on the computer when I was in school, we had some papers that had to be typed, but not until I was in high school. I purchased my own laptop when I went to college. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-buy-your-child-a-computerlaptop#post-938149 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 09:34:57 +0000 HLK208 938149@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not until college. They can use the family computer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-buy-your-child-a-computerlaptop#post-938138 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 09:32:53 +0000 Mrs. Pen 938138@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Back on the allowance thread, I loved meganmp's idea of giving each child something like $100/month to cover ALL their expenses (clothing, toiletries, toys, shopping with friends, movies, etc etc...). It seemed like a lot at first- but the more I thought about it the more I realized that once a child is a teen we likely spend that and more on them anyway, and that way it teaches them how to save and manage money effectively..</p> <p>So I like that idea that they would save for a laptop instead of us buying it outright for them, and instead allowing them to use a family computer for homework and internet use.</p> <p>If they did get a computer in jr high/high school, I would still put restrictions on use (probably wouldn't allow internet use in bedroom). </p> <p>How about you? </p>