Hellobee Boards

Nope, we're the same way. We were never allowed to have TVs in our rooms, and I don't imagine our children will be allowed to either. I did have a computer in my room, but it wasn't until I was 16 or 17. My brother got a GameBoy when he was 10 or 12, but that was mostly for car trips.

We were trying to decide at breakfast this morning when our kid would get a cell phone -- we decided that we'd do a super basic one that called Mom, Dad and 911 when they started doing after school activities. No texting, Internet, etc until they're well into high school.

Ha, we say these things now -- will we be this firm when we actually have teenagers?

When he can buy his own. Those are definitely not necessities, so I want DS to work to earn those things. Or at least to pay half. That way he understands how hard it is to work for things and doesn't grow up without a realistic view of how much things cost.

No TV's in the house, at all. No game systems at all.

Desktop computer for the whole family to use for school only, not gaming.

Laptops at 16.

Cell phones, not until they actually need them for safety. I would consider buying those ones that will only call 911 and home.

He got a hand me down iPhone as a touch before he was born. He will have a cell phone to take when he isn't with me by 9 years old. He will have his own phone when he can prove he is responsible for it and can help pay for it. He will get a leapster or other toy by the time he's 5. Daddy is a major gamer and it will be excuses for them to play together. We are also a very techie family and will get electronics because they are cool.

Silly boy at 17 months old can unlock my iPhone and turn on apps. I'm not sure saying no will be very effective. He loves the airplane game on the wii sports resort and knows how to use the A button to play again. We already bought him just dance kids for the wii. We bought him his own mouse to use with abcmouse on the computer.

He wants to do what we do. I am not sure we can give up our toys do we can't expect him to not have them either.

Well, things were different when I was growing up...we didn't have cell phones and while we did have a computer, I was already in high school by that point. I did have a gaming system when I was about 7, it was Colecovision, so I am really showing my age.

Having said that, my approach is teaching responsible use. I don't see the harm in having a wide range of things to play with, technology related items included.

No one had a cell phone when I was growing up, we used landlines on long, curly cords! In grade school, I don't think there was call waiting, we had to "emergency breakthrough" (aka call the operator and make-up a lame excuse to interrupt the call). I had a pager in early college with everyone else (when it was free to customize your no. with your name). Haha! I got my first cell phone during college.

But I had video games for as long as I remember: an Atari in the 1st grade, to play Pac-Man and Dongkey Kong, but I barely used it. I had my first computer in the 3rd grade, a Commodore 64, I only used it to play a bumble bee game. I had every computer and modem, the old timers know what I'm talking about. I don't think I ever took electronics for granted because of it. Instead it was just a part of life, and something to take care of. I was fixing my own computer by high school.

I'll do the same for my DD. DH and I are nerds, so for us, it's a part of life.

My 4 year old neice has an iPad. I don't even have an iPad lol

I think things like that and cellphones are inappropriate until like, 9th grade. My kid won't have a tablet, a leapfrog, any of that. It blows my mind that parents (in my life) rely on these things to teach their children. I want my children to play, and learn outside and not on Xbox or iPads.

Short version:
Cell phone: 13ish
Computer/Laptop: Highschool
Personal iPad/tablet: When they can buy themselves one
Leapfrog, etc: Kindergarten.

Well, my DH and I disagree about this... I grew up no TV in room, cell phone in high school, all computers/game systems in common areas. He had the opposite. Since my DH and I are gamers, our LO will have access to our gaming systems and computers from a young age, with supervision. When it comes to cell phones & their own tv/computer...I just don't know! My nephew got a cell phone in 4th grade, which I think is completely unnecessary... but I'm not sure what age I *will* be comfortable with. I think it will just be one of those things that depends on my kid's maturity level.