re: 7 year old with computer

Quoting all caps.:“ My cousin who'll be 13 this coming June has a MySpace and I think even that is over the top. It's disgusting. ... [snip!] ... What the hell does a 10-year-old need a cell phone for? I realize the texting generation is getting younger and younger but no.”

I got my cell phone when I was 15, but I had a summer job and put enough money back to pay the bill for the year. However, I was very active in school and sports so I was away from home a lot and my mother liked to have a way to always get ahold of me. But, I didn't have a computer in my home til I was 18 and I bought it myself. This is why most people think they are owed something in life...they are given everything until one day they have to do it on their own and its a slap in the face.

Quoting Mandy+Eric=Aubree Jean:“ My 7 yr old cousin has an i phone and a facebook page. I think its insane to let your children have such ... [snip!] ... things. It's different when they are using them for eduacational purposes, but I don't classify facebook as educational.”

wow that is crazy!

Quoting all caps.:“ My cousin who'll be 13 this coming June has a MySpace and I think even that is over the top. It's disgusting. ... [snip!] ... What the hell does a 10-year-old need a cell phone for? I realize the texting generation is getting younger and younger but no.”

exactly! my little sister will be 11 in march and my little brother just turned 13 in july.
they both have had cell phones for about 2 years, have a myspace., ect.
I'm like 0.0
I mean it's good that my dad an step mom can get a hold of them if needed but geez!

then again, my dad never has been that bright... lol

I didn't get my first phone until I was almost 15..

Quoting Ashley Marie + 2 boys.:“ exactly! my little sister will be 11 in march and my little brother just turned 13 in july. they both ... [snip!] ... if needed but geez! then again, my dad never has been that bright... lol I didn't get my first phone until I was almost 15..”

I got my first phone when I was 15 too because my dad kept forgetting to pick me up from school. I think I had like 50 minutes a month lol.

My daughter got her first computer at about that age. My husband is a programmer, so it was one that he cobbled together from old computers at work. She is now 13 and is quite computer savvy.

It is set up in the living room, and we control the internet on it, she has facebook and MSN Messenger, but we have the passwords for them, they are mainly to talk to our family who is spread out all over the place.

Schools are requiring younger grades to hand in their assignments typewritten, and there are a lot of websites that teachers recommend for practicing math and spelling. It is good to allow children to become familiar with how a computer works as it will help them in the long run.

My older child 11 and 8 both use my computer all the time. Its not in an isolated room and has parental controls on it. <<<insert sarcasm here>>>I guess I'm a bad parent because I let them have facebook account too. I think whats really gonna have me burning in hell is the fact that my 11 yr old brings her cellphone with her when she goes to a friends or has functions that I'm not at like the afterschool fitness club and stuff. I let her use it so that way she can get ahold of me at any time day or night. I see nothing wrong with it.

Quoting The 3M's mom:“ My older child 11 and 8 both use my computer all the time. Its not in an isolated room and has parental ... [snip!] ... club and stuff. I let her use it so that way she can get ahold of me at any time day or night. I see nothing wrong with it.”

I'm completely with you on this.

You can't completely shut off your children from the outside world. That is when they start getting into bad stuff because they are sneaking around.

Quoting Stressed out Mommy!!!!:“ I got my first phone when I was 15 too because my dad kept forgetting to pick me up from school. I think I had like 50 minutes a month lol.”

lol, I had a regular plan.. my grandparents paid for it for a year before I got on a plan with my mom...

I was always out and a bout and if I missed the bus (which happened a LOT in HS I ha do walk like i think it 3 miles lol) so it was nice to be able to call for a ride!

Quoting speaktruth2powr:“ My daughter got her first computer at about that age. My husband is a programmer, so it was one that ... [snip!] ... and spelling. It is good to allow children to become familiar with how a computer works as it will help them in the long run.”

I agree, my thing was that they have a family computer that is literally in the hallway right outside the girl's room. I didn't see the need in getting her her own brand new one I guess. 

Quoting The 3M's mom:“ My older child 11 and 8 both use my computer all the time. Its not in an isolated room and has parental ... [snip!] ... club and stuff. I let her use it so that way she can get ahold of me at any time day or night. I see nothing wrong with it.”

well, her having a phone for that purpose is different, then just giving them one for the hell of it.


and I think myspace and facebook is ok if supervised by a parent.
My little sister, last year(at 9) I caught her trying to find a boyfriend online. 0.0
the age on her myspace was i think 27 (hat my dad and her mom put) but they just let her do whatever on it....

it disturbing. Now, if they supervised what she did, i wouldnt mind as much.. but mot the parents I see don't give a flying smurf what their child is doing on th computer at that age!

My 5 yo has one for games...

My 11 yr old has a cell phone and all four of my kids have use of a computer in my boys room but it is only for games. My daughter got a cell phone for the purpose of contacting me and her dad at any time. She also knows that if she abuses the privelage it will cease to exist...... I think that the issue is not having them but how its monitored and parents just being smart about things....

Quoting Stressed out Mommy!!!!:“ I am just wondering people's opinion on this because I wasn't sure what to think of this... We know ... [snip!] ... young now ( she also has one). Any parents out there with 7 year olds think that is normal or is it too young in your opinion?”

My oldest will be 5 on the 15th.
He has a computer that my husband built for him.
He has many many learning programs and does not use the internet.
I find it helps further what i teach him myself, when he gets to explore it himself.

Quoting Mommy-Mia:" My oldest will be 5 on the 15th. He has a computer that my husband built for him. He has many many learning ... [snip!] ... programs and does not use the internet. I find it helps further what i teach him myself, when he gets to explore it himself."

I like your post here! My son is five and my father has built us a few PC's, this is what he does for a living and it can be really cheap to do. My son knows how to navigate and will play games on it. He has started playing Minecraft which is really advanced for his age. He will get on youtube when I'm in the room and watch videos of old Tom and Jerry or random cartoons. I agree that it is important for children to learn on a computer at a young age.

lol well my middle is 4 and has a laptop and an ipad and an ipod. My 10 yr old has a laptop and an ipod and a ipad. lol

My niece nad nephew have the same (they are now 11 and 13) but had computers in their rooms around 8 yrs old. My best friends dd just turned 7 and has a computer in her room and an ipod and a ipad, plus she has a laptop to bring to Grandmas house.

My little cousins are now older and just upgraded their laptops for new ones (same age as my niece and nephew) but had their own since around 7ish yrs old.

I honestly dont know any kids IRL that dont have their own.

I dont think its right to ignore and send your child off to play on it in their room or be sent outside all the time etc.....but nothing wrong with a 7 yr old having one IMO.