Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Poll: What's an appropriate age for children to use tablets?

Jul 14, 2015 6:48PM PDT

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
I voted for 7 to 9
Jul 14, 2015 7:45PM PDT

I chose this range because I observe my grandkids with their use of my tablet. I am very concerned about EMF ( electro magnetic fields) with children and believe that any tablet use should be limited. I think human interaction in younger children is primarily important and that allowing children between 7 and 9 who have already formed their primary matrices emotionally is appropriate but stress that most of our electronic devices are exhuding larger and more damaging EMF's than most people are aware of. This is a vailid point to research. I am not saying that younger children can not benefit from tablet use but that why risk any kind of damage to a very young child... why risk it at any age? But I believe it's ok for children who have already passed their first emotional milestone to use a tablet occasionally but not on a regular basis. Remember how easy it is to become addicted to computers... this is not something we want our children developing before they are 20.

- Collapse -
WORRY ABOUT OUR FUTURE, WITH KIDS NOT HAVING SOCIAL SKILLS!
Jul 15, 2015 8:26AM PDT

I am also a grandmother, and I use my computer & also have a tablet, upon which I mainly play mahjong & or listen to Pandora, & look at the weather. I grew up in a world where we went out to play every day, made up our own games, & had hands on contact with the world. I see my grandhildren & others, such as young adults, not being able to socialize in the same way. All their play (like soccer) HAS to be "organized". We used to play football in our torn up street (process being repaved). My mind was opened up to real news, mainly on the radio then. I find, first of all, as someone said on here, that the kids cannot write a simple note. They have NOT been taught how to write in cursive, ALL of them print in a very messy fashion. For myself, I limit my TV watching, & I play/mess on the tablet for about an hour only. My brain is working all the time, & I read loads of books, the tactile kind, smell, touch, etc. Also working on genealogy, which definitely expands our minds. I would not allow a baby to fool around with a tablet. I would talk with my babies, & the oldest was able to speak clearly one day, with "See the bird?" We need kids to learn social skills, instead they sit with their heads down, thumbs busy, & are totally unaware of our world. Silly Mischief

- Collapse -
Wrong, wrong, wrong
Jul 15, 2015 12:59PM PDT

You read books, an individual activity.
Built things (models, Lego's, erector set), individual activity.
Listen to radio, also individual activity.

What about talking over the phone? No face to face contact, using, like, wrong grammar, duuude!

Its not the tablet itself, its how much time is spent on a tablet, reading a book, building Lego things, and going outside and having fun with friends!

- Collapse -
I voted for under 1 year old
Jul 14, 2015 9:08PM PDT

The reason for my vote is that I found my fussy child tended to become much calmer after a baby aspirin tablet.

As for the electronic tablets, they should be kept away until time as the child can aford to purchase their own...with their money. And it should be kept at the home the child owns that was paid for by the child.

I also vote wholeheartedly with beamer6 and his reply. Due to a too lenient spouse my house is inundated with electronic devices that serve no purpose other than prevent my kid from cleaning his room and keeping his person clean.

- Collapse -
Useage is limited to very short periods, specific apps.
Jul 15, 2015 6:39AM PDT

Children under 1 have been using computers for decades (in limited numbers).

It is NOT IF they should, it is WHAT they should be doing and for HOW LONG.
This is the same kind of silly debate every time a new technology comes up (remember film, TV, etc?).

As long as usage of tables/phones is limited to a few minutes a day, far behind physical and social activities in the importance and time scale.

For example a simple drawing app will let child draw shapes, and not use up lots of materials (crayons and paper). Start with tablet, then introduce the real thing, switch between the two

- Collapse -
Not specific
Jul 15, 2015 10:17PM PDT

According to me there is no specific age but if the children is saying that i have need for tablet than u have to provide it.

- Collapse -
Depends upon a Child.
Jul 16, 2015 8:01AM PDT

I have seen very small babies to play with tablets but it does not mean that age is right age. when a baby start learning things and have enough skills about tab navigation should be the right age.Before that parent guidance will be required.