How old should children be to get their own laptops?
My daughters are turning 15, and we considered getting them each a laptop for their birthdays, but agreed it was way to expensive. We have to do big things like that x4 every time, so we’ll be waiting a little longer.
My niece is heading off to college in the fall and is receiving her first laptop in May at her high school graduation, since she’ll need one for college. She told me it was highly uncommon for teens to receive their first laptop this late.
What age should children get their own laptops?
I got my first laptop when I was 18 as a high school graduation gift. That was about 6 and a half years ago and most of my friends at that point were in the same situation but it’s amazing how much things change in 6 and a half years. With work loads becoming heavier and heavier in high school I can see getting a 16 or 17 year old their own computer (whether it’s a laptop or a desktop should be their choice pending on if they can pay for at least half of it) even a 15 year old I can see needing a computer of their own. BUT any younger than that a family used computer should be just fine. Like cell phones, computers are NOT toys they are tools and should be used as such.
I see no reason a teen needs a laptop before college. If they are living at home they can use their desktop at home.
Surely the schools don’t allow kids to bring their $1500 laptops to school, right? Why do they need their computer to be mobile?
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Well my sister was planning on getting my neice and nephew a laptop at Christmas, although she didn’t because of the cost, they are 6 and 8… of course they wouldn’t be doing anything but playing games on kids websites, but they can help with development too.
I think 15, 16 is an appropriate age if there is a computer in the home anyway, for study reasons like you said about your neice going to college.
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i got my first lap top when i was 13. that was for a few reasons though like the computer was dying and we had moved to a house where there wasnt really space for a computer wit ha desk in a communal family area.
i would say it depends on how much you trust your child to be on the computer without you watching my parents trust me not to do stupid things and to get on with my work etc.
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12 is when I got my kids their own laptops. It’s kind of young but I didn’t want them using mine, because I do a lot of work on it. 14-15 is probably a good age.
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i got my first at nine :]
but i also paid for half.
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I bought my own at age 12. It depends how responsible a child is. Look at the maturity level of your 15 year olds, ask them what they would use a laptop for, and make your decision if YOU’RE going to pay for it. In my honest opinion, you shouldn’t get them a laptop for something like a birthday. You niece NEEDED a laptop for school, whereas your children don’t immediately need one. Make them work for one, save up allowance or birthday money or babysitting money, etc. They’ll be more responsible then.
I’ve had to buy both my computers, the first was $500 and the one I have now, a macbook, was $1000. Expensive, but I scraped and saved and it’s what I really wanted and I worked hard for it, which creates a sense of responsibility.
I use my laptop for artistic purposes, drawing etc. Most teenagers use it for social networking, facebook, myspace, etc. Make sure you monitor your children for a while, especially if they’re on these networking sites for more then an hour at a time, because you never know who they may be talking to.
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16 years old, been there and done that.
In my opinion a laptop is a luxury item not a necessity. Desktops do the job. I got my brother one when he left home for College and I’m giving my little sister one when she graduates this year and heads off to University. The same thing will happen for my kids. I’ll get them one when they graduate. They have no use for them in school. They can use the desktop when they are home.
If you really want to get your kids a laptop there really is no age requirement. Just wait till you feel your kids are responsible enough to take good care of it. You also don’t need to get them a top of the line laptop. Laptops these days can go from as low as $300. Granted you want to make sure it has all the right spec’s. Some can be a waste of money.
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I got my first laptop when I was 18 as a high school graduation gift. That was about 6 and a half years ago and most of my friends at that point were in the same situation but it’s amazing how much things change in 6 and a half years. With work loads becoming heavier and heavier in high school I can see getting a 16 or 17 year old their own computer (whether it’s a laptop or a desktop should be their choice pending on if they can pay for at least half of it) even a 15 year old I can see needing a computer of their own. BUT any younger than that a family used computer should be just fine. Like cell phones, computers are NOT toys they are tools and should be used as such.
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