A laptop is an expensive purchase and there can be certain risks involved when it comes to internet access. However, it could be a necessary piece of equipment to buy for your child if they have to do school work on a computer. Below are just some of the things to consider when deciding whether to buy your child a laptop.
What age is acceptable to own a laptop?
Your child needs to be able to use a laptop responsibly. If they have a habit of breaking or losing things of value, they may not be ready for a laptop just yet – it may be better to let them use a laptop while you monitor them.
You will ultimately know when you think they are old enough. Most kids nowadays get their first laptop between the ages of 8 and 12.
Does your child need a laptop for school?
If your child regularly needs to do school work on a computer, then a laptop may be necessary. If you or an older sibling has a computer, then they may be able to share this, but if two people need to use it simultaneously then you may have to consider getting them their own laptop.
In some cases, the school may be able to provide a laptop for free. Alternatively, you may be able to seek out student discounts or donation services. This can all help you to save money on a laptop if the cost is an issue.
Should I buy them a laptop for gaming?
Many kids want a laptop for PC gaming. This is less of a need – you should view the decision much like buying a console.
Consider what games they are allowed to play. When it comes to online games, there are plenty of games such as Madalin Stunt Cars 3 that are safe to play. You may want to forbid them from playing multiplayer online games until they are older.
Choosing the right laptop
You don’t want to spend huge amounts on a laptop in case it does get damaged. Buying a durable laptop may prevent damage, however you shouldn’t have to pay extra for this. At the same time, the laptop needs to be powerful enough to handle school work (and basic video games if they want to use it for gaming).
You can find a list of suitable laptop here at TechRadar. Some of these are built specifically for kids making them a good choice.
Keeping kids safe online
Your kids will likely need access to the internet. You may want to consider setting parental controls to limit what content your child can see.
To be extra safe, it could be worth setting rules as to where they can use the laptop, so that you can monitor their online activity. This could include restricting laptop usage to the living room or requiring them to keep their bedroom door open while using their laptop. Even with parental controls on, kids can still be exposed to predators using child-friendly messaging tools and sites (sometimes posing as fellow kids).
Limiting laptop usage could also help to prevent tech addiction. Making your child leave their laptop downstairs before going to bed could prevent them staying up all night on it playing games or watching Youtube videos.
Leave a Reply