Please do make an input here as parents.

I gave my four years old daughter my old phone to be using, no Sim card though, yet I still ponder if this is proper. Should I take it back or let her have it?

What do you think, as a parent?
Thanks!

netherlands:
Please do make an input here as parents.

I gave my four years old daughter my old phone to be using, no Sim card though, yet I still ponder if this is proper. Should I take it back or let her have it?

What do you think, as a parent?
Thanks!

NO!
Take it back!

I don't think this is wrong in any way... We are in a digital Era.... Provided the child is well checked at all times, then you're giving your child an headstart in comparison to his/her peers...

Righteousness89:

NO! Take it back!

why should they take it back

Righteousness89:


NO!
Take it back!

you don't just tell people what to do without stating your reasons...

sweetnonsense:
you don't just tell people what to do without stating your reasons...

Oga/Madam pls why not give her your advice and move on!

netherlands:
Please do make an input here as parents.

I gave my four years old daughter my old phone to be using, no Sim card though, yet I still ponder if this is proper. Should I take it back or let her have it?

What do you think, as a parent?
Thanks!

it depends on your reason of giving the child the phone. For example you can give your child a phone if you don't constantly stay at home so you use the phone to communicate with your child. so i don't think it is wrong.

The problem is not the tool, its what the person does with the tool

I see nothing wrong with introducing children to devices early, but you have to do it cautiously and guide them.

I got introduced to technology since I was a baby, and I mean that literally. There were gadgets everywhere, although they were not smart phones, they didn't exist then. But whats most important here, is that they were tools.

What matters is what the tools are used for. Today I can do almost anything you can think of with computers, I mean anything, I just need to set my mind to it.

People who tell parents not to give their kids smartphones, play disgusting songs with foul language and tell their kids to dance to it, some of you buy water guns and toy guns for your kids. Which is more damaging in the long run ?.

Proper guidance is the best way to train kids, give them a tool and let them experiment very early, the right tools, with proper leadership.

Proper leadership in this case, is "do as I do" , not "do as I say" . Set a good example, not just in your words, but in your actions.

A 4yrs old? No pls she's too young. Get her an age-appropriate gadget. Better still, why not buy her a Lego, or buildingblocks or even jigsaws. All those can improve a child's intellectual capacity and help stimulate logical reasoning. A phone won't do that.

in my view she is too young.

NobleAngell:
A 4yrs old? No pls she's too young. Get her an age-appropriate gadget. Better still, why not buy her a Lego, or buildingblocks or even jigsaws. All those can improve a child's intellectual capacity and help stimulate logical reasoning. A phone won't do that.

There are educational games too, there are educational animations, not saying physical hand-held toys are bad, they are important too.
Whether we like it or not, technology is here to stay, its the future, the earlier the better, with proper guidance

XXXXTENTACION:
it depends on your reason of giving the child the phone. For example you can give your child a phone if you don't constantly stay at home so you use the phone to communicate with your child. so i don't think it is wrong.

That cannot be her reason because she said she took out the sim.

The way I see it, simcard or not; you're giving her the opportunity to be addicted to a phone at such a young. So know what you're getting into.

With supervision, it can aid her development.
But if you neglect this, it'll backfire so bad.

XXXXTENTACION:
it depends on your reason of giving the child the phone. For example you can give your child a phone if you don't constantly stay at home so you use the phone to communicate with your child. so i don't think it is wrong.

OK
Which means I have to get her a Sim then,. Thanks on that.

Righteousness89:

NO! Take it back!

OK But you have to give reasons why I should take it back. ...

sweetnonsense:
I don't think this is wrong in any way... We are in a digital Era.... Provided the child is well checked at all times, then you're giving your child an headstart in comparison to his/her peers...

OK
Thanks
That's a good point there.

Righteousness89:


Oga/Madam pls why not give her your advice and move on!

Calm down.
You might have a point but you need to tell us. That's why I created the thread, so I can get both opposing views.
So please go on and tell me why you want me to take it back.
Thanks.

Donald3d:


The problem is not the tool, its what the person does with the tool

I see nothing wrong with introducing children to devices early, but you have to do it cautiously and guide them.

I got introduced to technology since I was a baby, and I mean that literally. There were gadgets everywhere, although they were not smart phones, they didn't exist then. But whats most important here, is that they were tools.

What matters is what the tools are used for. Today I can do almost anything you can think of with computers, I mean anything, I just need to set my mind to it.

People who tell parents not to give their kids smartphones, play disgusting songs with foul language and tell their kids to dance to it, some of you buy water guns and toy guns for your kids. Which is more damaging in the long run ?.

Proper guidance is the best way to train kids, give them a tool and let them experiment very early, the right tools, with proper leadership.

Proper leadership in this case, is "do as I do" , not "do as I say" . Set a good example, not just in your words, but in your actions.

Thanks a lot.

Ningen:
The way I see it, simcard or not; you're giving her the opportunity to be addicted to a phone at such a young. So know what you're getting into.

With supervision, it can aid her development.
But if you neglect this, it'll backfire so bad.

OK
I'm other words, you are in support and you are against... Lol.

NobleAngell:
A 4yrs old? No pls she's too young. Get her an age-appropriate gadget. Better still, why not buy her a Lego, or buildingblocks or even jigsaws. All those can improve a child's intellectual capacity and help stimulate logical reasoning. A phone won't do that.

OK
I get your point, though I don't agree with you on where you said phones can't improve child's intellectual capacity and stimulate logical reasoning. It's a smartphone and she's good with it, that's why I let her have it. But I just don't know if am doing the right thing. That's why I want other parents to come up with reasons for and against as the cases may be.

fati2001:
in my view she is too young.

OK
But what then does her being too young entail in this case. What do you think could be a negative effect or aspect of her having a phone at that age?

Donald3d:


There are educational games too, there are educational animations, not saying physical hand-held toys are bad, they are important too.
Whether we like it or not, technology is here to stay, its the future, the earlier the better, with proper guidance

OK
Good point!

netherlands:

OK
But what then does her being too young entail in this case. What do you think could be a negative effect or aspect of her having a phone at that age?

well.
you know based on African view, it's bad
but in Western it not bad.
for me just follow your heart desires.

My 4year old had a phone since he was two,and he is fine,he can operate anything on that phone but i made sure there is no sim card. He uses it to entertain himself when bored.

Without Sim is fine. So long as you have deleted all videos and so on

fati2001:

well.
you know based on African view, it's bad
but in Western it not bad.
for me just follow your heart desires.

OK
But based on African views what reasons should we give the child in explaining to her that we have to take the phone back because it's bad according to African view.
I mean, how do you explain African views to 21st century 4year old,? Because take it or leave it, she is going to ask me the reasons why?

ambient:
My 4year old had a phone since he was two,and he is fine,he can operate anything on that phone but i made sure there is no sim card. He uses it to entertain himself when bored.

OK
Good.
My daughter have been using our phones since about same age but this is the first time she's actually owning one, and I know some people might have a different perspective on it. Which is why I am here. I want the best for my child like most parents too, but we can't be perfect at all, that's why I want other people's opinion. After all, there's an African saying that a child is not trained by one person.

netherlands:

OK
Good.
My daughter have been using our phones since about same age but this is the first time she's actually owning one, and I know some people might have a different perspective on it. Which is why I am here. I want the best for my child like most parents too, but we can't be perfect at all, that's why I want other people's opinion. After all, there's an African saying that a child is not trained by one person.

It makes absolute no sense for a 4yr old to own a phone.
Get her learning toys instead.

Nawao... So who will now use the toys in the market?? Adults?

NobleAngell:
That cannot be her reason because she said she took out the sim.

olodo didn't you see where i said for example? I only used it as an illustration.

Mariangeles:

It makes absolute no sense for a 4yr old to own a phone. Get her learning toys instead.

OK But you have yet to tell us why. Elaborate on why it makes no sense.

Acidosis:

Nawao... So who will now use the toys in the market?? Adults?

LOL � That is a good question!