Computer illiterate

[NiBBler]

Ok, so the kids want a computer for Xmas but Santa has a budget. The 7yr old and the 9yr old are quickly becoming all about electronics, computers, and games etc. It's getting pretty expensive (what ever happened to cheap baby dolls and race cars?).

This is all they require at this point. A computer that can access the web, can download songs and such, with basic word processing for school stuff. I would like the option to add on to it later as they get older if possible or practical. I would not mind going used if I knew what to look for and if it looks new (the kids gotta think it's new).

Any suggestions?

[Guess Who]

Just get them a cheap notebook type computer to start. If they like and grasp the concept of the notebook. Then try buying the a mac or something.

[Saucy]

Just get them a computer with a keyboard.

[Jenn]

I got my son a 400$ inspiron from Dell.com. Toysrus has some netbook for cheap too.

[Gzus]

I'd go for a entry level / cheap desktop. If need arises, it can be upgraded very easily.
Dont really want a 7 year old running around with a laptop either.
The dont tend to last very long in the hands of kids.

[Mamba]

In my world, 7 is too young for a computer with internet access. I could be just hyper protective/strict - but I don't think so.

My daughter is still playing with dolls for Christsake.

I'm boycotting the electrical stuff this Xmas and getting her stuff that I used to play with when I was a child: Huge puzzles, awesome games that everyone has forgotten about in this technical age: like Kerplunk, Operation, Twister, Charades, Snakes and Ladders etc etc etc How long will it be before all this stuff is obsolete??!

Let's not forget the educational stuff as well, like beautiful colour atlases and globes of the world, books with a moral or character building story (but still fun) etc. What about Arts and Crafts? Every kid enjoying making things. Paints, plaster, sewing, knitting, writing, drawing... the list goes on.

Don't get me wrong. I LIKE Video games. I think they're cool. In small doses. Don't be thinking I'm some nazi school mistress - because I'm not. I let my daughter watch cartoons, occasionally. I have bought her video games for her Nintendo DS and yes I do play on the Wii! They're something different, which is enjoyable. Who doesn't like the graphics on a huge screen tv?

However, the point is that too much of ANY of the above literally rots the brain. We cannot let our children live in this inane existence 100% of the time. There has to be a healthy balance. And there just isn't.

There's too much NICKELODEON, stupid cartoons and video games that children are constantly bombarded with. It's too easy to let them amuse themselves, with all this kind of crap that rarely makes any sense and doesn't teach values or anything of real importance. There's too much white noise, too much violence, too much fluff, too much disrespect and not enough social or mental awareness.

There's not enough kindness, honesty, morality or respect. Where are all of those values in today's fucking society?

Do people even care about this stuff anymore, or is it just me? Why are we considered "weak" or "boring" or "stuffy" or heaven forbid "traditional" for wanting the best for our kids and their future?!

Kids are growing up too fast nowadays. A computer at 7 years old?! What were YOU playing with when you were 7 years old? I can't even remember that far back. But I think it was probably Barbie or Monopoly shaped!!!

I think parents are mainly to blame - not to throw any mud at previous posters, but just in general. A woman at my work has an 9 year old son. He on his 5th cell phone. Apparently, he has lost every single cell phone he's ever been given. Why do you think that is?
I'll tell you why, because kids just don't appreciate shit anymore. Their parents just throw toys and appliances at them to appease some fucking misplaced sense of self worth and ego within themselves - (Probably because they feel guilty that they don't spend enough fucking time with them) when all they are doing is creating mindless, unappreciative, ungrateful BRATS. Children who, in the end will have virtually NO social or moral skills and who don't know any fucking better.

So what does the parent do? The gifts get more expensive, even though they get lost or broken. And they keep getting replaced .. sometimes with NEWER, BETTER VERSIONS. So the children never learn to respect or appreciate what they have, always knowing that it will get replaced.

So they will go on to spawn more mindless, unappreciative, ungrateful BRATS.

And the cycle continues.

[/rant]

[SlimSkeeter]

^^^^ I can get behind this.

[buddha]

Where are all of those values in today's fucking society?

Do people even care about this stuff anymore, or is it just me? Why are we considered "weak" or "boring" or "stuffy" or heaven forbid "traditional" for wanting the best for our kids and their future?!

Kids are growing up too fast nowadays.
[/rant]

Weren't you pregnant at 16?

[Josie]

Weren't you pregnant at 16?

....?

Somehow that changes her values? (and I have no idea when she got pregnant. nor do I care.)

[Josie]

^^^^ I can get behind this.

hehe, 'cheeky' ;-)

[NiBBler]

Well, apparently the other half of Santa decided that he is not able to help with Xmas this year, so now the point is moot. The budget has now shrunken.

Asshole.

[SlimSkeeter]

hehe, 'cheeky' ;-)

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