14 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

I wonder if you have children, any access to anyone else with children and even understand how children can be educated in todays world.... 

 

My Son has spend every one of his school days for the past 6 months on a Laptop computer, he has had an iPad since the age of about 2 years old - he can name all the planets in the solar system and even had an argument with me when he was 4 because I didn’t realise Pluto had been declassified !!!... 

 

 

We’re not talking about kids glued to trashy cartoons all day long without supervision - everyone knows this is wrong.

Kids  with inquisitive  minds  will  always  learn, many kids arent  like that.

17 hours ago, bbko said:

To the naysayers here, I think you don't realize how much of a learning tool a tablet, ipad, iphone, smart phone can be if used correctly and in moderation.  Some people here are acting like the OP wants to park his kid in corner with his device and walk away.

My almost 2 year old nephew has a iPhone 6 and loves watching Youtube vids about learning the Thai and English alphabet, numbers or colors, pair that up with his parents reinforcing what he watched and it's a good match.  He's watching learning vids not John Wick.  

I think a lot of people posting here had their kids in the 1950s-1990s, or have never had kids!

 

19 hours ago, fangless said:

The kid's future!

It's brutally clear that your myopic view point is borne of limited resources and flawed education which could have been vastly improved by a tablet device..

 

 

 

9 hours ago, fangless said:

17 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

We’re not talking about kids glued to trashy cartoons all day long without supervision - everyone knows this is wrong.

Do they really?

It seems you are projecting your ignorance and assuming every other parent would allow their child unfettered and unsupervised access to an iPad / tablet.

 

A ‘resource’ such as an iPad / Tablet is not evil because ’some’ parents can’t adequately parent and use intelligent balance with such devices. 

 

Those same kids who’s parent allow children unsupervised and uncontrolled access to iPads / Tablets are the same kids who’s parents let them sit in front of the TV all day long - its not the device which is the issue, its the lazy supervision. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

19 hours ago, fangless said:

Buy him a kids book to read/be read from.

Thomas the Tank Engine is not too much hard work if you read it to your child

16 hours ago, 1FinickyOne said:

in addition to the tablet... hopefully - 

NO. 

At that age it should be instead of it! 

The parents might actually learn something by reading out loud to their kids!

Samsung Tab S4 my 7 year old has given up with toys and saved me a fortune when we go shopping its all kids want to do these days especially with the school situation ????

1 hour ago, brewsterbudgen said:

I think a lot of people posting here had their kids in the 1950s-1990s, or have never had kids!

 

Look I cant save the planet and have kids

37 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

It seems you are projecting your ignorance and assuming every other parent would allow their child unfettered and unsupervised access to an iPad / tablet

as its a Thai forum I d say yes to that, the vast majority of  Thais

Amazon fire.

 

Think they even have a kids edition

 

Save big by not getting the latest plus go to xda download the Fire Toolbox. Tweak it out and get rid of the Amazon bloat.

1 hour ago, Rampant Rabbit said:

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

It seems you are projecting your ignorance and assuming every other parent would allow their child unfettered and unsupervised access to an iPad / tablet

as its a Thai forum I d say yes to that, the vast majority of  Thais

The question was posed by a Westerner on a forum populated primarily by Westerners. 

 

 

I know a lot of Thai families - they are all cautious of the time their children spend on electronics. 

 

A lot of people are projecting their own flawed impressions based on flawed assumptions of what others do. 

 

When they go to a noodle stall and see the child of the working parent watching trash on an iPad / Tablet they assume ALL Thai children are watching trash on iPads.

 

A lot of them may be, but to then conclude that iPads / Tablets are evil tools and should be avoided presents an extremely flawed and myopic opinion based on assumptions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, fangless said:

NO. 

At that age it should be instead of it! 

The parents might actually learn something by reading out loud to their kids!

and if the kid learns to use the tablet he might be learning a key tool for his future.. 

1 hour ago, fangless said:

18 hours ago, 1FinickyOne said:

in addition to the tablet... hopefully - 

NO. 

At that age it should be instead of it! 

The parents might actually learn something by reading out loud to their kids!

 

An iPad / Tablet presents a world wide library of information at a childs fingertips, books, Apps, Videos...  a book is just one book.

 

An iPad / Tablet should never replace a book - but as a complimentary educational tool iPad / Tablet are outstanding, they have the added benefit of providing entertainment. 

 

 

Our son still reads books every day, reading books is an essential facet of education, iPads / Tablets do not replace this (for those who apply considerate and careful balance to a child's life).

 

 

1 hour ago, fangless said:

NO. 

At that age it should be instead of it! 

The parents might actually learn something by reading out loud to their kids!

 

I have to ask this question fangless..... Have you ever had children, and if so, was it recently at the time when iPads / Tablets were readily available ?

 

I do believe you are drawing some ill-informed opinions based on the negatives of a minority without actually knowing how valuable these tools [iPads / Tablets] are to the balanced and careful majority. 

 

 

 

 

I think you have all missed the point that the OP is talking about a Tablet for a 3YO NOT about the benefits of Tablets/computers etc in the general Education of older children with which I totally agree.  A Tablet etc is NOT suitable for a 3Yo.

12 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

A lot of people are projecting their own flawed impressions based on flawed assumptions of what others do. 

 

Might be fine for a minority of reasonably well  off  Thais  in BKK but out in the boonies they sit em in front of a screen  all day  long, and they aint looking at Planets

8 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

balanced and careful majority. 

In Thailand ???? many of those  kids in the  villagers  parents didnt even bother with a condom they are that well educated, everywhere here young  girls with a sprog  in tow

13 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

An iPad / Tablet presents a world wide library of information at a childs fingertips, books, Apps, Videos...  a book is just one book.

 

An iPad / Tablet should never replace a book - but as a complimentary educational tool iPad / Tablet are outstanding, they have the added benefit of providing entertainment. 

Totally agree but NOT for 3Yo children.  

14 minutes ago, fangless said:

I think you have all missed the point that the OP is talking about a Tablet for a 3YO NOT about the benefits of Tablets/computers etc in the general Education of older children with which I totally agree.  A Tablet etc is NOT suitable for a 3Yo.

Au contraire, he asked: 

 

"I'm looking to buy a tablet for my 3-year-old son. Looking for something that has decent specs and not too expensive. I see some Chinese brands on Lazada but difficult to tell only looking at a picture. Anyone have any experience."

 

He specifically asked about specs, price and brand, it was others like yourself that started the whole suitability of giving a 3 y/o a smart device.

3 minutes ago, bbko said:

He specifically asked about specs, price and brand,

Correct and the specs I responded with were a "Book"!

52 minutes ago, Rampant Rabbit said:

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

A lot of people are projecting their own flawed impressions based on flawed assumptions of what others do. 

 

Might be fine for a minority of reasonably well  off  Thais  in BKK but out in the boonies they sit em in front of a screen  all day  long, and they aint looking at Planets

 

This is the mistake people are making when projecting this onto ‘every child’ with an iPad / Tablet. 

 

Without responsible parenting pretty much any child is going to suffer with or without an iPad.

They’d otherwise just be placed in-front of the TV or Phone.

 

This does not mean the iPad / Tablet is not an exceptional resource - it just means some parents are absolutely CR@P....  

 

 

 

52 minutes ago, fangless said:

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

An iPad / Tablet presents a world wide library of information at a childs fingertips, books, Apps, Videos...  a book is just one book.

 

An iPad / Tablet should never replace a book - but as a complimentary educational tool iPad / Tablet are outstanding, they have the added benefit of providing entertainment. 

Expand  

Totally agree but NOT for 3Yo children.  

Even at 2 years old the iPad provided useful education for our Son...  nursery rhymes, ABC songs... 

 

Even chilled shows such as ‘In the Night Garden’ and ’TeleTubbies’...  dancing to the Wiggles etc...  All things which compliment parenting and education rather than ‘replacing it’.... 

 

 

 

3 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

some parents

many in Thailand certainly  in rural  areas

3 hours ago, fangless said:

A Tablet etc is NOT suitable for a 3Yo.

Absurd... the child is playing at something that will eventually be of great value... I have seen 4-5 yr olds who deal w/anything on the computer so naturally, - - you might say, as if they were born with it... having facility near effortlessly. 

 

If the child was a piano prodigy and loved to play the piano would you not let them? 

 

Anything a child enjoyes learning at 3 is wonderful. Computers are not such devilish things. 

I got one for my Grandaughter around the same age,  last year, name Chuwai?  cheap and good 6000 baht, the agreement was 1 hour, after two days she got tired of it couldn't sit still my son now has it uses it for work still running no problems.

by the time the kid is 10yrs old he'll be an ace games killer, he'll know every computer game in existence.

oh ,  on the downside, he'll probably be a couch potato, he'll probably be fat and lazy and want a packet of chips.

There is nothing wrong with moving with the times and we do live in an electronic age. However, if you want your child to get the full benefit of 'a virtual tutor' then supplement that with real hands on material. There are plenty of Lego/Meccano kits that help young children with arithmetic, construction, robotics, astronomy etc. These products combine the virtual with the practical and provide the 'play' aspect too. Not only that, these also provide third party involvement, Mum, Dad or a friend which might be difficult using a tablet alone.

On 10/28/2021 at 9:55 PM, DrPhibes said:

I have caught him watching a 45 min video on black holes, the human body,

Can you get Pornhub on a cheap tablet.   LOL  555

On 10/28/2021 at 8:57 PM, steven100 said:

why not buy him a computer with 10 Gig RAM and high speed SSD and all high end .....

 

he will be so happy when he opens it up   !!

 

 

 

 

Probably have more fun with the packaging and box...

On 10/28/2021 at 9:55 PM, DrPhibes said:

Actually, in the guys defense.  I have a 3 yr old that has his own tablet.  He is a self starter and mostly watches video's that teach him something.  At 3 he knows all his ABC's, he can count to 100 by 1's, to 50 by 5's, 100 by 2's, is doing addition and subtraction, understands 10's, 100's, 1000s places, and numerous other things.  I have caught him watching a 45 min video on black holes, the human body, and other factual things with no pushing.  Already reading 3 letter words and understands how many syllables words have.  Kind of crazy, but true.  Maybe he is just an early starter, but the tablet gives him instant access to learning.  He is still a rough and tumble little boy full of energy but when he sits to watch something, he's all in.  So maybe cut the guy some slack.  My son has a Lenovo Tab 10' hand me down with a case (he is still 3) since he was 2.  We use mostly Youtube Kids and some Scratch Garden as well as Number Blocks, Alpha Blocks, and other learning videos on you tube.  Monitoring the content he takes in is important.

Whilst I am sure that it is very important for a three year old to know about the black holes in the universe and the human body, I wonder does he, or is he allowed to tear himself away from the tablet, to play with toys, look at books, draw pictures, ride a bicycle and more importantly play games with other children?

Perhaps following such pursuits might be considered old fashioned in some households but not in my home.

My five year daughter is also very smart and has formal education, but I also want her to enjoy life as a child which as we know passes very quickly.

I certainly don’t want her spending the bulk of her life glued in front of a tablet, which according to a couple of specialist pediatricians I have spoken to  isn’t particularly great for the eyesight.