Is buying a computer for a 13 year old for Christmas wrong?

Answer 1

Would this be a seperate computer for the child? If so, I would not buy the child a computer, unless the parents are using the computer so often that their child cannot get his/her homework, research, typing, fun activities done.

My daughter is on the computer as often as she can be sometimes, and she is 9. I monitor the sites that she is on, make sure that she is chatting in age appropriate, well monitored sites (Neopets is one), the computer is in a communal area so my husband and I can see what sites she is on and I pop-monitor some of the chat rooms that she goes into by reading what is going on.

She loves to go onto the computer and I think that it helps with her typing skills, along with teaching her some things about computer programming, different software programs, and communicating through type written messages, letters, etc. It is also a creative outlet because she designs banners and stuff in Paint that she uses on her Neopets website.

And, even though she has all of this time to do stuff on the computer, my husband and I do not want her to have her own computer, to put a computer for her in a different room, or to allow her to use the computer entirely too much. Kids need to talk, to see friends, to play outside, to do things in reality too... Their internet activity needs to be monitored, time limits need to be set, parents need to make sure that their children are aware of the dangers online and are not giving out personal data, and parents should protect their children from internet predators.

Answer 2

Most students are required to have computers. I cant remember the last time a teacher accepted a paper that was hand written. I think it is good for educational purposes and word processing.

The Internet can be a good place for learning, but anyone can put up a website. I think a computer for a 13 year old is bad if they do not know how to interpret good info from bad and if they are on it enough to take away from their personal life (the Internet tends to be addicting, especially for the age group where their friends are all on myspace or chatting, etc...)

I think with the proper instruction and education about the Internet and chatting, a computer is a wonderful and useful gift for a 13 year old.

Answer 3

No, 13 is old enough to responsibly use the computer. As the parent you still need to provide appropriate supervision.

Answer 4

No, you just need to make sure that you trust this kid a whole lot before you give it to them. Get a good parental lock system but always be aware that there are ways around things like parental locks, so, be sure this kid is mature enough to handle a world of information at the tips of his/her fingers. And wise enough to steer clear of things that will get them into trouble.

Answer 5

No, but you need to have site restrictions and make sure that she understands both the good-and the bad-things of having a computer. Talk to her about myspace, chat rooms, and things like that, make sure that someone is always in the room when she is online.

Answer 6

No my daughter got hers for her 10th b-day. She gets good grades and is a good kid, respectful, and considerate ( I'm sooo lucky) so I don't think there's anything wrong with it. Just make sure you do all the parental blocking because you don't want nasty stuff popping up on the screen

Answer 7

Well that your decision but as for me and if i had a child that age i would say no not until you are 18 and gone to college. To much junk on here so you should monitor what they are viewing.

Answer 8

i think its all on what they want it for and i think its a must for you to have a lot of guidelines cause as safe as we like to think are kids are on the net its not a safe place at all

Answer 9

no not really. it depends on the reason why and if you think he is responsible enough to own one. it's nothing evil but you know you're kid so you have to make that judgement.

Answer 10

no but dont let them go to the bad stuff restrict them from x rated stuff