Laptop for 5 year old and possibly me

[Gooose]

Just and quick one really, my daughter has asked for a laptop after always trying to use my work one, if she’s showing interest then I’d like to get her one, even if it get her started in the computer world, helps her type and spell but also possible things like kids coding etc.

I did think about a MacBook because I could also use it when needed but I don’t think they use these in her school and just use windows stuff and iPads, so I’m a bit unsure. Has anyone bought their young kids anything decent?

Am I daft for thinking about coding for young kids and stuff, I’m sure there must be games and stuff out there to get them started.

I just think it’s how the world is going now and it’s better for her to be completely computer literate as soon as possible.

What do you guys think?

[alorotom]

My haughtiest took my iPad mini 2 when she was 2 and then my full size when she was about 4 (now nearly 7)

She loved my MBA and when I upgraded it to a 2020 imac she started using it but then the apps she wanted weren’t compatible due to its age (it was a 2009)

She now uses the iMac for school stuff along with her iPad and the school use a mix of Apple and Windows hardware

The only issue was that she didn’t like the Mighty Mouse so I bought her an RGB traditional/lazer mouse and she doesn’t like the 2 monitor setup I use for work so I disable the second when she is using it.

[Gooose]

I tempted to wait until the m2 MacBooks come out and drop the coin on one. I remember when I was in school / college and my parents never bought a computer, it proper put me back as I was probably the only one writing my coursework up by hand because I couldn’t type for sh&t. It was quite embarrassing. I really don’t want any hold ups for her, although I can see her just using the iPad because it’s so easy!

How are the windows apps on the MacBook these days, even a few years ago it was a pain!

[eltawater]

Have a chat with the school to see which websites and resources they are planning to use and follow their lead.

Our children's primary school has mostly pointed them at web based educational learning (Purple Mash, Times Table Rockstars etc) which work best on Windows, Mac and Chromebooks. They seem to have issues on smaller tablets (Amazon fire 7 etc) where the screen resolution and rotation detection tends to be a bit flaky.

I bought my 5 and 7 year old some HP Chromebooks with touchscreens during lockdown education and these worked really well with what the school were sending home to them. The more recent chromebooks are compatible with google play store so you get access to most of the normal apps you'd see like ScratchJr which they also use in class for early coding education. Being Chromebooks, I don't have to worry as much about profile losses and malware etc, they can log into any of the chromebooks and it's all synced across. Another neat feature is that they are USB-C charged, so I've connected them with magnetic USB connectors to avoid cable breaks....

[Craikeybaby]

My 5 year old gets hand-me-down iPads, as there is a lot of kid focussed content avaialble. Things like Ceebeebies is just a click on a familiar icon etc and there are good parental controls.

[mike9009]

Most school stuff seems to be based around Google as it is more accessible to more kids. However our two kids are a little older than yours (8 and 11) and have naturally migrated to Windows laptops from Amazon Fires (didn't trust them with the iPads initially), then iPads (which they couldn't home school on) to Windows laptops, which now seem to be the devices of choice.

They used them for all sorts from BBC Bitesize, Google classroom, video calling their mates to the dreaded Roblox.

They seem to migrate and learn each OS seamlessly, so I would not worry about what you choose too much, but just be concerned that you won't be able to use the device when you want.

[Murph7355]

Talk to school about what they use.

As others have noted, ours uses Google a lot. They use Chromebooks in school and have school Google accounts. So it was a no brainer.

We got ours just ahead of the first lockdown. Youngest was 4, eldest 7.

They have a number of advantages IMO

• 100% familiar with what they use at school
• Cheap (no way I would bother with a Macbook at this age)
• The ones we bought were 2 in 1 devices, so can be used as a laptop or tablet style device (kids *very* much appreciate touchscreens IME)
• The ones we bought were also slightly ruggedised - can withstand liquid spills on the keyboard and being dropped from desk height)

We also use ours as travel devices (video players etc in the car). We've set up their own personal accounts for this and manage these via Google Family. IMO Google Family isn't as flexible as it could/should be, but it works OK for parental controls. They run both their personal and school accounts on the device (even the youngest is adept at switching between them and knowing what each is for).

[Gooose]

Thanks for all the replies! I’ll have a chat with the school, I’ll have a look at chrome books in the mean time and see which’s ones are good for kids!