One of the unfortunate realities of living with children is that they break things. Whether it’s their favourite toy, your grandmother’s prized crockery or even their school laptop, precious items don’t seem to have the lifespan they used to before kids entered the equation.
Breaking a school laptop can really put a spanner in the works, disrupting your child’s education in our digital-first school environments. Don’t worry though, this is not the end of the world. We’ve put this blog together to go through the immediate steps to take after your child breaks their laptop to help you get through this situation as quickly and calmly as possible.
Assess the Damage and Contact the School (if applicable)
The first step is to assess the damage. Is the screen cracked? Is it not turning on because something is wrong or your child has just forgotten to charge it? If the laptop has made contact with the contents of your child’s water bottle, do not turn the laptop on. Power it off, unplug and if possible, remove the battery. Leave the laptop to dry out for at least 24 hours before assessing the damage.
Once you’ve figured out what the problem is, it’s time for the next step. If the laptop was issued by your child’s school, get in contact with their IT department to see if they can help. There may have been insurance or accident coverage taken out on the device on your child’s behalf. Schools understand that accidents happen.
Don’t forget to try to stay calm. Anger doesn’t fix anything but documenting the issue and reaching out to the school or local IT support can help fix the situation.
Understand Responsibility and Potential Costs
So, the laptop is kaput. It is broken, out of commission or simply not functioning. But who is financially responsible? Are you as the parent responsible for repairing or replacing the laptop or is your child? Does the school have some sort of comprehensive device coverage that will handle the issue?
Depending on the issue, the device’s warranty could cover replacement or repairs. If you or the school took out accidental damage protection on the device then it’s time to start looking into how your policy works.
Laptop repair fees vary depending on the make and model of the device however screen repairs or replacements usually cost between €100 and €400 depending on the size of the screen. Depending on the extent of the damage, repairing a keyboard can cost from €50 to €200.
Explore Budget-Friendly Replacement Options
If the laptop is destroyed beyond repair, well unfortunately it is time to start thinking about buying a replacement. We know how much you are dreading this, but it is essential that your child has a laptop for homeschooling so that they can stay up to date with assignments and not fall behind their peers.
The thing about buying your child a new laptop though is that it does not need to be brand new, it just needs to work like new. That’s where a refurbished laptop comes into the picture. A refurbished laptop is a used device that has been restored to factory specifications leaving you with a device that works like its brand new but for a fraction of the price.
Refurbished laptops are incredibly cost effective and can cost a fraction of what the laptop would have cost brand new. They have been professionally refurbished so you can be confident that it will work just as well as a new laptop. And on top of all of that, you can be confident that your purchase is good for the planet as it is keeping useful technology and precious resources out of a landfill.
Choosing the Right Replacement Laptop for Homeschooling
Now that you have decided on a purchasing a laptop for your child, it’s important to consider the features that matter. Was the last laptop dropped? If so, it's worth considering buying a more durable laptop that can withstand heavy usage or at least buy a protective sleeve for your child to store it in.
Battery life is another important consideration. Will your child need to use their laptop in a classroom with limited power sources or take it over to a friend’s house to do schoolwork together? When you’re looking for the best laptop for homeschooling, it’s important to buy something that will suit your child’s needs.
At Wisetek Store, all of our refurbished laptops come with a one-year warranty which you can extend up to three years. This warranty allows you to repair, replace or receive a refund in the unlikely event that you experience any issues with your refurbished laptop.
Prevent Future Breakages
Now that you have your refurbished laptop, there are a couple of practical things you can do to minimise the risk of accidents and avoid a situation like this happening again.
Laptop sleeves are both a practical and fun accessory that protect your child’s laptop while also giving them the opportunity to express themself. Let your child pick out a fun laptop sleeve keeping in mind that the more they like it, the more likely they are to use it.
Every school and household are different, but it is important to have rules for your child and their laptop. Consider implementing tech-free zones or implementing a rule that the laptop can only be used in a certain area of the house. It is also important to talk to your child about digital safety and consider implementing some parental supervisions on the device.
Finally, after this whole debacle, it’s probably a good idea to think about taking out insurance on the device to make sure you’re covered in the future.
Conclusion
Accidents happen and unfortunately, your child’s homeschool laptop is now out of commission. Try not to panic. This isn’t the end of the world. This could actually be a great opportunity for you to teach your child about responsibility.
As we’ve outlined above, there is a solution to this problem. Once you’ve assessed the situation, you’re well on your way to repairing or replacing the laptop and getting your child back on track with their schoolwork. If you’re in need of a cost-effective laptop for homeschooling, explore our range of refurbished laptops designed to support learning.