ipod touch for a 6 year old

It's fine to have differing opinions I have no qualm with that. We do things differently, doesn't mean it's wrong. I just dislike the extreme comments about being outside bla bla bla

When in fact we do many things outdoors, and also have some immensely broad minded and intelligent kids, just because you want to buy them an ipod touch doesn't mean any otherwise.
 
LordSplodge said:
I'm with Mr. Helmet on this. No way would my six year old get an iPod Touch.

Lego, sure. Anything that encourages thought processes and creativity, yes. Whilst children need to be introduced to technology as it is part of their everyday lives as adults I personally think six is too young.

Technology is, in my opinion, making for some lazy parenting nowadays.
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Rubbish again, my niece uses a laptop/ipod touch/iphone but reads her book collection, brings books home from school every weeks, plays outside when the weather is suitable, likes to draw and make things with glue etc.

Just because a child has access to technology doesn't mean they will end up like this

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When I was 6 I got a fridge box to play with, and I made an awesome spaceship out of it. How is it that kids get handheld computers at this age so they can enjoy not interacting with other people at this formative stage in their life?
 
Vonhelmet said:
Got two kids, thanks. One of them is 5 1/2, and she will not be getting an iPod touch for her 6th birthday... or her 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th...

Want me to go on?
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Which is your choice as a parent. However it doesn't make it the only right choice. My daughter loves her touch and she is six in a week. Despite having said device she is still a perfectly normal and well adjusted child that enjoys doing many other things.
 
cheets64 said:
Rubbish again, my niece uses a laptop/ipod touch/iphone but reads her book collection, brings books home from school every weeks, plays outside when the weather is suitable, likes to draw and make things with glue etc.

Just because a child has access to technology doesn't mean they will end up like this
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It's my opinion. I also said that I think children need access to technology for today's adult life really does require the understanding of how to use it. I certainly did not imply that access to technology and gadgets would turn children into World of Warcraft addicts.

It is too easy for parents to sit their children in front of the TV, Games Console, iPod Touch or whatever rather than engage in group learning activities such as building stuff with Lego, reading together or a multitude of other interactive things parents can do with their children.

Like I said if I had to raise another child (iPods didn't exist when my lad was 6) they wouldn't get a mobile phone or iPod touch until such an age that I as the parent thought was appropriate. Peer pressure be damned. That doesn't mean it is wrong for another parent to do so. It's all down to context. An iPod Touch used as a learning resource along with other more socially interactive resources is fine. An iPod Touch used to give the parent some peace so they can slob in front of Eastenders without having to interact with their children is not.
 
Apple did bring out a ipod specifically aimed at kids - the itouch kids but apparrently it wasnt a good product name :eek:
 
ipod touch for a 6 year old, for me it's a no.

I'm not even 20 yet and when I was 6 I would be happy with a box of lego or one of those kinex kits.

It was only when I was in my early teens that I got an MP3 player and even then a cheapy one.

If I ever have kids, I wouldn't let them have anything like an ipod touch till they are in their teens and start to understand the concept of money.
 
jas72 said:
ok i'm into gadgets and have had my touch for a couple of years now.

of course since im out and about with the nipper and have some games installed my son has become adept with the touch as well.

after plaguing us for a nintendo 3DS we have decided to opt for the touch instead due to the price difference in games but not only that there are some really cool learning apps as well.

one of them is teach me which he plays non stop in the car.

I've looking at parental controls on them and I'm quiet pleased to see how apple have already give me quiet a lot of control on how he can use the pod.

I'm 99% sure he'll get one from santa but what's the consensus from the ocuk hoi polloi?

To extravagant? spoiling his childhood? or good idea and educational tool.
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No my 6 yr old has his own (albeit, old and cheapo) laptop with his own email address and digital camera. I think its great. He tries to email his grandparents pics of himself. He also plays the disney games online, plus the occasional age of empires game against me. I was tempted to give him my old iPhone 4, when i upgraded to the 4S, since he's always on mine.. But needed the money more, so sold it.

He also has his own PS3, 360 & wii, DS and PSP and a 40" LCD in his own room.

I'd love to get him his own iPad2 but just really justify the cost at the moment.

It's also the same case for his 5yr old younger brother.

I guess I have spoiled the little tikes too much with technology, however it amazes me how good they are with it all. They are very good at the games and know all the nook and crannies to any of the games they play.

My biggest worry is them dropping the iPhone.. I insist they only play either in the car or while they're on carpet.

I say do it, but make sure you get a decent case.

And I just want to add both are normal kids who only play with games and technology as part of their recreation. They do their homework, play at the park, on their bikes/scooters and at the pool. The missus only lets them play for a certain time and they are in bed by 8pm every night.

Personally I think they're lucky gits for having access to all this cool tech at such a young age.. At 10 i was given a calculator and i was wow !!!!
 
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Nothing wrong with this, my 5 year old Neice had an iPad and I'll be getting my son up to speed with gadgets as soon as possible.

It gives children a massive head start on those not using them.
 
Value of money is important though I think as well. I do agree. Which is why I give them pocket money if they do certain things, without being asked. Prompting doesnt count. They make their beds and tidy their rooms (even the 3yr old) and fold up their clothes when done with them. If they do that they will get pocket money.

Then, if they see something in the shop they do the whole "can I have it?!" routine I just get them to pay for half of it, if they have enough in their pocket money. If they don't, they can't get it and will need to come back once they've saved enough.
 
thedoc46 said:
No my 6 yr old has his own (albeit, old and cheapo) laptop with his own email address and digital camera. He also has his own PS3, 360 & wii, DS and PSP and a 40" LCD in his own room.
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You do realise that he will 100% become an alcoholic fat chav smoker and breaking into peoples houses?
Will somebody think of the children.
 
thedoc46 said:
No my 6 yr old has his own

He also has his own PS3, 360 & wii, DS and PSP and a 40" LCD in his own room.
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Now that is excessive, why does a 6 year old need 5 games devices, one portable and one console will do, I had all sorts of consoles but never more than one at a time, part of school life was the fanboys wars, people that had a Nintendo vs Sega people, :D

Plus you have spent close to £1000 one a tv and games for a 6 year old. mind = blown
 
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RDM said:
Which is your choice as a parent. However it doesn't make it the only right choice. My daughter loves her touch and she is six in a week. Despite having said device she is still a perfectly normal and well adjusted child that enjoys doing many other things.
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To be honest, I'm not arguing with you. I'm arguing with people saying "OMG anyone who says a 6 year old shouldn't have an iPod doesn't have kids! Kids are so demanding and need constant distraction! I can only get them to shut up by buying them expensive electronic items!"
 
I would have been happy with Ker-Plunk as a 6 year old, that and MASK action figures/vehicles.

IMO 6 years old is a bit early for something like that, however on the flip side it can teach them early on to respect and look after things they own, and that if they lose/damage it then they're not getting another one :)
 
My 4 year old and 7 year old boh have iPod touches which they largely use on long car journeys for watching movies, playing games and listening to music. We also have a 3ds which they are pretty much uninterested in. As a parent it's quite easy to restrict the amount of time they use these, no different to restricting the amount of TV and when the weather is good both prefer playing outside
 
Times have changed fellas.. Both my kids were zooming around in their own powerwheels cars at 2.. They chucked it into gear and off they went around the cul-de-sac racing each other. Could you imagine how much of a dream toy that would have been for you as a kid? To them its the norm. Then (providing I'm home) they'll go inside and play their 'next gen' consoles, once again the norm.

As mentioned above, yes my kids have all the tech toys that they could ever want (well apart from a couple of iPads) But they also equally love their lego, star wars figures, matchbox cars, and board games the same as I did as a kid.. I didn't have a games console until maybe 10-11 and that was an Atari 2600, pretty crap by todays standards.

Perhaps they have more tech than the average kid, but that's cos their old man is a gadget / tech fiend. So it was only natural for them to follow suite.

Neither are fat nor lazy, and actually I'd challenge any parent to who claims to have a more physically active pair than mine.. Their mother is stay at home, and while I'm not there, there's no TV or consoles and these boys spend hrs out and about. When I get in we all go out again for 1/2 stroll or play outside.

The only thing I regret is it being the norm... I so remember how excited i was to get the Atari or my first ever computer. I was older and it was a really big deal.. for them, they've had them before they even knew it. So missed out on the want.
 
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