ipod touch for kids?

[Anonymous]

Why, oh why.

Get them a Nano where they can listen to music. Kids don't need more screen time!!!

[Anonymous]

No, though I did get my elementary school aged DD an MP3 player with a camera. This way she can listen to music and take pictures but she won't have too much screen time..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For all the anti-screen time people, those of us who embrace and encourage the use of technology are actually going to have children more advanced and prepared than yours who have only played with fair trade wooden blocks and pieces of cloth. Our kids will be prepared for the integration of new technologies into their schoolrooms and workplaces. Additionally, all of the kids who are avid gamers are preparing for their surgical residencies and flight school. Why? Surgeons and pilots need excellent hand eye coordination. You develop that skill with video games (small precise movements) and sports (large muscle groups and stamina). My kid is getting some variety of ipod/itouch and we are leaving the organic banana leaves at the store for you to buy for your kid to play with this year.

Too funny. Knowing how to play video games does not mean you know anything about "technology" -- how to build computers, design software -- all of the stuff that might actually be useful in the workplace. I know how to drive a car, but I don't understand the first thing about how it works. And sorry, but I think surgeons and pilots need to have more than hand-eye coordination. How about wisdom, judgment, self-discipline? How about being able to read, analyze, and synthesize information of a complex nature? Video games fall a wee bit short in teaching those life skills. My teenager, who plays Xbox-Live (to my chagrin) said something funny just the other day. He said, "Mom, you wouldn't believe how stupid the other kids sound on Xbox Live. If that's my competition, I'm going to waltz right into Oxford." I regretfully broke the news to him that the kids headed for Oxford (and other fine schools) are not even ON the Xbox. They're too busy with school work and myriad interesting activities. Okay, I know there are exceptions, and some kids only play once in awhile, but for many kids that's their only form of recreation. To the OP -- it's going to be way harder to help your little ones develop other interests (music, sports, reading, writing, nature) if they have the "easy" form of entertainment literally at their fingertips. If you can teach them moderation, great -- but that is a constant battle at my house now that my children are older.

Just my two cents!

[Anonymous]

Perhaps my situation is a bit different. Or maybe I'll be flamed for it...who knows? My DS is 6 and ASD. He can speak but cannot speak his mind. The reason he is getting an iPod Touch for Christmas is because there are apps out there to help ASD kids learn language and communicate better. A friend of mine has a non-verbal 8YO ASD DD...she has her own iPad. On it is an application that her daughter uses to communicate her wants and needs. My son picked this up at their house, was fiddling around with it, and out of nowhere I heard the iPad say "I have to go to the bathroom". My DS had a huge smile on his face, pressed the button again to hear what it said, then repeated the entire sentence perfectly, then proceeded to run to the bathroom and follow through with what he had just said. It was a beautiful moment for me to witness, as well as my friend with the non-verbal child. This is why I am getting my son an iPod Touch. The more language I can expose my DS to, the better!!

[Anonymous]

I am concerned about the size of the screen. That can't be good for the eyes.

[Anonymous]

Do you really think that if our parents had bought for us the best typewriter that that would lead to us being great novelists?

The best novelists are probably the ones that read books, observed the natural world, and were astute chroniclers of human interaction--not the ones who mastered typewriting.

[Anonymous]

I also know that sugar is not good for my kids but that doesnt mean that I don't buy cookies and give one to my child once in a while. Moderation! It's not easy, but nothing about parenting is.

[Anonymous]

So you're saying giving a 5 year old an itouch is an example of moderation, as long you limit the screen time?

[Anonymous]

I think that some of the PPs are quick to assume that the iPod will just be used for video games. That is not why I am buying it this Christmas. I am buying it for the educational apps. To me it is more important about what the content is that my DC will be accessing with the iPod, as well as monitoring his screen time. Sure I do not want him glued to the thing 24/7; however, while we are shuttling another sibling to school in the car I don't see a big deal.

For the dissenters, your argument would similiarly be that I should never let my child on the computer becausse of the screen time. My DC access reading websites like starfall.com and raz-kids.com for school - sometimes even assigned as homework.

If there watching a short video about the phonics/grammar rules or playing kids sudoku, while we are driving in the car, then I am all for it. I agree with the everything in moderation approach and to monitor the content of what you put on the thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think that some of the PPs are quick to assume that the iPod will just be used for video games. That is not why I am buying it this Christmas. I am buying it for the educational apps. To me it is more important about what the content is that my DC will be accessing with the iPod, as well as monitoring his screen time. Sure I do not want him glued to the thing 24/7; however, while we are shuttling another sibling to school in the car I don't see a big deal.

For the dissenters, your argument would similiarly be that I should never let my child on the computer becausse of the screen time. My DC access reading websites like starfall.com and raz-kids.com for school - sometimes even assigned as homework.

If there watching a short video about the phonics/grammar rules or playing kids sudoku, while we are driving in the car, then I am all for it. I agree with the everything in moderation approach and to monitor the content of what you put on the thing.

Still sounds completely unnecessary. I wouldn't purchase an expensive gadget so my child could play some learning games. You could purchase many more educational items with that $300. You are just trying to justify. Whatever, you are going to do whatever you want. I am not so sure why you asked because it doesn't seem like you care too much for the opinions that differ from your own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think that some of the PPs are quick to assume that the iPod will just be used for video games. That is not why I am buying it this Christmas. I am buying it for the educational apps. To me it is more important about what the content is that my DC will be accessing with the iPod, as well as monitoring his screen time. Sure I do not want him glued to the thing 24/7; however, while we are shuttling another sibling to school in the car I don't see a big deal.

For the dissenters, your argument would similiarly be that I should never let my child on the computer becausse of the screen time. My DC access reading websites like starfall.com and raz-kids.com for school - sometimes even assigned as homework.

If there watching a short video about the phonics/grammar rules or playing kids sudoku, while we are driving in the car, then I am all for it. I agree with the everything in moderation approach and to monitor the content of what you put on the thing.

Re: Grammar rules. How's about making that "If they're watching..." (Sorry, but when you're trying to justify using the iPod because it teaches grammar, I can't help myself.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think that some of the PPs are quick to assume that the iPod will just be used for video games. That is not why I am buying it this Christmas. I am buying it for the educational apps. To me it is more important about what the content is that my DC will be accessing with the iPod, as well as monitoring his screen time. Sure I do not want him glued to the thing 24/7; however, while we are shuttling another sibling to school in the car I don't see a big deal.

For the dissenters, your argument would similiarly be that I should never let my child on the computer becausse of the screen time. My DC access reading websites like starfall.com and raz-kids.com for school - sometimes even assigned as homework.

If there watching a short video about the phonics/grammar rules or playing kids sudoku, while we are driving in the car, then I am all for it. I agree with the everything in moderation approach and to monitor the content of what you put on the thing.

they're and kids'

grammar police aside, there are other ways to learn how to read and write--like reading real books and writing stories.

[Anonymous]

I let my kid play with my iphone all the time (not necessarily for that long at any one time, but it's to the point where he complains if his screen time is on the computer instead). I do think it's harder to limit time on a device that you've given as a gift, but for me this is all about whether it's an appropriate gift for a young child-- in the sense that it is fairly expensive piece of technology. I'm also not sure why two youngish kids in one family couldn't share one, especially if you are going to limit screen time anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another voice of dissent: You are setting your kids up to be disappointed in life when they get their first job and they can't afford to buy the newest gadget. If you get an ipod touch at 3; what do you get at 12? Your very own Apple store?

You are also setting them up to be screen watching drones which probably won't help with getting the first job because they won't be as intelligent as the kid they made fun of in school because their parents didn't allow TV or toys with batteries.

But who cares about all that. It's fun and we gotta stay cool!

Are you kidding me? Are you really trying to suggest that my kids are going to be less smart than...say...yours b/c I bought them iTouches? And that they are making fun of kids in school who don't allow TV or toys with batteries??

I am perfectly fine with parents who choose not to buy such things, but I think you are just plain ridiculous if you think that your kids - who don't have these things - are automatically going to be smarter and nicer people. And if they are learning their behavior from you, they seem likely to be judgmental and obnoxious...

[Anonymous]

As I read this thread I can't help but think that posters on both sides are being pretty extremists. I'm the one whose (admittedly young) boys have iTouches.

I don't think that having an iTouch makes them smarter or more technologically advanced than their peers. But I also don't think it makes them less smart either. Why? Because I limit its use just like I do the TV and computer and video games. In short, it replaces one of those other medians, it is not additional screen time.

If you embrace it as such, I don't see the problem with it.