9 year old and itouch?

mrapbp · 10-10-2009, 8:37 AM

My 9 year old has asked for an itouch for his birthday next month.

Not sure if he is too young or not?

Thoughts?

Its was either that or a mobile phone and this feels like the safer option!!

**zAndy1** · 10-10-2009, 9:10 AM

I'm in 2 minds about whether to get my 13yr old daughter a touch for Xmas, she's always leaving her mobile phone lying around and dropping it etc. I can't really trust her not to lose it or damage it. I think 9 is too young for a touch really to be honest

cas398 · 10-10-2009, 9:14 AM

I wouldn't say a 9 year old needs either to be honest, compromise with a nice mp3 player or something similar.

mrapbp · 10-10-2009, 2:00 PM

I wouldnt consider a mobile phone but I had decided to get him a Ipod Nano and then he saw my itouch and really liked it.

The thought is that it will be future proof and can do a lot more than the Nano (games etc) for not that much more.

Still think he would probably kill it though!

cas398 · 10-10-2009, 2:07 PM

Yeah it's only future proof is he/she still has it and has treated it well 6 months down the line, I guess you know your kid better than us though.

Personally I'd just tell him to get something different and get him a nice Sansa MP3 player, or even a Dingoo for videos, much cheaper and he can get something else.

majnu · 10-10-2009, 4:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrapbp

My 9 year old has asked for an itouch for his birthday next month.

Not sure if he is too young or not?

Thoughts?

Its was either that or a mobile phone and this feels like the safer option!!

I wouldn't get either. Instead I would buy something to aid his education or sporting hobbies and interests. Buy a nice cycle instead or a ticket to see his favourite football team and get good seats so your upfront were the action is. (More memorable in my opinion)

mjn · 10-10-2009, 6:17 PM

I wouldn't buy a 9 year old either of them i'm afraid!

IanW · 10-10-2009, 6:33 PM

My 3 year old daughter plays with our touch. She has been brought up to be very respectful and careful with technology. She has her own Nintendo DS and takes very good care of it.

Ian.

Razor · 10-10-2009, 6:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrapbp

Still think he would probably kill it though!

Get some insurance out if you think it might get broken. It shouldn't be that expensive.

ozthecoz · 10-10-2009, 7:15 PM

slightly different, but i got my (then) 5 yr old an ipod nano as he loved music.

He has always looked after it and i believe if you teach them to respect stuff and the value of money you should be ok

Dony · 10-10-2009, 7:23 PM

I'd have no fears of my 8 yr old understanding the value, and being careful with something like this, but my fear is what will he ask for next year, and the year after.....

Personally I think an itouch is something for a teenager and not a young child.

eric pisch · 10-10-2009, 10:46 PM

technologically a 9 yo should totally be on it

i was playing chess at 8 and coding on my zx81 at 9-10 (damn who remembers there early teens spending all weekend typing in pages of code from a magazine only to find one of the last lines was smudged lol)

the value of the item on the other hand is a different matter, i had one of the first digital watches at my school (red led casio) and within a week i had taken it to bits and reassembled it.

i guess there's a balance between exposing them to as much technology as soon as possible so that they learn from it and turning them into a potential spoilt paris hilton wannabe

mrapbp · 11-10-2009, 7:44 AM

I think I will compromise and go for a Nano, still does the job but less complicated and expensive!

KhalJimbo · 11-10-2009, 7:52 AM

My 4 year old nephew can use an iTouch almost as well as most people, ok he needs someone to download all the games on it, but he can play all the car games, he's finished catch a mouse, loved playing bejeweled and that waterslide game. haha it quite to funny to notice that your iPhone is missing then you find it with some kid in the corner of the room playing catch a mouse lol

tvbox · 11-10-2009, 11:22 AM

What the hell is an Itouch?

iphone or ipod touch?

mrapbp · 11-10-2009, 11:26 AM

Brilliant, thanks for that!

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvbox

What the hell is an Itouch?

iphone or ipod touch?

tvbox · 11-10-2009, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrapbp

Brilliant, thanks for that!

What?
I was asking a question???

The iphone is essentially the same as the ipodtouch, but it can make calls and go on the internet anywhere, the ipodtouch, you have to be in a hotspot

I would go for the nano anyway, it shoots video

and is more kiddy freindly rather than the iphone

ROBIN50N · 11-10-2009, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvbox

What?
I was asking a question???

well your the only one who couldnt work it out. wheres the touch part in the word iphone?.

cas398 · 11-10-2009, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvbox

What the hell is an Itouch?

iphone or ipod touch?

What one would you put your money on?

tvbox · 11-10-2009, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cas398

What one would you put your money on?

iphone

ROBIN50N · 11-10-2009, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvbox

iphone

why even bother

FZR400RRSP · 11-10-2009, 2:35 PM

Our eldest has been using itouchs since she was 3.
I've often downloaded movies/tv programmes onto it for her to watch in the car.
Save me wiring up the damn DVD player thing we bought, which is an utter pain in the backside.
She's been playing with mobile phones since then as well.
I say playing with them, she's actually been using them, albeit only phoning one of three people we've left programmed in whatever old phone she's using.
She's had a Nano since she was 5 too.
I'm amazed a 9YO doesn't already have an ipod of some kind, these days.

sniffer66 · 11-10-2009, 3:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eric pisch

technologically a 9 yo should totally be on it

i was playing chess at 8 and coding on my zx81 at 9-10 (damn who remembers there early teens spending all weekend typing in pages of code from a magazine only to find one of the last lines was smudged lol)

the value of the item on the other hand is a different matter, i had one of the first digital watches at my school (red led casio) and within a week i had taken it to bits and reassembled it.

i guess there's a balance between exposing them to as much technology as soon as possible so that they learn from it and turning them into a potential spoilt paris hilton wannabe

I WAS that 1k chess nerd lol

FZR400RRSP · 11-10-2009, 3:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvbox

What the hell is an Itouch?

iphone or ipod touch?

I just call mine my 'touch'
Itouch is also perfectly normal parlance.
Anyone saying 'ipod touch' runs the risk of sounding like Penny Smith trying to talk to a young person.

She being the queen of those slightly mad, childless women/aunties of a certain age.
You know, the ones who seek solice in cats.

**Steven** · 11-10-2009, 3:52 PM

Re: point made previously

It's not a question of whether he will be able to use it - anyone born this side of the millennium undoubtedly will get to grips very quickly with any gadget given the chance

It's a question of whether a 9 year old will lose, drop and/or break the item. I am inclined to say yes a 9 year old will. I would not by it unless you the parent are prepared for it to be a disposable purchase

FZR400RRSP · 11-10-2009, 3:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LFC_SL

It's a question of whether a 9 year old will lose, drop and/or break the item. I am inclined to say yes a 9 year old will. I would not by it unless you the parent are prepared for it to be a disposable purchase

I would say that's a bit out of touch with kids, to be honest.
Our 6 year old is very careful with her 'gadgets', because we've drummed it into her to be careful.
A 9 year old will be naturally more aware of the need to be careful anyway, and will definitely understand if you tell them "you break it, you don't get another one".

mrapbp · 11-10-2009, 4:03 PM

That was exactly the point, there is NO doubt he can drive one. My house is a very gadget friendly house to say the least.

Just not sure if it is too much for a 9 year old and its a lot of money to spend if he kills it/loses it etc. He is pretty good on the whole but he is still a 9 year old boy!

My instinct is to get them involved in as much tech as early as possible because it can only help later in life and I am a gadget freak

Quote:

Originally Posted by LFC_SL

Re: point made previously

It's not a question of whether he will be able to use it - anyone born this side of the millennium undoubtedly will get to grips very quickly with any gadget given the chance

It's a question of whether a 9 year old will lose, drop and/or break the item. I am inclined to say yes a 9 year old will. I would not by it unless you the parent are prepared for it to be a disposable purchase

bigkingy · 11-10-2009, 4:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FZR400RRSP

I would say that's a bit out of touch with kids, to be honest.
Our 6 year old is very careful with her 'gadgets', because we've drummed it into her to be careful.
A 9 year old will be naturally more aware of the need to be careful anyway, and will definitely understand if you tell them "you break it, you don't get another one".

On the other hand, my wife and I handed our old mobiles down to two of our three kids, age 9 and 11,(after a lot of nagging) and neither are working now.

Just glad we didnt buy them expensive mobiles!

tvbox · 11-10-2009, 4:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FZR400RRSP

I would say that's a bit out of touch with kids, to be honest.
Our 6 year old is very careful with her 'gadgets', because we've drummed it into her to be careful.
A 9 year old will be naturally more aware of the need to be careful anyway, and will definitely understand if you tell them "you break it, you don't get another one".

I think he'd be better off with something cheap but still good like a Nano or even Shuffle

FZR400RRSP · 11-10-2009, 5:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigkingy

On the other hand, my wife and I handed our old mobiles down to two of our three kids, age 9 and 11,(after a lot of nagging) and neither are working now.

Just glad we didnt buy them expensive mobiles!

There are several possible explanations here though.
Either your kids haven't been taught to respect property, or perhaps they don't care as much about hand-me-down stuff.
Perhaps if they were given something new, they'd respect it more?
Who knows.