How young is too young for an iDevice?

[mantan]

Our school district is currently beta testing the Bring Your own Device concept at various schools and are rumored to open it to all schools next year. They have test schools for fourth grade and above. This would equate to 8-9 year olds and older.

Both my kids have been surrounded by computers and tech gadgets since they were infants. They have always got my hand-me-downs. Therefore, they probably had things since they were at least 5 and were consider "theirs."

Today, my boys are 10 and 12. They each have an iPhone, iPad, and laptop (not Apple). They use each items for both school and play.

My 12 year old is in middle school and there is an iPhone app that his Language Arts (LA) teacher uses where she uploads test questions and the kids can use it to study (quizlet maybe). Also, both his math and LA teachers send out reminders about homework assignments and other class notes via text messaging. He is also starting to have to do research papers. I have seen him multiple times with his laptop open and he is typing away, his iPad is open with the research information, and his iPhone open with dictionary.com or something similar.

My younger son uses his iPad mostly for reading, his laptop for occasional writing, and his phone for mostly gaming right now.

They will both be in middle school next year, so they will both have similar needs for their devices. My older son would love a MacBook Air for his birthday in July. Not sure if that will happen.

I guess what I am saying is that education is pushing kids towards technology. I have personally done a research paper on the iPad and their use in the Special Education learning environment. They are amazing, especially when paired with a student who will benefit from that type of learning experience.

Same thing here. Our school district has been 'bring your own device' for a couple of years. This year they provided iPads to 10th and 7th graders as a test. Next year, each student in all grades will get an iPad to keep for each year. (Parents pay a subidized fee and can also get insurance for the device) It has a school proxy on it to limit what it can access on the net and all kids/parents are liable for keeping it within school policy. (Also there are strict rules against modifying your device to try to work around the district security apps.) Kids can load any apps they want as long as it complies with school policy.

Teachers send class updates through an app or text information to kids.

Kids can also opt to use their own device as long as they sign a form to comply with school policy. My 10th grade daughter wanted to keep her Mini - since already had all her other apps and didn't want to carry multiple devices.

It's pretty savvy by Apple. All these kids are growing up thinking they should have an Apple product....

However, they are losing a bit of ground to Google Docs. A lot of my son's middle school work is done on Google Docs. He collaborates with classmates on group projects, and writes/submits paperwork on the Google email account created through the school system.

 

[attrep2006]

I sell to parents who hand over iPhones to toddlers and iPads for infants. I also work in Del Mar, CA though..

 

[Tom G.]

In the womb is too young.