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iPod touch Is a 9yo to young for an ipod touch???
- Thread starter shawhoops
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It's great that you're going with an iPod touch for your son. =)
Best wishes to him as well.
But remember, after purchasing it, do your son and yourself a favor by directing yourself to the Parental Controls/Restrictions on the iPod touch.
Also!, keep in mind that a lot of youth are starting to lose their hearing because of their habits of putting their headphone volumes to the loudest.
Do a huuuge favor for your son and yourself by having a Volume Limit and set a password to it.
Hope it all goes well with it! =]
.angel
Best wishes to him as well.
But remember, after purchasing it, do your son and yourself a favor by directing yourself to the Parental Controls/Restrictions on the iPod touch.
Also!, keep in mind that a lot of youth are starting to lose their hearing because of their habits of putting their headphone volumes to the loudest.
Do a huuuge favor for your son and yourself by having a Volume Limit and set a password to it.
Hope it all goes well with it! =]
.angel
No kid that is 9 NEEDS a phone. Maybe when their 16, but then it would be one of those little ugly verizon phones with the tracking thing built in.
You obviously misread the title, and are giving a reply in the wrong forum section. lol
We're talking an iPod touch here, not an iPhone.
Personally i think its a great age to have an ipod touch actually, just buy a protective case with it or frequent drops will be imminent and will surely break it .
Even though I see you decided not to get it for him just yet -
I got my first iPod when I was 10, almost 11. Of course this was a 4G iPod Classic, so no internet or apps or even videos/photo's, so not exactly the same thing...but anyway, I was definitely grateful for it. Looking back though, I don't think I was old enough for it. It was constantly dropped and abused. Granted, I'm a very clumsy person with severe hand-eye coordination issues and terrible balance, but most kids that age don't seem to be very careful with expensive and fragile objects regardless.
My point is, if the nano is doing him good, well, I think it should be enough for now. A Touch maybe when he's 11 or 12 would be my advice. But you know your son better then any of us, so it's up to you if you think he's responsible enough for it.
I got my first iPod when I was 10, almost 11. Of course this was a 4G iPod Classic, so no internet or apps or even videos/photo's, so not exactly the same thing...but anyway, I was definitely grateful for it. Looking back though, I don't think I was old enough for it. It was constantly dropped and abused. Granted, I'm a very clumsy person with severe hand-eye coordination issues and terrible balance, but most kids that age don't seem to be very careful with expensive and fragile objects regardless.
My point is, if the nano is doing him good, well, I think it should be enough for now. A Touch maybe when he's 11 or 12 would be my advice. But you know your son better then any of us, so it's up to you if you think he's responsible enough for it.
whats wrong with kids and tech? using a computer bettter then most people at 2.5. build my first PC in 3rd grade.
go ahead and get it for him. im sure he knows...urrrr...will learn it is his responsibility to take care of it.
go ahead and get it for him. im sure he knows...urrrr...will learn it is his responsibility to take care of it.
Ipod Touch for a 9 year Old
I've have two boys aged 9 and 12. Both kids earned excellent report cards at the end of this past school year. So my older son got a 13" MBP and the 9 year old got a Touch. So far, it's been a good call on both fronts and I have no regrets. Mind you as a parent, times have changed significantly. I had to learn multi-tasking but the boys are hardwired for it. Additionally the mere mention of withholding access to tech/gaming/communication tools is a VERY effective means of gaining immediate compliance or adjusting a bad attitude.
This summer our family has had to spent most of the summer in Florida handing matters of estate. It has not been all fun and games. But being able to text, email or Skype their friends hs helped. Both boys have also been active in raising and training a puppy we got last fall. Taking pictures, editing video, doing internet research on behalf of Mom or Dad have all been things that they doing in earnest and gaining skill in. Written and verbal communication improves as well. For what it's worth, the 9 year old has learned to sync his touch with the MBP & transfer photos and some music.
All apps from the App Store must be approved by me and are downloaded by as well through my account. I'm not allowing multiple accounts as of yet. This situation works fine for now.
So if your child seems mature enough, wants it badly and you think it doable; I'd give it a shot. Better to make them stretch than hold them back...at least most of the time ; - )
I've have two boys aged 9 and 12. Both kids earned excellent report cards at the end of this past school year. So my older son got a 13" MBP and the 9 year old got a Touch. So far, it's been a good call on both fronts and I have no regrets. Mind you as a parent, times have changed significantly. I had to learn multi-tasking but the boys are hardwired for it. Additionally the mere mention of withholding access to tech/gaming/communication tools is a VERY effective means of gaining immediate compliance or adjusting a bad attitude.
This summer our family has had to spent most of the summer in Florida handing matters of estate. It has not been all fun and games. But being able to text, email or Skype their friends hs helped. Both boys have also been active in raising and training a puppy we got last fall. Taking pictures, editing video, doing internet research on behalf of Mom or Dad have all been things that they doing in earnest and gaining skill in. Written and verbal communication improves as well. For what it's worth, the 9 year old has learned to sync his touch with the MBP & transfer photos and some music.
All apps from the App Store must be approved by me and are downloaded by as well through my account. I'm not allowing multiple accounts as of yet. This situation works fine for now.
So if your child seems mature enough, wants it badly and you think it doable; I'd give it a shot. Better to make them stretch than hold them back...at least most of the time ; - )
Yup. I can't believe no one has mentioned this side of the story yet. Set parental controls and monitor his usage. Get him a case as well. Although, if I were you, I would let him stay with the shuffle since he's already removed himself from the world enough listening to music all day.
It is all up to u to decide if your son is ready because u know him the best, but i personally think a 9 years old kid is a little bit too young. at least buy a iPod case and some screen pretectors than the iPod will be fine.
Its good to get the child into music young, theres no harm with it...its just a different era of passing along of music.
if its a concern about anything else just buy a vinyl record player and get some records
make sure you disable wifi and there arent any open networks they can join specifically if you cant monitor internet usage.
but realistically its no really no better or worse than other electronic devices kids have at their disposal.
Its a multi purpose device so im sure theyll be quite thrilled with its capabilities.
I knew I would have been with it it 15 years ago hah.
if its a concern about anything else just buy a vinyl record player and get some records
make sure you disable wifi and there arent any open networks they can join specifically if you cant monitor internet usage.
but realistically its no really no better or worse than other electronic devices kids have at their disposal.
Its a multi purpose device so im sure theyll be quite thrilled with its capabilities.
I knew I would have been with it it 15 years ago hah.
iPhones are actually really tough, as seen here in stress tests from articles from a reputable publication
The Original iPhone Stress Tests - PC World
http://www.pcworld.com/article/157529/the_original_iphone_stress_tests.html
It's Tough to Kill an Apple iPhone 3G - PC World
http://www.pcworld.com/article/148310/its_tough_to_kill_an_apple_iphone_3g.html
But yes, a nano probably would be fine.
Really??? So, by way of example, because my 10yr old nephew's friends play Halo 3 and Gear of War means my sister-in-law should let him play them, too? Despite it being an M-rated game with inappropriate language, content, etc.?? No offense, but I'm not a parent and even I know that's out of line...
You've already made your decision, and happy birthday to your son, but figured I'd offer my $0.02 while I'm here.
I frankly think it depends on the child. I wouldn't give one to my nephews who are in the same age-range, but that's because they'd destroy it...that's just the way they are. They're learning, but still, for them it's too young.
If your son is responsible and can handle it, and most importantly will appreciate it, then it would probably be okay. As others have said, I would monitor his usage, especially online, but it sounds like you've got that under control as well.
Best of luck to you!
Every kid is different and must be handled in a way that is best for him. I know the decision has already been made, and I'm glad to hear the kid had a great birthday. But I thought I'd chime in a bit on this.
Situation 1:
Me at nine, I already owned a Sony Walkman and about 30 tapes. (Mostly Disney stuff and Debbie Gibson, Michael Jackson and New Kids on The Block) I had developed musical interests that continue today and I have owned several tech things since the age of 9, including Game Boys, kid-oriented PDAs and my first Palm Pilot at age 14. (I went to a college prep high school, it came in handy) To this day I am quite the gadget geek and I take care of all of my gadgets. I was responsible enough to know that if I broke the Walkman, I couldn't listen to my music anymore because I wasn't getting a new one. It came in handy on long car trips.
My middle sister at age 9, owned a boombox and tons of tapes herself, brought it everywhere she could fit it. It ended up rather banged up and scratched, but it still worked. She didn't take as good care of it as I did of my walkman, but she took better care of her stuff than our youngest sister did.
Youngest sister to this day is a walking accident waiting to happen. She had a CD player at age 9, but ended up breaking it and the one after, not to mentioned scratched disks left and right.
If given the chance to own an ipod touch at those ages, I would have taken great care of it, my middle sister probably would have too though it might have ended dinged up, and my youngest sister would have broken it in a week. Know your kids, and then decide.
Situation 2:
My manager's now 10 year old son wanted an iphone. I told her I thought that was too young for an expensive cell phone that will end up costing alot of money on top of her own iphone. (I don't think a 9 year old needs a cell phone at all) HOWEVER, I suggested the ipod touch. She agreed and that's what he got, given that he had worked all summer mowing lawns to try and save up for an iphone and had done remarkably well in school that fall. She felt he deserved it for the hard work, but explained to him why he wasn't getting an iphone. (too expensive each month) He is fine with the itouch and loves it, especially after I showed him how to load Skype on it and make calls. (Which his mom had no problem paying $25 a year for if it curbs his iphone thing a bit)
Situation 3:
A coworker's 8 year old son was diagnosed with leukemia a few months ago. We all took up a collection to get him a gift. We got him an ipod touch, since the hospital he's in has WiFi and he can use it to check his email and keep up with his friends, watch movies, surf the net and listen to music. Best thing we could have given him short of a netbook, which was the other option, but his parents thought 7 was too young for a full computer. He has not been bored too much lying in the hospital bed. (And has gotten fond of pranking his father by imitating his dad's iphone ringtones, making the dad think his phone was ringing. Dad tried to answer the itouch once, gave kid a good laugh)
So you see, there are times, depending on the kid and situation, where the gadget is a perfectly acceptable gift. My fiance's teenage nephews have no business owning any gadget of any kind, because they break ipods, PSPs, and Nintendo DS's like you wouldn't believe, but their mom keeps buying them for them.
---Ashley
Situation 1:
Me at nine, I already owned a Sony Walkman and about 30 tapes. (Mostly Disney stuff and Debbie Gibson, Michael Jackson and New Kids on The Block) I had developed musical interests that continue today and I have owned several tech things since the age of 9, including Game Boys, kid-oriented PDAs and my first Palm Pilot at age 14. (I went to a college prep high school, it came in handy) To this day I am quite the gadget geek and I take care of all of my gadgets. I was responsible enough to know that if I broke the Walkman, I couldn't listen to my music anymore because I wasn't getting a new one. It came in handy on long car trips.
My middle sister at age 9, owned a boombox and tons of tapes herself, brought it everywhere she could fit it. It ended up rather banged up and scratched, but it still worked. She didn't take as good care of it as I did of my walkman, but she took better care of her stuff than our youngest sister did.
Youngest sister to this day is a walking accident waiting to happen. She had a CD player at age 9, but ended up breaking it and the one after, not to mentioned scratched disks left and right.
If given the chance to own an ipod touch at those ages, I would have taken great care of it, my middle sister probably would have too though it might have ended dinged up, and my youngest sister would have broken it in a week. Know your kids, and then decide.
Situation 2:
My manager's now 10 year old son wanted an iphone. I told her I thought that was too young for an expensive cell phone that will end up costing alot of money on top of her own iphone. (I don't think a 9 year old needs a cell phone at all) HOWEVER, I suggested the ipod touch. She agreed and that's what he got, given that he had worked all summer mowing lawns to try and save up for an iphone and had done remarkably well in school that fall. She felt he deserved it for the hard work, but explained to him why he wasn't getting an iphone. (too expensive each month) He is fine with the itouch and loves it, especially after I showed him how to load Skype on it and make calls. (Which his mom had no problem paying $25 a year for if it curbs his iphone thing a bit)
Situation 3:
A coworker's 8 year old son was diagnosed with leukemia a few months ago. We all took up a collection to get him a gift. We got him an ipod touch, since the hospital he's in has WiFi and he can use it to check his email and keep up with his friends, watch movies, surf the net and listen to music. Best thing we could have given him short of a netbook, which was the other option, but his parents thought 7 was too young for a full computer. He has not been bored too much lying in the hospital bed. (And has gotten fond of pranking his father by imitating his dad's iphone ringtones, making the dad think his phone was ringing. Dad tried to answer the itouch once, gave kid a good laugh)
So you see, there are times, depending on the kid and situation, where the gadget is a perfectly acceptable gift. My fiance's teenage nephews have no business owning any gadget of any kind, because they break ipods, PSPs, and Nintendo DS's like you wouldn't believe, but their mom keeps buying them for them.
---Ashley