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Just gave an 8 year old his first iPhone, am I crazy?
- Thread starter dontwalkhand
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As an old fart for whom a $200 phone is a not totally necessary expense, I have reservations about an 8 year olds need for an expensive, glass, smartphone. As a safety measure, I think having a phone is a great idea. Your youngster can contact you, and you can contact him. I consider some kind of cell phone is a great idea for anybody - I finally convinced my 72 year old sister to get one. (Of course, she refuses to learn how to turn it on, but that's a discussion for another time.)
While having a cell phone is,IMO, a good idea for your kiddo, I'm not sure an iPhone is needed at that age.
But, then, I'm from the pre-computer generation, so what the hell do I know??
While having a cell phone is,IMO, a good idea for your kiddo, I'm not sure an iPhone is needed at that age.
But, then, I'm from the pre-computer generation, so what the hell do I know??
I think it is up to the parents and not us to decide. I know kids even younger with a 4S so there are exceptions. Not all kids are created equal.
This thread will only cause the "less fortunate" to become jealous and slam your thread! See above!
This thread will only cause the "less fortunate" to become jealous and slam your thread! See above!
Sounds like my 1 year that is about to be 2 in a couple of months. She grabs her mother iPhone to play games and listen to music. She knows exactly where to go to access what she wants. My 10 year old daughter, 10 year old son, and my 9 year old daughter all have 3GS iPhones. I only paid $20 for them and they're pretty responsible with them.
Our family is one with 5 lines totally 225$. We share 700 minutes over two households. 2 lines belong to my parents, 2 to my husband and I, and 1 to our 8 year old daughter. It isn't an iPhone, just a basic keyboard phone for emergencies because we don't have a home phone. However, our daughter has a galaxy tab, and our 4 year old son has his own iPod.
Our kids play outside, they play with their friends, they do their homework, color, read books. And sometimes they watch tv and play video games. As long as you balance the things in life, I don't think there is anything wrong with the 8 year old having an iPhone. It's no different from my four year old and his iPod. They aren't allowed to bring these devices to school or to the kitchen table. Just because our kids have the technology doesn't mean we're bad parents. You just have to teach them how to use it right
Our kids play outside, they play with their friends, they do their homework, color, read books. And sometimes they watch tv and play video games. As long as you balance the things in life, I don't think there is anything wrong with the 8 year old having an iPhone. It's no different from my four year old and his iPod. They aren't allowed to bring these devices to school or to the kitchen table. Just because our kids have the technology doesn't mean we're bad parents. You just have to teach them how to use it right
I guess my two cents would be that I'm trying my darndest to UNPLUG whenever I can now at 29. I run a small business. We all have iPhones. We have iMacs, MacBooks, and I have an iPad for when I meet clients in the field. It's great and increases productivity, but now I'm training myself to purposefully turn off all my devices at times so that I am not always subject to dings and rings and vibrations and can observe more of what is going on in the world around me at those times.
I'm just glad that I grew up in a time (80's- mid 90's) where I was completely left alone with my imagination in my back yard on a rope swing with no computers in my pocket.
Again, I'm pretty old-fashioned though, and miss that simplicity, regardless of the clear upsides technology does bring.
-Z
I'm just glad that I grew up in a time (80's- mid 90's) where I was completely left alone with my imagination in my back yard on a rope swing with no computers in my pocket.
Again, I'm pretty old-fashioned though, and miss that simplicity, regardless of the clear upsides technology does bring.
-Z
Yeah I couldnt imagine having the technoloy I have NOW back when I was in school.
I know for a fact I'd have straight A's though. WIth an app like Soulver and google search.. man..
And of course with stuff like iBooks and such coming out, I wish my teacher WOULD tell me to put my phone away haha.
Imagine never having to carry a Five Star notebook because your parents got you an ipad....
I've talked about this with my fiance and how young we are going to give our kid a phone. We said as they are going into middle school MAYBE. But if they start doing after school activities in middle school we will get them one for sure then
Before that, there is absolutely no reason for your child to have one before middle school, especially at 8 years old. Who's he going to text? who's he going to call? what internet sites is he going to?
one concern would be him taking the phone to school or bragging about something like that in front of friends then kind of alienating himself. Who else is getting a smartphone (regardless of if its a 1st gen iphone) at 8 years old? no one.
My fiance's nephew is 7 and there are so many things he doesn't understand yet still, that one year isn't going to make a difference. His mom lets him play with her iPhone 4s, and you know how he gives it back to her when he's done playing with it? THROWS IT ACROSS THE ROOM. and this is not a 1st gen phone, this is the 4s.
Also despite how "mature" you may say he is..... no 8 year old is mature enough for a smartphone.
EDIT: i also agree with HeyGreggie and Zachlegomaniac. My fun when i was a kid was climbing up a tree, staring at the sky and making up things in my mind. Being creative, and just having fun without technology.
Before that, there is absolutely no reason for your child to have one before middle school, especially at 8 years old. Who's he going to text? who's he going to call? what internet sites is he going to?
one concern would be him taking the phone to school or bragging about something like that in front of friends then kind of alienating himself. Who else is getting a smartphone (regardless of if its a 1st gen iphone) at 8 years old? no one.
My fiance's nephew is 7 and there are so many things he doesn't understand yet still, that one year isn't going to make a difference. His mom lets him play with her iPhone 4s, and you know how he gives it back to her when he's done playing with it? THROWS IT ACROSS THE ROOM. and this is not a 1st gen phone, this is the 4s.
Also despite how "mature" you may say he is..... no 8 year old is mature enough for a smartphone.
EDIT: i also agree with HeyGreggie and Zachlegomaniac. My fun when i was a kid was climbing up a tree, staring at the sky and making up things in my mind. Being creative, and just having fun without technology.
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I have no problem with this. My kids are 5 and almost 7. Although they do not have cell phones yet, they each have a Nintendo DS that they each bought with their own money (allowance, birthdays, extra chores, etc). It took them awhile to earn the money, but they did it, and I think they learned something in the process of saving for what they wanted. Having said that, when the contracts are up on our current phones (2 iphone 4s's), we will likely give them to the kids and get whatever the new iphone is at that time. I agree with those who have said that keeping the kids up on the latest technology is a good thing, within reason (ie parental controls, no facebook or similar social media, etc).
It's not that I have a problem with it per se, it just doesn't make sense to me. Get him one of these
and an iPod touch. You also seems to be asking if you're crazy then wildly trying to justify your decision.
and an iPod touch. You also seems to be asking if you're crazy then wildly trying to justify your decision.
In your opinion. Our kids take perfectly good care of the tablet and the iPod. One is in a survivor case and one in an otterbox. Kids drop stuff. But our kids do not throw them, step on them, or leave them on the floor. If you teach them the things they can't do with them, they will listen or risk not having them. If my son threw my phone at me to give it back, he wouldn't play with it anymore.
Our kids climb trees, go to the beach and everything else. But they also play video games and there is nothing wrong with that.
First gen? At least his device isn't very valuable. You don't have much on the line. If you gave him a 4S or something, I'd think that'd be a little over the top.
I think that's a good age to get introduced to those kinds of things. I remember when I was very young, attempting to learn things on the computer... Fun times. He'll get familiarized with concepts, the way smartphones work in general (all the OSs have glaring similarities), and he'll have lots of entertainment with games and such.
If you don't want him seeing adult content... Well, idk. The chance of him just running into porn or something doesn't seem too likely. But he could easily get roped into things like that. For example, all the sexual YouTube thumbnails would obviously interest him at some point or another.
I think that's a good age to get introduced to those kinds of things. I remember when I was very young, attempting to learn things on the computer... Fun times. He'll get familiarized with concepts, the way smartphones work in general (all the OSs have glaring similarities), and he'll have lots of entertainment with games and such.
If you don't want him seeing adult content... Well, idk. The chance of him just running into porn or something doesn't seem too likely. But he could easily get roped into things like that. For example, all the sexual YouTube thumbnails would obviously interest him at some point or another.
Yes its only my opinion and not the definitive truth.
Also her nephew is very spoiled and no one punishes him, drives me crazy that a 7 year old is still as much as a baby as he is but its because he's been treated like that forever, i mean he still doesn't even sleep in his own bed.
Anyways not the point, i was just saying that when it comes time for my kid's, whenever i do have them down the road, that i would not be giving them anything i don't think they REALLY need before they need it. And in this case it would be a phone.
Since you asked . . .
Way too early. And it has nothing to do with a child's "development." It's more a matter of common sense.
For starters, who is an 8-year-old going to call and text? None of their friends have phones.
The second issue is more a matter of parenting choice, but I do agree with the others who suggest that inundating kids with gadgets is not a great idea. Between TV, XBox and computers, they already have more than enough ways to plug in and tune out. And it just gets worse as they get older. No reason to start too soon. Let him be a kid.
Finally, do you really want your son to be "that kid" - the kid all the parents of his classmates hear about when their kids are bugging them for a phone because he has one? Trust me: All the other parents in your son's class are cursing you under their breath.
Way too early. And it has nothing to do with a child's "development." It's more a matter of common sense.
For starters, who is an 8-year-old going to call and text? None of their friends have phones.
The second issue is more a matter of parenting choice, but I do agree with the others who suggest that inundating kids with gadgets is not a great idea. Between TV, XBox and computers, they already have more than enough ways to plug in and tune out. And it just gets worse as they get older. No reason to start too soon. Let him be a kid.
Finally, do you really want your son to be "that kid" - the kid all the parents of his classmates hear about when their kids are bugging them for a phone because he has one? Trust me: All the other parents in your son's class are cursing you under their breath.
You asking if your crazy tells me that your intuition is questioning your decission. I think you already have the feeling that you made an unsupportive decision to your 8 year old. You don't need to seek approval. You already have the answer within.
no big big deal under certain parameters. my youngest daughter who is now 5 has both a 4g iPod touch and the original iPad. she's been using technology since she was maybe one. my oldest son who is now 14 got his first phone when he was 9. albeit, it was not an iPhone, but i didn't think the expense was necessary. if i had an old first gen lying around, i wouldn't have hesitated to give it to him. as long as the kids are responsible and understand the privileges, i don't see the problem.
I do not believe an 8 year old can understand the value of $800 or what it takes to make that money. The worth you place on this phone will not be the same worth that they place on it. To them, its just another item that was given to them. So if its lost or broke, eh. If they get yelled at because of it, well thats just proving my point. You place a greater worth on it then they would.
So if you're in the mood to throw out a few hundred dollars, where do I sign up at?
Also, I have seen some reports starting up about researchers finding that giving children these devices too early can adversely affect their attention spans in ways detrimental to their growth. Again, just saying I've read them, not agree with them.
My son has an iphone but he is 16 and I made him actually WORK for it. So he would deserve it and it would have a worth to him.
But thats just our family.
So if you're in the mood to throw out a few hundred dollars, where do I sign up at?
Also, I have seen some reports starting up about researchers finding that giving children these devices too early can adversely affect their attention spans in ways detrimental to their growth. Again, just saying I've read them, not agree with them.
My son has an iphone but he is 16 and I made him actually WORK for it. So he would deserve it and it would have a worth to him.
But thats just our family.
I find the idea of giving a phone to an 8 year old a good idea, however giving an iphone to an 8 year old is a bit over the top a simple dumbphone will do, and before you give me a speech on age i am 16 so not that old and got a dumbphone when i was 8-9 and still am alive and breathing.
I'd like to know this also. I have 4 lines with a corporate discount and no unlimited text and my bill is still $190 a month.
edit: whoops, too early in the morning. Forgot this was on T-Mobile
We have two in college and two in elementary school (don't ask). Having learned from experience (we didn't always do it right the first time), let me compliment you. You're giving him a work ethic. With that, he can get all the gadgets he wants for himself.
The second time around, we've adopted as our motto a great quote from Harry Truman:
He's 8. He doesn't need a phone. However, I see nothing wrong with an 8 year old using an iPod Touch under appropriate supervision.
For Christmas, I gave my old and beat up original iPhone (pre-3G) to my 4 year old nephew. He was already proficient on his mother's and my iPhones using "Fruit" (Fruit Ninja), "Shoot the Birds" (Angry Birds), a finger painting app, "Monkey Puzzle" (Monkey Preschool Lunchbox), and several other apps that taught numbers, letters, etc. His "phone" isn't activated and won't be for quite some time, if ever.
He doesn't have a brand new device - in fact, it's a beat up hand-me-down with a nonfunctional power button, several dents, a cracked screen, and a few dead lines on the top of the LCD. He's becoming proficient with technology and using age-appropriate apps. I don't see a problem with this.
I DO, however, see a problem with a child having a full-fledged phone with (essentially) no limits or supervision.
For Christmas, I gave my old and beat up original iPhone (pre-3G) to my 4 year old nephew. He was already proficient on his mother's and my iPhones using "Fruit" (Fruit Ninja), "Shoot the Birds" (Angry Birds), a finger painting app, "Monkey Puzzle" (Monkey Preschool Lunchbox), and several other apps that taught numbers, letters, etc. His "phone" isn't activated and won't be for quite some time, if ever.
He doesn't have a brand new device - in fact, it's a beat up hand-me-down with a nonfunctional power button, several dents, a cracked screen, and a few dead lines on the top of the LCD. He's becoming proficient with technology and using age-appropriate apps. I don't see a problem with this.
I DO, however, see a problem with a child having a full-fledged phone with (essentially) no limits or supervision.