IMO it'd be better to give an 8 year old an older iPhone but without any cellular service... So it'd be pretty much an iPod Touch. An 8 year old doesn't really need the cellphone part IMO.
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Just gave an 8 year old his first iPhone, am I crazy?
- Thread starter dontwalkhand
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When I was 8, if I needed to practice spelling, I had pen and paper. If I needed to work on my communication skills, I'd be playing sports and games outside with neighborhood kids. If i wanted to play video games, i used my Nintendo or GameBoy. If i wanted to watch my favorite tv show, i'd turn on the tv. If i wanted to read, Id get a book from the library. If i needed to talk to my parents in another area of the house, I would walk over to them (and vice versa). If i wanted to call someone, i had the house line or my parents cells. And if there were an emergency, I could always find a trusted and responsible adult to help me.
I turned out ok... Even without an iPhone. Imagine that.
I turned out ok... Even without an iPhone. Imagine that.
Just get him an Ipod or have as someone else stated disable the cellular service so it becomes basically and Ipod...
This is whats wrong with the world these days. All of these parents who think that their kid is the most mature kid in history, treat their 8 year olds like they are 20. The kids end up with no disapline what so ever and they are spoiled brats who throw a fit whenever they dont get anything. Get your kid a basketball and tell him to go outside and play. You wonder why the obeseity rate is so high? Its because of Idiots like this who get their kids computers and smartphones when they arent even out of grade school yet!
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Age 8? iPhone 4? Next time I look at myself in the mirror and wonder why this worlds a mess, il think of you, btw when he's alone and brandishes it to some happy thief just remember.. You done it..
Age 8? iPhone 4? Next time I look at myself in the mirror and wonder why this worlds a mess, il think of you, btw when he's alone and brandishes it to some happy thief just remember.. You done it..
BUT it has a data plan that isn't needed for an 8 year old. That can be money saved.
that seems like your paying a lot to only have edge data on your iphones? If you guys can afford to have all factory unlocked iphones, surely a native iphone network would not be that much more ?
Anyways, having had a phone since I was 11. I think a feature phone would be more suitable, that is if contacting emergency numbers was the primary concern. Theft and access to the internet are the two main concerns there. Not to mention losing/breaking it.
Either way it seems done, just roll with it and see what happens. I would probably block safari if you havent
Anyways, having had a phone since I was 11. I think a feature phone would be more suitable, that is if contacting emergency numbers was the primary concern. Theft and access to the internet are the two main concerns there. Not to mention losing/breaking it.
Either way it seems done, just roll with it and see what happens. I would probably block safari if you havent
When I was 8, if I needed to practice spelling, I had pen and paper. If I needed to work on my communication skills, I'd be playing sports and games outside with neighborhood kids. If i wanted to play video games, i used my Nintendo or GameBoy. If i wanted to watch my favorite tv show, i'd turn on the tv. If i wanted to read, Id get a book from the library. If i needed to talk to my parents in another area of the house, I would walk over to them (and vice versa). If i wanted to call someone, i had the house line or my parents cells. And if there were an emergency, I could always find a trusted and responsible adult to help me.
I turned out ok... Even without an iPhone. Imagine that.
Back in the day people didnt have cars either...a horse was fine for transportation ...why change now?
Just gave an 8 year old his first iPhone, am I crazy?
Troll Notice: You are never too young to have technology, especially since it is now 2012. Just because you didn't have nice things as a kid (I didn't either), doesn't mean you should bag on kids that do now...grow up and stop crying
You asked if we thought you were crazy, but we're not supposed to disagree with your decision. Do you not know how the internet works?!?
-30 vote downs ... your question about being crazy giving an iPhone to an 8 year old has officially been answered
Maybe because 100000 horses ******** in the streets of new york would be unsanitary? maybe because we don't have enough horses? maybe the way housing grids are done now? maybe because we have less space? maybe the world has become more fast paced?
you may say 'yes the world is more fast paced so my kid deserves an iphone'
well, technically, no. he is an 8 year old. not a business man.
and unless your going to regulate his usage of the iphone, and if he spends all his time on iphone/computer/games your stunting his own growth
Still wondering about the supervision aspect, but it seems like every question asked about that has been brushed aside with a few snarky remarks about not being a luddite and catching up to 2012.
Anyway, couple of thoughts: Not a bad idea to get your kid something that will always be on them that offers GPS tracking capability.
But my concern is, and most of the thread seem to be concerned about it too: D'ya plan to make usage of these options:
...Or are you just going to hand the kid a SmartPhone with full internet access?
Anyway, couple of thoughts: Not a bad idea to get your kid something that will always be on them that offers GPS tracking capability.
But my concern is, and most of the thread seem to be concerned about it too: D'ya plan to make usage of these options:
...Or are you just going to hand the kid a SmartPhone with full internet access?
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Nevermind, you actually answered that in the OP... Still seems odd, and I wouldn't let him use it 24/7. I would also disable internet access and all app purchases... If he wants an app he can ask.
Nevermind, you actually answered that in the OP... Still seems odd, and I wouldn't let him use it 24/7. I would also disable internet access and all app purchases... If he wants an app he can ask.
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I do not text like that, only people who are to lazy to spell out their words type like that. I practice spelling with my daughter every day. And yes texting DOES help her practice spelling. It forces her to sound words out to type the letters. Don't make assumptions about my child, I don't leave her in the corner with her "fone to type wot r u dng". And she doesn't have an iPhone, so she has no autocorrect.
I'm a good mom who spends time with my kids. Something that seems to be lost on a lot of parents these days.
What if they have friends, and they go play at their houses? What if you want a backup way to contact them if the friend's parent isn't paying attention to their phone? Or if they are with their other parent, and that parent is driving or something, you can call the kid. It's not a necessity, but it could be a legitimate convenience.
All that being said, I don't think it's a good idea for an 8 year old to be playing with an iPhone all the time, but some limited and controlled exposure to technology is critical these days, so that kids learn how to function well in an increasingly technological and connected world.
You must be a minority, because on standard phones that don't have autocorrect or a QWERTY keyboard almost no one uses proper grammar and spelling, as it simply takes too much time to type everything in full.
I agree, and with character limits is why people type like this also.
With majority of the people who text type like this, so I would also think it was same to "assume" also.
But also look at what the OP said, that phone never leaves the house with the kid. So basically it's a cheap way for their lazy parents to call their kids down to dinner.
That's ridiculous.
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Back when i had my Motorola razr flip phone, i actually typed more accurate than i do now. The querty keyboard on my iphone is what has gotten me lazy in my opinion.
With my razr i at least had T9 and if i wanted to type out "you" as "u" it was pressing 8 twice anyways to get the u, so i just used T9 and hit 968 to spell out "you"
But hey to each his own opinion right!
We all deal with texting in our own way, but i still at 8 a child is still learning how to spell regular words right, they don't need to be over encumbered with "texting grammar" too
Troll Notice: You are never too young to have technology, especially since it is now 2012. Just because you didn't have nice things as a kid (I didn't either), doesn't mean you should bag on kids that do now...grow up and stop crying
Does this mean you're a troll?
When I was 8, if I needed to practice spelling, I had pen and paper. If I needed to work on my communication skills, I'd be playing sports and games outside with neighborhood kids. If i wanted to play video games, i used my Nintendo or GameBoy. If i wanted to watch my favorite tv show, i'd turn on the tv. If i wanted to read, Id get a book from the library. If i needed to talk to my parents in another area of the house, I would walk over to them (and vice versa). If i wanted to call someone, i had the house line or my parents cells. And if there were an emergency, I could always find a trusted and responsible adult to help me.
I turned out ok... Even without an iPhone. Imagine that.
When your grandparents were 8, they probably didn't have video games. Or much TV to watch. Or a library within walking distance (or the books available to read that we have). No cells, and probably not a very good houseline. They probably turned out okay, too. And thought you were crazy when you played "Atari" as they probably called it.
Times change. Not saying OP is right or wrong, but don't quote your childhood as reason for NOT giving the kid an iPhone. Just because you turned out okay without it doesn't mean OP's little brother WON'T.
In fact, my just-turned 2 year old nephew uses my iPad when he visits. Never asks FOR it, but if he sees it, will ask to play with it. He knows what apps he likes and doesn't like. I've watched him progress in putting together animal puzzles quicker and quicker. I've seen him scroll through pages, find his folder that I named after him, click the app that makes motorcycle sounds, and show his parents how to go "VROOM VROOM." Then he put its down, goes over to his little brother who just turned 1, and plays trucks with him.
Would I buy him his very own iPad? Probably not. But would I think someone else is crazy for doing it? Not the slightest. Everyone is different and evaluates each other differently.
Heck, if I met you, I may not think you turned out okay. And you might not think I did either. Even though I grew up the same way you did.