Christmas gifting Ipod touches

[crashbb]

Enlightening so far . . .

My kids use their DS for games, have no need for portable movies or tv (they read or draw or listen to music when on the road) have access to my Nook color for books and internet, have mp3 players for music and aren't allowed to touch my cell phone so running off with it would be out of the question. I understand the portability of an I-touch but I guess I'm in the minority, because my kids just don't need anything that's portable. They have their favorite books, card games, puzzle books, or their parents to entertain them if we are on the go somewhere. At home they have a real tv to watch tv and movies on, a stereo to listen to music, various video game machines to play with and so on. In MY opinion, for a young child the Ipod touch is just an elaborate toy, a luxury, and my kids won't be getting one at this point.

Now having said that, I do know high school kids who use the GPS feature, look up things for school online, etc. so I do see the usability there. Of course a lot of those kids do most of that on their Iphone though so they have the texting and talking capability too.

I have a little friend, 9 years old, she watches movies on her Ipod touch and I'm not sure how she hasn't gone blind the screen is so small! She'll watch an entire 2 hour movie that way. Go figure, my old eyes couldn't take it.

So, your kids don't need anything portable...

Except their DS, your Nook, and an MP3 player.

Sorry, but you are contradicting yourself (and make no sense). The iPod touch is a "luxury" to you, because your kids already own (or have access to) many other "luxury" items that cover many of the uses of the iPod touch.

 

[smokeyblue]

Now I'm sitting here rethinking us purchasing our 5 year old a DS for Christmas. He keeps asking for one. I'm just not sure I want to give him an iTouch. He loves his Dad's iPad and can use my iPhone, he's just not a gentle kid. KWIM

You can get a three year Square Trade warranty that covers drops and spills for under $60 (this would be with the 30% off code they run all the time).

 

[GoofyTroopOf6]

You can get a three year Square Trade warranty that covers drops and spills for under $60 (this would be with the 30% off code they run all the time).

oooohhhh can you get that even after purchasing it?

 

[SookieStackhouse]

They are pretty cool little gadgets, they can do games, social networking, free texting and stuff besides movies and music... that really sets the iPod Touch apart from the other mp3 players. Unlike other mp3 players (which many are good quality I am sure), but the iPod Touch WILL work, and WILL be compatible. Accessories are easy to find. The only downside is the fact the darn things ARE expensive. Definitely (not just for kids) get a high quality case like Otter Box Defender and/or good insurance.

 

[GoofyTroopOf6]

Now I'm sitting here rethinking us purchasing our 5 year old a DS for Christmas. He keeps asking for one. I'm just not sure I want to give him an iTouch. He loves his Dad's iPad and can use my iPhone, he's just not a gentle kid. KWIM

Get an otter box. You can run your itouch over with the car and it will still be okay. (that's what they said and my friends ding bat of a husband actually tried it....MEN). My daughter has something like an otterbox on her ipad and lets just say that through the beating my 3 year old gives it, it works just fine. Not to mention he has an infatuation with standing on top of things he's not supposed to, he throws things when he gets mad and believe me, the iPad was no exception. With the right protection you can worry less. They have better protection for the iTouch and iPad than they do the DS by far

ETA: My son (13 now) has gone through literally 6 types of nintendo hand held systems because the hinges break easily. He now owns an itouch and there are no hinges to break on it.

 

[GoofyTroopOf6]

OP, better get caught up in the 20 teens or you'll be left behind in the twenties....

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/7-gadgets-that-won-t-be-around-in-2020.html

 

[mjantz]

Just a few things my DD11 uses her iPod for:

-FaceTime with her BFF during the summer while friend is in another state. The phone bill would have been horrid or she would have been begging me for my phone every night. I knew she missed her friend terribly & I'm glad they got to talk so much.

-Math games: Part of her homework is so many minutes per week of math games. She has some downloaded onto her iPod & while we're in the car driving to after school activities she plays the games.

-DD loves to draw & she often looks up how to draw stuff on YouTube. She also watches anime episodes off of Netflix.

-When we're on long road trips she plays games or watches movies that are downloaded onto the player (any DVD that says 'Digital Copy available' can be downloaded onto an iPod)

-She does listen to music on it. Her tastes are pretty...eclectic so I'm glad she can download what she wants & listen to it & I don't have to!! (Have you ever heard Korean pop music? Its.....interesting). Of course I screen but she's very open with me & will check with me to see if something is OK.

Of course no one NEEDS an iPod just like no one needs cable TV or DVDs or a multitude of other things. I will say I am always a bit annoyed at those who seem to stay away from technology to the point of being Luddites. I'm sure there were things you wanted when you were growing up that were not necessities & maybe you got some of them. I got a Cabbage Patch doll one year & a stereo another. Neither were necessary but both were greatly appreciated & loved by me.

And, as others have said, buy the Otterbox. I don't know that my kids iPods would have survived without them.

 

[squirrel]

My niece who is turning 8 next month is getting a tablet for her birthday. Her grandparents on her dad's side spend crazy amounts on their ownly grandchildren (my niece's).

They have started asking what they can buy for her birthday. They usually go crazy with clothes, books, toys, etc. and my sister returns most of it. The kids don't need much in the way of clothes as they wear uniforms at school. They have so many toys my sister can't stand it all.

Both girls love to use their dad's iTouch. My BIL thinks a tablet would be better for my niece-I think he's figuring out a way to trade with my niece. Seriously he want's to get her one that is 10" and is over $350. Someone posted on another thread one up here in Canada that is $199 and will do everything she could possibly want. But he wants the fastest, biggest tablet he can get!

The girls aren't suppose to get anything for Christmas this year from their grandparents on their dad's side as they bought them a trampoline in the summer. I'm sure they will still end up with some clothes, a toy and a book this year. Instead of the usual 3 outfits, 3 toys and books and whatever else they can find.

My sister has mentioned paying for gymnastics or some other activity instead of all the stuff, but they won't do that!

 

[Mommy2Jameson]

Now I'm sitting here rethinking us purchasing our 5 year old a DS for Christmas. He keeps asking for one. I'm just not sure I want to give him an iTouch. He loves his Dad's iPad and can use my iPhone, he's just not a gentle kid. KWIM

I'm thinking the same thing! Haha! My son has a Leapster now that he loves to play. And he's enjoyed playing with my teenage siblings DS, so we bought hims a 3D DSi for Christmas. But now I'm thinking he'd LOVE one of these. I didn't realize how inexpensive they are... I was thinking the cost of an Ipad I guess!

He is constantly stealing our phones to play games, and he seriously probably knows how to work the phone better than I do! HAHA!

How fragile are they though.... he'll be 6 in January! He's usually very responsible with toys, but then again, he is a 6 year old boy and accidents happen!

 

[Mommy2Jameson]

Get an otter box. You can run your itouch over with the car and it will still be okay. (that's what they said and my friends ding bat of a husband actually tried it....MEN). My daughter has something like an otterbox on her ipad and lets just say that through the beating my 3 year old gives it, it works just fine. Not to mention he has an infatuation with standing on top of things he's not supposed to, he throws things when he gets mad and believe me, the iPad was no exception. With the right protection you can worry less. They have better protection for the iTouch and iPad than they do the DS by far.

Thanks for the suggestion! I looked at these and they look like a great idea!

Very helpful thread for me...a non-texting, tracfone using...mother of 3 girls, 10, 10 and 9 all begging for an itouch for Christmas. I was feeling like the OP, didn't "get it" but I hear ya's. So here's a DUMB question. Where does the Wifi come from? Or is it like a laptop where you need to be home or a cafe, MCDonalds, etc.? Thanks....

Thanks for asking! I was curious too! We have Wifi in the house, so it would just run off that. What do you do for car trips though? Once you download the movies and games to the device, do you not need the internet to play/watch them? (His dad would kill me I'm sure if he knew I was asking you guys all this stuff! He's the computer/electronic guy of the family and I am CLULESS!! After this thread, I'll be able to pretend like I halfway understand this thing!!! Haha!)

AND thanks to the OP! I know know what Santa is gonna be bringing my son!

 

[HelenePA]

Thanks for the suggestion! I looked at these and they look like a great idea!



Thanks for asking! I was curious too! We have Wifi in the house, so it would just run off that. What do you do for car trips though? Once you download the movies and games to the device, do you not need the internet to play/watch them? (His dad would kill me I'm sure if he knew I was asking you guys all this stuff! He's the computer/electronic guy of the family and I am CLULESS!! After this thread, I'll be able to pretend like I halfway understand this thing!!! Haha!)

AND thanks to the OP! I know know what Santa is gonna be bringing my son!

yes it will run off the same internet connection in your house (aka wifi) in the car you will NOT have wifi but you can still play some of the games on it or watch movies you've downloaded onto it or listen to music.

 

[mdsoccermom]

ITouches were the best thing we've ever gotten the kids. They do all the standard things -music, games, etc. It's cut down on all the stuff we take with us when traveling. Instead of tons of dvds, portable DVD player, game systems, books, etc., they just have to take this little gadget and a book (yes, in spite of having electronics, they still read books).

As far as what tunes they want to download, anything they want. Whenever they hear a song they like, they download it. Of course, since I hold the iTunes account, they have to ask permission. But, it's very convenient. You say your kids can get their music from CDs or the library. Well, 1) with iTunes, we don't need to purchase a whole CD and 2) we don't have to resort to illegally downloading anything we may get from the library.

Everything you mentioned in your original post - your nook, tvs, stereo, CDs, DS', etc. - is a luxury. Everything you mentioned is a want and not a need, and therefore no different from an iTouch. If you don't want to get your kids one, fine. That's a personal choice. But do not delude yourself into thinking you are making a better choice than anyone that has purchased them for their kids. And don't delude yourself into thinking you've taken some parenting high road.

 

[indimom]

I didn't see the "big deal" either. We had MP3s, We had a camera and video camera, We had a DS, We had books and a nearby library, etc.

But, our daughter really wanted one. And started saving last year at 13.
We did end up paying for half as a gift.

And...

I love that thing!!!!

And so do all the younger kids she has let play with it.

So many fun and cheap apps (she's only spent $50 in gift cards since she got it and she has tons of games/music).

She no longer borrows my camera or video camera.

She can text for free (and uses it WAY MORE than her phone for this purpose, almost every place she goes has wifi, we're considering dropping texting on her phone).

She loves to cook and found a recipe app, that will let her find recipes she wants to make, then breaks down the recipes into the ingredients and creates a grocery list complete with quantities. It's AWESOME!

And, I no longer have to spend $30 on each tiny game cartridge, that end up sliding down in the couch cushions and are MIA for months at a time.

And it's all in one compact little device she can put in a pocket.

What's not to love??

 

[DawnM]

I bought one last year for myself. I don't really want the monthly cost of an iPhone (although I am now considering it!) So, I got the iPod touch and with free texting as long as I am in wifi, I have been loving it.

Then in April of last year I got an iPad (given to me) and it has replaced the iPod touch for me......but my kids (particularly my 7 year old) LOVE it. He listens to music, audiobooks, plays games, watches shows, all sorts of things.

Each boy saved over $200 last year and wanted a 3DS each. They actually thought long and hard about whether to get 3DSs or iPod touches but the 3DS won out.

They share the iPod touch, but it is mostly my 7 year old who uses it.

Dawn

 

[violetrose]

I didn't get my children I-Pod touches until they were teens. If you get a 7 year old an I-pod touch what do you get him when he turns 12? Or 16? I like to save the expensive gadgets for when they are old enough to truly appreciate them. We started with the Ipod shuffle and moved up from there as they got older. My kids also don't have laptops either except for my oldest dd who left for college last year. We have one computer that the family shares. My other 2 children will get laptops when they go off to college too. So far they seem o.k. that they don't have "what everyone else has".

To each their own!

 

[mdsoccermom]

I didn't get my children I-Pod touches until they were teens. If you get a 7 year old an I-pod touch what do you get him when he turns 12? Or 16? I like to save the expensive gadgets for when they are old enough to truly appreciate them. We started with the Ipod shuffle and moved up from there as they got older. My kids also don't have laptops either except for my oldest dd who left for college last year. We have one computer that the family shares. My other 2 children will get laptops when they go off to college too. So far they seem o.k. that they don't have "what everyone else has".

To each their own!

I always hated that argument "if you get X when they are young, what will you get them when they are older?"

Honestly, it's not necessary to increase the gift each year. Just because they get something when they are young does not mean each year it just has to get bigger and better. Unless, of course, you are raising Dudley Dursley.

Last year, my kids' got the iTouches. This year, they aren't getting anything remotely like that.

 

[mjkacmom]

I didn't get my children I-Pod touches until they were teens. If you get a 7 year old an I-pod touch what do you get him when he turns 12? Or 16? I like to save the expensive gadgets for when they are old enough to truly appreciate them. We started with the Ipod shuffle and moved up from there as they got older. My kids also don't have laptops either except for my oldest dd who left for college last year. We have one computer that the family shares. My other 2 children will get laptops when they go off to college too. So far they seem o.k. that they don't have "what everyone else has".

To each their own!

Lol, by the time my 8 year olds are teens, ipod touches will be like the atari of my past! Dd15 needs a new laptop - she got a refurbished one from her uncle when she was 12, and it no longer meets her needs. My 8 year olds will get ipod touches for Christmas this year (I don't even have one). For the price, it replaces so many other gadgets. My kids get 3 gifts for Christmas, and one is usually a bigger one (dd10 will get a kindle, she already has a cellphone and a ipod touch).

 

[DawnM]

Hovercraft, bat mobile, leer jet.

Not sure yet.....we will have to wait and see what the latest, greatest thing is when they get that age.

Dawn

I didn't get my children I-Pod touches until they were teens. If you get a 7 year old an I-pod touch what do you get him when he turns 12? Or 16? I like to save the expensive gadgets for when they are old enough to truly appreciate them. We started with the Ipod shuffle and moved up from there as they got older. My kids also don't have laptops either except for my oldest dd who left for college last year. We have one computer that the family shares. My other 2 children will get laptops when they go off to college too. So far they seem o.k. that they don't have "what everyone else has".

To each their own!

 

[fredflintstone]

Lol, by the time my 8 year olds are teens, ipod touches will be like the atari of my past! Dd15 needs a new laptop - she got a refurbished one from her uncle when she was 12, and it no longer meets her needs. My 8 year olds will get ipod touches for Christmas this year (I don't even have one). For the price, it replaces so many other gadgets. My kids get 3 gifts for Christmas, and one is usually a bigger one (dd10 will get a kindle, she already has a cellphone and a ipod touch).

I completely agree! I buy my kids things now that I see they will enjoy and have fun with. I only get them 18 years out of their life, and even those 18 years aren't guaranteed. So I want to see them happy with life. I am not going to wait until they are off to college and living their own lives to buy something that I think at that point they will appreciate more cause they are older, and not even see them enjoy it. No thanks. It's just an itouch for pete's sake, or a laptop...guess what....We are now in a Technology world...it is what it is. Either embrace it or not, but don't judge other's cause they are willing to embrace it and help their children embrace it! I am so over people judging others! UGGG Sorry for the rant, but the judging with kids won't stop cause the parents can't stop!!!

 

[bjgrazi]

After reading this all last night, I was talking with my daughter. She said Mom I have an iTouch it's in perfect condition give him that. (She has an iPhone) I went online found an otter box.

I guess this is the upside of having adult children and then a 5 year old. We're going to preload with some things for him and see how it goes.

Now I have to find out, do we give him his own account? Do I just use mine? I'm not sure how it all works.