Facebook for a 9 yr old?

[doxdogy]

No, no and no again.

 

[Buckalew11]

While I'm sure a lot of the games and things are fun on there (like farmtown), I also think kids have enough of all those games to play (computer, nintendo (ds), wii etc.) and probably don't need another reason to get addicted to sitting in front of a screen at such a young age. I vote to get them outside and playing for REAL.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

I'm thinking of getting my kids these even the 4 yr old.. they all want to play my farmtown.. I would just keep them on the highest privacy settings out there along with assumed names. I wouldn't give them out to anyone.

lol...I should just let her take care of mine..I haven't farmed in a month!!

 

[raysnkaysmom]

While I'm sure a lot of the games and things are fun on there (like farmtown), I also think kids have enough of all those games to play (computer, nintendo (ds), wii etc.) and probably don't need another reason to get addicted to sitting in front of a screen at such a young age. I vote to get them outside and playing for REAL.

I feel like I"m making excuses...lol.. but for real -
We dont' have any video gaming systems (although they do at their dads house).. but yes, she plays some games on the computer...I got her the Disney Magic Artist 3D game, because she loves animation and is an artsy girl..
Her and I played basketball outside earlier... but if the kids across the street aren't home, she generally doesnt go out by herself..and I don't blame her there. I wont let her ride her bike out of the driveway (safety reasons) if there aren't others around..
And, today..its sprinkling off and on..

But..I agree...overall, they ALL need to get out more!

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

In my opinion, no 9 year old needs a "social network". They should be outside running, jumping, climbing trees, building forts, and getting dirty! Please encourage kids to do "kid stuff" while they are still kids - it goes by so fast!

No, no and no again.

 

[CurtisCandy]

My son is 9 and he asked if he could have a Facebook account. I told him no, and he'd have to be happy playing on "Club Penquin" on the computer until he got a little older... I just believe he's a little too young for Facebook, but that's just my opinion.


...Of course, I have a Facebook account and I'm 47, but truth be told I am WAY too immature to have one!...

 

[HelenePA]

While I'm sure a lot of the games and things are fun on there (like farmtown), I also think kids have enough of all those games to play (computer, nintendo (ds), wii etc.) and probably don't need another reason to get addicted to sitting in front of a screen at such a young age. I vote to get them outside and playing for REAL.

Its rained A LOT here this summer. June rained 25 out of 30 days and July hasn't been much better. I feel so bad for them, this summer has been terrible

 

[DisneyJen0504]

In my opinion, no 9 year old needs a "social network". They should be outside running, jumping, climbing trees, building forts, and getting dirty! Please encourage kids to do "kid stuff" while they are still kids - it goes by so fast!

I couldn't agree more!

 

[IDoDis]

Absolutely not. My DD was able to get a facebook page when she turned 13. Just last week DD asked if DS could have a fb page. Of course I said no. Even if he wanted to play the games -- guess what? Too bad! There are plenty of other games on the internet he can play. He's already addicted to Roblox as it is.

A social network is for adults -- not 9 year olds. If you get the page for her now just for the games, it won't be long before she want to add people here and there. She'll never be happy with just the game for the next four years.

On a side note, I really don't like younger people looking at my fb page. Some of DD's friends have sent me friend requests, but I ignore them. I have a couple of her older friends on there, but that's it. They don't need to know my business, and if they do want to chit-chat, they can talk to me in person.

Get your DD outside in sports, riding her bike, and reading books if the weather's bad. No facebook. We have to stop trying to be our kids bff's and start being parents.

 

[LUCiD]

oh...we had that talk when she joined Club Penquin!! LOL.. And...her and her sister play on youtube alot..so we've talked. But..if/when I do decide to let her have a facebook (it wont be myspace), we will definitely go over it in more detail then!

That's good, some parents I know of just go "yeah, whatev," and let their kids do whatever they want. Which really irks me because it brings me to question whether or not they care about their childs safety. Glad to see your not one of them.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I'd say no. It wouldn't be fair to your other daughter who you did make wait, and it's against Facebook rules anyway.

 

[MariDisney]

I'm thinking of getting my kids these even the 4 yr old.. they all want to play my farmtown.. I would just keep them on the highest privacy settings out there along with assumed names. I wouldn't give them out to anyone.

I forgot to say that I have her privacy settings set high as well. Plus, everyone she is friends with has made a list so that she can only see certain things on their sites. Actually, we all had made "teen friend" lists awhile ago so that our younger friends can't see certain things.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Its rained A LOT here this summer. June rained 25 out of 30 days and July hasn't been much better. I feel so bad for them, this summer has been terrible

I'm in PA too, and agree. I feel so bad for the kids being cooped up all summer. It's nice today though! I heard there'll be rain all week though.

 

[HelenePA]

I'm in PA too, and agree. I feel so bad for the kids being cooped up all summer. It's nice today though! I heard there'll be rain all week though.

You might want to take a look at the radar.. more thunderstorms are on the way (at least for me) so for now the kids are outside playing.

 

[dismom2]

There is no way I would let my kids have Facebook, or any other social networking page at age 9. I'm wondering why people (not talking to you personally, OP) are so strict on following rules, but this is okay? Facebook has an age minimum---doesn't mean it's okay to teach your child to lie about their age.

I let my child play a couple innocent quizzes on my Facebook page a couple of times---while I was next to her, but that's as far is it's going to go. As for the rain keeping kids indoors....ask the previous generation what they did on rainy days before there was Facebook. There are so many other things do do....games, baking, crafts....if these don't interest your kids, there are many other possibilities.

The fact is, if nothing else, Facebook does have an age restriction. Let kids be kids a little longer.... there are other ways to keep in touch with people, and it's more personable, too.

 

[Tinijocaro]

I believe I may be the only person who said let her have one. I recently allowed my dd11 to have one. I locked it up tighter than a drum-privacy settings, no one can find her, she is not allowed to accept any friendships without my permission. She cannot add any applications without my permission. I didn't let her friend any of her older cousins. I have her password. I've told her if I see anything the least bit inappropriate, the account is gone-and I will be checking.

For her right now, her facebook friends are her brother, her parents and her best friend. She's happy, she loves to play the games-sort of like a grown up webkinz.

I really don't see why it would be a problem except maybe being on it too much, but I always limit my kid's screen time, no matter whether it's internet, tv, video games.

 

[Hollywoodhaha]

In my opinion, noone should have a facebook unless they are in high school or older.

It was originally intended for college but the website changed and it is now for high school and college.

I am a Junior in high school and I didn't get one until the summer before 9th grade, when I was about to turn 14.

 

[aprilgail2]

My DD is 9 and has one under an assumed name. I have her password, of course. She only friends aunts, uncles, etc. She plays games with the pets and stuff.

My 9 year old has one also- she loves playing mafia wars and all those farming games and farkle. Her last name is not listed on it, my friends are the only friends on her firends list and a few of her friends from school, I hacve her password and go on there all the time- not worried at all.

 

[MariDisney]

There is no way I would let my kids have Facebook, or any other social networking page at age 9. I'm wondering why people (not talking to you personally, OP) are so strict on following rules, but this is okay? Facebook has an age limit---doesn't mean it's okay to teach your child to lie about their age.

I let my child play a couple innocent quizzes on my Facebook page a couple of times---while I was next to her, but that's as far is it's going to go. As for the rain keeping kids indoors....ask the previous generation what they did on rainy days before there was Facebook. There are so many other things do do....games, baking, crafts....if these don't interest your kids, there are many other possibilities.

The fact is, if nothing else, Facebook does have an age restriction. Let kids be kids a little longer.... there are other ways to keep in touch with people, and it's more personable, too.

I am one who said my 9 year old has one. I don't know what would make someone think that because she plays some games on Facebook that she doesn't do 10 million other things as well. I'd say she spends an average of 4 hours per week on the computer in total. She probably spends 10 hours reading, 20 hours writing and drawing, 4 hours at dance lessons, many hours in the pool, etc. Having a facebook does not at all equal not doing the stuff you named. In face, while *I* was DISing, my 9 year old was in the kitching making a pesto salad, a bean salad, and a cole slaw for a picnic we're going to tomorrow. So, yes, she does other things.

 

[Nie0214]

My 9 year old cousin has one. Her parents have all privacy settings up, she's not allowed to have a picture of herself, and they monitor everyone she sends a friend request to. She has about 6 friends, 2 from school, her mom, her dad, me and her sister. They decided a heavily monitored facebook was better than her trying to make her own. She probably spends 2 hours on a computer a week, if that. She's always swimming in their pool or running around, at karate practice, etc.

She really just likes to update her status, "H took a 15 minute nap! H saw X movie and it stunk so bad she had to open a window!" etc. I think it's cute when she leaves me messages from time to time, asking when I'm going to visit.

I'm not sure why people seem to think that if your kid has a facebook account, they'll never go outside.