ipod for 8 yo

[mickeymaker2003]

We bought our DD a Touch (used off Craigslist). The controls on the Touch are easier to use than on the Nano (it is a touch screen instead of the scrolling wheel). We also liked that it is icon based (she can't read yet) and there are lots of free games for it.

 

[Rosiekins]

I would suggest a Zune from Microsoft. I have had mine 3 years and it is still going strong even though my DH takes it work (he is Contractor so think lots of construction) and I have dropped the thing more then once it has a floating flash drive that helps prevent internal damage. Our Roommate just has an office job and has had to replace his Ipod twice in that time.
Another thing with the Zune is that they have the Zune Pass. 14.99 a month for unlimited downloads (you keep the songs as long as you keep the pass but you can't burn them), plus 10 songs a month that you get to keep forever (you can burn them, whatever you want to do with them). It allows us to have all the songs we could ever want with out shelling out tons of cash each month. We know we get to 10 to keep each month so we alternate who gets the points. You can have the songs on 5 devices and 3 computers or 3 devices and 5 computers so it works well if you decide to get one too.

 

[mom of 3G's]

We bought the touch instead of a DS because the games are SO MUCH CHEAPER!

I never thought about it that way. You are correct. I may have to rethink my plan... I was planning on getting DS a DS (that's confusing)for either his b-day in Oct. or Christmas. I don't want to spend all this money on electronics so maybe I'll just wait until his b-day next year when he's 10 and get him the touch.

 

[MNT568]

My DS has asked for an Ipod for b-day in 2 weeks. He had picked out the orange nano at the apple store but after playing with the Touch, he wants that one now. Silly question about the Touch - Do you have to buy a service plan with it? My DS told me that there is wifi on the Touch and he can watch utube on it? I am so not techie - I have no clue!

 

[jagafen]

we got the little kids shuffles which has worked out pretty well. But I'd get a refurbished one as the new style is so tiny and has odd controls that it's not the best choice for a little kid.

Ds is 7 and has the skinny shuffle...no issues with working the controls. I explained it to him 1x, and he was off!

 

[pezheadmeg]

My DS has asked for an Ipod for b-day in 2 weeks. He had picked out the orange nano at the apple store but after playing with the Touch, he wants that one now. Silly question about the Touch - Do you have to buy a service plan with it? My DS told me that there is wifi on the Touch and he can watch utube on it? I am so not techie - I have no clue!

As long as you have wi-fi in the house, the touch is good to go. I rarely use my laptop at this point. It's all about the touch at home.

OP--I have both the nano and the Touch. It all depends on what she wants to spend. For the music aspect, I like the Nano a lot better. For the video I can go either way. The touch is for home and travel--the nano for work.

 

[Jenn4615]

My five year old got an Ipod Touch for her Birthday this year. She LOVES it, and we love it too... It for one keeps her off of our iphones!
There are TONS of free and cheap educational apps... Its also great for putting movies on...we use it on the airplane for the kids...and now It won't run down our iphone batteries either on the plane.
It keeps her very entertained... its fantastic. She doesn't so much use it for music yet. Every once in awhile I hear her listening to her music... but not often... Hopefully it will last for awhile as she gets more into music..

 

[monorailsilver]

My dd got an ipod touch 8 gb for Christmas (she will be 9 in 2 weeks).

We weren't going to get it for her but my dh had a bunch of reward points. And when we saw it was wireless we were gung ho!

I use it as well since I don't have one so it is a great investment..LOL!!

We have bought a handful of songs, some music videos & maybe one app that she had to have but all the rest of the apps I put on there were free. I also loaded in some good songs..you know..Van Halen, The Eagles, The Doors, Cat Stevens, Aerosmith, Def Leppard, etc....

 

[EddieMccoy2]

I bought my oldest DD an Ipod Touch when she was 3. I had an Iphone and she could use it with no problem. I have loaded it up with Disney Movies, cartoons and learning Apps and she has a ball on it. It was by far the best thing we have ever bought her. It helps on the long drives to Disney and all around the city. My youngest DD (almost 2) is already starting to use the Ipod Touch. Not too much longer before we will be getting her one as well. Kids these days pick up on electronics very quickly. It just amazes me. She also takes very good care of it. I highly recommend anyone Leary of this to give it a try.

 

[stacie_d]

I vote for the ipod touch. There is a never ending supply of games that you can get for free.

My oldest DS inherited mine when I got my iphone. Shortly after, he choose to use his money to buy an iphone, and then the touch got passed down to our then 3, now 4 year old.

Seriously, the apps available for the iphone/ ipod touch, and the ability to put movies on them, make them the most economic portable entertainment devices we have. Oldest DS has not really used his DSi since getting his iphone.

 

[MNT568]

Where do you find the free apps for the ipod touch?

 

[DebMcDonald]

I bought my two girls, currently 6 & 9 (tomorrow) ipods a year ago for Christmas, so at that time they were 4 & 6. I bought them both refurbished ones from Apple and to this day they both have them and LOVE them and have treated them great. One of the best purchases we have made for our kids.

 

[JoanGirardi]

Free apps are found in the app store--there's a convenient button on the touch.

For those of you that have touches for the younger kids--Didn't you have concerns about their free access to the internet where you couldn't watch them? I feel like such a mean mommy. Our main computer is still in my living room where I can keep an eye on their web surfing, and my DD16 just finally got her touch that she's been begging for for a couple of years. She had a nano--which, by the way, I wouldn't hesitate to get for a younger child--but I was nervous about allowing internet access that I couldn't monitor. I know that there are parental controls, but I also know that the kids are more savvy than I am, and I feared they'd get around the controls. Guess I'm just not trusting enough.

 

[ptmmg]

Free apps are found in the app store--there's a convenient button on the touch.

For those of you that have touches for the younger kids--Didn't you have concerns about their free access to the internet where you couldn't watch them? I feel like such a mean mommy. Our main computer is still in my living room where I can keep an eye on their web surfing, and my DD16 just finally got her touch that she's been begging for for a couple of years. She had a nano--which, by the way, I wouldn't hesitate to get for a younger child--but I was nervous about allowing internet access that I couldn't monitor. I know that there are parental controls, but I also know that the kids are more savvy than I am, and I feared they'd get around the controls. Guess I'm just not trusting enough.

I was thinking the same thing about the internet thing.

Thanks everybody for your input we ordered a refurbished ipod nano, she is so excited!!

 

[DisLaw]

I can only speak for my girls that are 14 and 15 but they rarely use the internet on their touches. If I am right the browser is limited and you have to be where there is good wifi. Plus at home I have a password on the wifi that they do not know so they can't use the internet at home on their ipods(just on our computer)

So for me it is not really a concern, they are usually busy either listening to music, playing games or watching a movie on it. I think it is a wonderful gadget and well worth the money. I have found that we rarely use our DVD player in the car anymore since the girls would rather listen to their own music or watch something on the ipod than sit and watch a movie in the car. These things have salvaged many long car trips as well as long waits in a doctors office or at other "boring" times involving long periods of sitting! They have had theirs since they were 12 and 13, I should add.