iTouch vs Dsi

[seashellmom]

I am trying to decide whether to get my DD6 an iTouch or a Dsi for Christmas. She currently uses her older sister's regular DS. We haven't brought her any new games of her own though. She loves to use her sister's iTouch and my iPhone to play games. I feel like 6 is a little young for the iTouch, but hate to have to keep buying games for the DSi and also hate trying to keep up with them. Any thoughts?

 

[DISRY]

Honestly like you said, itouch is a lot for her age. I would get the DSI because 1. when i was 6 i had the DS and loved it! 2. it has games more her age style 3.its bigger and easier to keep track of. If she was 10, i would say get the itouch because then you wont have to upgrade for a different one, but considering she is 6, the DSI. I am 13 and I have an itouch but didnt get it till just last year because i lost my ipod before that and i had to show i was resposible enough again.

 

[auralia]

my 3 year old daughter has had an ipod touch for 1.5 years and we use it when ever we go out the games are cheap and have wide viarity for all ages she can watch her movies and do her music too... which she does all by herself... she also has books that read outloud on it... with a ds you will get your daughter 2 maybe 3 games for 50-80$ and that will be it until birthday etc with itouch you can buy lots of 2-3$ games that will keep her attition better... my 5 year old neice loves when she can get her hands on my daughters ipod... ds is great i am a gamer i love games, 6 is really just too young to enjoy those kinds of video games enough and there just arn't enough games for a 6 year old girl that are any good and in any way educational.

 

[icc2515]

Get the Touch. I have a 4 year old and a soon to be 7 year old. I am getting them both the Touch's. Good points on the Touch are movies, tv shows, cheap games, up to 7 hours watching videos on the battery. DSI pros good variety of games, much less expensive.

 

[Nicolepa]

Touch, no question. My kids have not touched their Dsi's since they got their touches. They've had them about 2 years so they were 6 & 8 when they got them.

There are games for everyone from my toddler all the way up. What I love is the games are $2-3 vs $30-50. I don't have to keep track of the cartridges etc. It's much easier to put in your purse or pocket and always have with you when you "need" it. Also whenever my kids need help learning something (math tables, reading music, states/capitals etc) there is always an app I can get them for a couple of bucks and they don't complain too much about having to practice.

The price is about the same so I'm not sure why it would be "a bit much".

 

[dreamer423]

Isn't anyone worried about unsupervised internet access?

 

[bartleby1]

Isn't anyone worried about unsupervised internet access?

This is my main concern about the itouch. My kids want one, but I haven't done much research. I'm VERY concerned about them having internet access in the palm of their hand. Is there some kind of parental control that can lock them out of internet access?

 

[cccdisney]

Isn't anyone worried about unsupervised internet access?

This is my main concern about the itouch. My kids want one, but I haven't done much research. I'm VERY concerned about them having internet access in the palm of their hand. Is there some kind of parental control that can lock them out of internet access?

I know you can turn the internet on and off but I'm not sure about the parental lock. I would think that a young child would not be able to go and turn it on and off unless they were shown (or somehow managed to do it accidentally). Of course depending on the app you are using you might need the internet on.

Also, remember with the touch you can't get online anywhere. Only places with wireless internet. With the iphone you can be online anywhere.

My son with special needs uses a touch for games and flashcards. He loves it!

 

[bartleby1]

Thanks for the info. My kids are 5, 8, and 10. The 8 and 10 year old are the ones that I'm concerned about having access. They are great kids but even great kids can do stupid things! I really don't want them to have internet access while they are upstairs in their bedrooms or downstairs in the basement. We do have wireless in the house, but their laptop lives in the dining room where they can be supervised while on the net.

I'll have to do some more research before they make up their Christmas lists!

 

[NikiM20]

Dd has the touch and we are able to block access to the Internet. She has no access through apps or safari. She brings it everywhere with her and uses it much more than her dsi.

ETA.. We have the controls Locked and only dh and I know the code.

 

[JB2K]

Small children with iPod Touch???

So much for the "budget" in this board...

 

[mom2val]

Small children with iPod Touch???

So much for the "budget" in this board...

I know ... wahhhh I want one but am to cheap!

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

Small children with iPod Touch???

So much for the "budget" in this board...

A refurbished itouch is close to the same price as a dsi, plus the games are cheaper. Also, if you have multiple people in your home with ipods you only have to buy the games, music, apps, etc. once, then you can put it on all of the ipods whereas with a ds each person needs the game cartridge to play.

 

[JB2K]

A refurbished itouch is close to the same price as a dsi, plus the games are cheaper. Also, if you have multiple people in your home with ipods you only have to buy the games, music, apps, etc. once, then you can put it on all of the ipods whereas with a ds each person needs the game cartridge to play.

You obviously didn't get the "sarcasm" in my statement...

...a lot of people are struggling to just "get by" (and some of those people see the advice dispensed from this board as a means to get there).

I think when we talk about getting our preschoolers something as sophisticated (and expensive -- even refurbished!) as an iPod touch, we aren't looking like we are as "wise" as they hope us to be...

In fact, I have my own set of comments on the subject, but as we are all adults, to each their own.

 

[pixiewings71]

My DD14 has one, she got it for her 8th grade graduation gift last year. We gave her the option of a new camera, an iTouch, an iPad (sort of but not really lol, those are $$$$) or an iPod, she chose the iTouch but she really thought about it. DD10 does not have one nor will she for a few more years. My girls are both very responsible with things like this but that's just too much for me to allow until at least 13. Both have DS's and both still play with them, the games are more $$ but that's how we work. FWIW we normally buy used games, very rarely do we buy anything brand new.

I just think that a lot of kids try to grow up too fast and IMO having an iTouch is something an older child or adult has, not a child under the age of 10. Of course others feel otherwise but that's how we do it here. My kids don't have their own computers (we do have a desktop, a laptop and a netbook tho) nor do they have TV's in their rooms, that's just not something we feel is necessary. So my views on electronics are somewhat conservative, I just can't see DD22 giving my DGD 19 months anything like that for quite a few years.

and no, the internet only works where there is wireless access, which we have at home and find sometimes when we are out and about but she doesn't use it for internet that much, she prefers the computer.

 

[DISRY]

I know you can turn the internet on and off but I'm not sure about the parental lock. I would think that a young child would not be able to go and turn it on and off unless they were shown (or somehow managed to do it accidentally). Of course depending on the app you are using you might need the internet on.

Also, remember with the touch you can't get online anywhere. Only places with wireless internet. With the iphone you can be online anywhere.

My son with special needs uses a touch for games and flashcards. He loves it!

Ya, you can lock the internet with a passcode but many games require internet so its iff-iffy

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

Small children with iPod Touch???

So much for the "budget" in this board...

I know I won't even by my teenager one. She can buy it herself.

 

[KKB]

but if we are buying these high end items for young kids, what do they have to look forward to?
Of course I am of the mindset that children don't have TVs or computers in their room...nor do they have smart phones...
DS15 has itouch he bought w/ his own money...DD12 bought DS's first one from him. Our internet requires a login, so they cannot access it at home (they can wherever there is wifi...I know this as I took DDs on vacation just for that purpose)
DH & I are both in a field that is strong in tech (teacher librarians--which are taking over tech duties as well in our district)...but we still believe in children waiting to get these goodies (no cell phone until 8th grade for DS, then DD got hers in 7th cuz our contract was up...it's killing DS10).
I do applaud you for making it an Xmas present...our kids know most of these items are their responsibility to buy, so they ask for cash for bday/xmas. It makes them very mindful of their money & saving for a purpose.
We take our children on trips, which is mind-boggling to many. Disney, cruising, around the country to see relatives; we will hit Chicago next summer & DC the following. And as much as our kids love their gadgets, they have all said they would rather give up Xmas gifts from us to take a big family trip each year.
Studies show that people that spend their money on experiences are happier than those that spend it on things...
Sorry for the soapbox...working with children everyday, I see them get the latest & greatest gadget...then the next week they are already talking about the next one that they want! Won't feed that fire...

All that being said, the DSi is more developmentally appropriate, IMO.
Still plain ol' DS at our house--and DS10 is playing perfectly happy...

 

[ilovejack02]

DS8 is getting an Itouch for xmas. I am over buying games and keeping up with them . Plays with his DS quite a bit , has had it about 4 years, has asked for a DSI XL screen, but I am not going to buy another thing that takes the cartridges lol. Plus why would I replace something that still works fine, he can play the one he has until it dies.

My main reason for buying the touch is we take long road trips several times a year to visit grandparents not to mention the long drive to Disney LOL and all the other trips we take. This will be so nice because all games , videos etc will be loaded onto it. I don't have to worry about keeping up with all the DS games at grandma's house or hotels.

DS is going to be so excited, he never in a million years would guess he would get this. : )

Between the Harry Potter Legos and the Touch, I think he might lose his mind Christmas morning LOL.

Most of my friend's children have the Touch, not many are buying the DS any more . My best friend's 5 yr old DD loves her's she has the cutest games on it.

 

[bethy]

Thanks everyone - keep weighing in! I am having this exact debate for DD9. I'm also considering getting her a laptop. We live in Microsoft land and literally 80% of the kids in her class have all these things already. We're not trying to keep up with the Jones' in principle but we do feel some pressure for our kids to be very tech-saavy in this tech saavy world.

For the record - we have ONE TV in our house. And no cable.