Kindle Fire for 12 year old

[tink2]

Bought the Kindle Fire for my 12 year old daughter yesterday~ kind of a quick decision b/c my husband had said he didn't want her to have internet access except at our desktop (not in her room with door closed, etc) We go Christmas shopping yesterday and he decides to get her one. I had done a little research, but not a lot. I knew that was our price limit~ so ipad and others were not a consideration.
What do I need to know? The rep at Best Buy said there are parental controls I can set~ that is good. Anyone have this yet that has any useful tips? We're leaving for Disney Chrsitmas morning, so I'm going to download some apps and stuff before Christmas morning so she can have them on the trip. The only downside I see so far is that you can't edit pictures on it~ editing pictures is big for her, but the rep said she could download pics to it form a computer~ so that will probably be fine. Can I set the background as one of her pics?
Any hints or useful tips on anyting concerning the Kindle Fire will be greatly appreciated!

 

[DannysMom]

By no means an expert, having just got mine last night, (thx DH!) But it does have Internet access-- so email, facebook, forums are all fair game. Have not (yet) looked at any parental controls.

 

[tink2]

yeah~ she will be thrilled with the internet access~ I've got to research the parental controls. She doesn't yet have a FB~ I haven't given in to that one quite yet..... trying to hold off until she's 13, but we'll see.

 

[CAFarmerGirl]

If you go to the Kindle discussion boards on Amazon, you'll see lots of complaints about no parental controls. Amazon did not include them on the Fire. So, if you want the parental control, you will have to ask the salesman how to do it (since he said it was included).

 

[Arctic Stamp Queen]

Facebook agreement states you are 16 (minimum age) to open an account. My kids are so sick of hearing that from me, but it helps back me up when I tell them it's against Facebook rules. We have a Fire but I haven't looked at Parental Controls yet since it is hubbies toy. I'll try to look tonight and get back to you.

 

[scrapquitler]

Facebook agreement states you are 16 (minimum age) to open an account. My kids are so sick of hearing that from me, but it helps back me up when I tell them it's against Facebook rules. We have a Fire but I haven't looked at Parental Controls yet since it is hubbies toy. I'll try to look tonight and get back to you.

Actually, Facebook's help page states: What is the minimum age required to sign up for Facebook?
In order to be eligible to sign up for Facebook, people must be thirteen (13) years of age or older.

I know this because I told my DD that she could NOT have a FB account unless she was 'legally' old enough per FB, and she was quick to point out to me that 13 was 'legal'

 

[Arctic Stamp Queen]

Oh no on the Facebook info...they must have changed the age from when my older daughter got her account. I'm sorry to have given misinformation. (Hanging head in shame)

 

[tink2]

yeah, FB says 13....my daughter has pointed it out to me many, many times since she turns 13 in June. She thinks it's horrible that I'm making her wait to get one~ and I told her just b/c FB said 13 didn't mean we would ok it. she thinks we're too strict, I told her to get used to it! LOL

 

[dzorn]

Bought the Kindle Fire for my 12 year old daughter yesterday~ kind of a quick decision b/c my husband had said he didn't want her to have internet access except at our desktop (not in her room with door closed, etc) We go Christmas shopping yesterday and he decides to get her one. I had done a little research, but not a lot. I knew that was our price limit~ so ipad and others were not a consideration.
What do I need to know? The rep at Best Buy said there are parental controls I can set~ that is good. Anyone have this yet that has any useful tips? We're leaving for Disney Chrsitmas morning, so I'm going to download some apps and stuff before Christmas morning so she can have them on the trip. The only downside I see so far is that you can't edit pictures on it~ editing pictures is big for her, but the rep said she could download pics to it form a computer~ so that will probably be fine. Can I set the background as one of her pics?
Any hints or useful tips on anyting concerning the Kindle Fire will be greatly appreciated!

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/06/us-usa-amazon-fire-idUSTRE7B52BK20111206

I've read more than one article on the lack of parental controls.
Denise in MI

 

[mickeymaker2003]

No parental controls on a Kindle Fire and no way to stop them from being able to order things would be a problem for me. For the same money, you could get her an 8 GB iPod touch (that will function as an e-reader--although the screen is small). It does have extensive parental controls so you could keep her from using the internet on it. It also is more pocket-friendly and portable. I think Target is offering a gift card with it and if you look around the board you will find a link to a free $10 gift card with a $50 purchase coupon and a coupon for 10% off ipods on the Target website. I would go that route. There are also many more ipod apps than Kindle apps.

 

[tink2]

After a lot of research and studying online, I have decided to return the kindle fire and get an ipod touch. I do NOT like Amazon's policies as far as their accounts~ I could set her up her own account with a prepaid credit card so there is an actual limit and not out of my debit card, but still. There is no required password to purchase apps or things off amazon~ so anyone who picks up her amazon could clean her out. That is ridiculous! with a 12 year old, there are many scenarios that this could be bad in. Secondly, no parental controls whatsoever. yeah, there are settings you can change, but not really parental controls. and 3rd, there is no camera (I knew this when I bought it, but it was a negative and combined with the first 2 things listed did factor in the final decision). DD12 loves to take pictures and edit them and all that good stuff girls like to do~ plus you can facetime with friends and skype on the ipod.
sooooo.... after much debate, we have decided to return the Kindle fire and get the ipod touch. now, let the new research begin! so far, it does not look nearly as complicated as the kindle fire!

 

[Leajess99]

Actually, Facebook's help page states: What is the minimum age required to sign up for Facebook?
In order to be eligible to sign up for Facebook, people must be thirteen (13) years of age or older.

I know this because I told my DD that she could NOT have a FB account unless she was 'legally' old enough per FB, and she was quick to point out to me that 13 was 'legal'

Thank you for posting this as I had thought this the case (told my dd 13 she could get one when she turned 13 as that was what I had read then) but read the PP and started stressing. My dd has yet to ask about FB again so holding out until she does.

 

[Leajess99]

yeah, FB says 13....my daughter has pointed it out to me many, many times since she turns 13 in June. She thinks it's horrible that I'm making her wait to get one~ and I told her just b/c FB said 13 didn't mean we would ok it. she thinks we're too strict, I told her to get used to it! LOL

My 8 year old called me a mean mom yesterday because I told her she was not getting a cell phone. She turns 9 next month but her some of her friends have cell phones already. The one boy got his the other day and he turns 8 next week. Yesterday she had a classmate whose phone was going off in class (3rd grade) and no one would own up to it.

I told her when she goes to middle school she can get one then because the bus ride is 12 miles one way and I know the issues that happen on the bus since both her brother and sister have been through it.

 

[Leajess99]

After a lot of research and studying online, I have decided to return the kindle fire and get an ipod touch. I do NOT like Amazon's policies as far as their accounts~ I could set her up her own account with a prepaid credit card so there is an actual limit and not out of my debit card, but still. There is no required password to purchase apps or things off amazon~ so anyone who picks up her amazon could clean her out. That is ridiculous! with a 12 year old, there are many scenarios that this could be bad in. Secondly, no parental controls whatsoever. yeah, there are settings you can change, but not really parental controls. and 3rd, there is no camera (I knew this when I bought it, but it was a negative and combined with the first 2 things listed did factor in the final decision). DD12 loves to take pictures and edit them and all that good stuff girls like to do~ plus you can facetime with friends and skype on the ipod.
sooooo.... after much debate, we have decided to return the Kindle fire and get the ipod touch. now, let the new research begin! so far, it does not look nearly as complicated as the kindle fire!

If you can spare a little extra I would highly, highly recommend the 32gb Touch over the 8gb. The 8gb has no room on it if you add movies or apps or use the video feature. Target has the 32 for $295 plus they have the $40 gift card plus they did have the 10% off coupon and if you have a red card that is an extra 5% off. It would be about $252 if you have the red card but $265 if not. Then you get the $40 gift card so really only a little bit more.

My 13 year old DD is getting the 32gb for Christmas as that is all she has asked for. I have an 8gb and a friend's son does as well and we hate the lack of space.

 

[tink2]

yeah~ I plan to get the 32 gb... shopping as we speak for the lowest price. Best buy has them on sale too. looking into the target prices.

 

[Pumbaa_]

The kindle fire has some issues. You cannot remove any of your books from the magical cloud. So all my books would be available on any kindle fire on my account. So not a fan of that. Kids should not have complete access to adult books.

thought of getting one for my mom, same issue. (I share an account with 3 friends with eclectic tastes) Do not want to have mom flipping through some sketchy choices . hope this gets resolved in a future release

 

[tink2]

pumbaa~ yeah, I'm thinking that if she wants something larger later, maybe they will have the kindle fire issues resolved. There are just too many for me to buy it for a 12 year old right now. They have lots of little 'bugs' to fix with it