My "Top 5" Personal Electronics - Which Do Your Teens Have?

[DVCLiz]

My list of the "top 5": laptop computer, cell phone, digital camera, GPS and IPod (obviously there are many brands of each of these - I'm just using the general term for each one.)

With Christmas approaching, I'm sure many of these will be on shopping lists. But, I'm sure there are some parents who decide they will not pruchase one or the other for various reasons.

So, which of these do your teens have? I suppose I'm talking about tweens, too, although some of them seem more likely to be needed by high schoolers and not by middle schoolers (a GPS is nice for a driving teen, for example, but not very useful for a 13 year old.) Which will they be getting at some point? And which will you say "no" to?

My daughters have all of these, btw - they are 20 and 15. Laptops came as a used hand me down in the 8th grade, followed by new laptops in high school (a requirement of the school they attend.) Cell phones were birthday presents - older daughter at 14, younger at 13. Digital cameras and IPods came as Christmas presents during the last three or four years - beginning with IPod Minis and moving to IPod Touch/Ipod Classic last year. A GPS unit for my older daughter was a high school graduation present - for younger daughter who is a week away from getting her learner's permit it came as a feature of her new phone.

I hope this will be interesting but keep it respectful, please.

 

[mjkacmom]

My dd12 has a cellphone, ipod (which she doesn't use because her phone has this function), a digital camera, and a Flip camera. She doesn't have a laptop, wants one, but can access the web from her phone.

 

[mom2travel]

My DS (13 1/2) has a cell phone - got it originally a few years ago as part of a "buy 2 get 1 free" promotion through verizon; at that time it was for my & DH's peace of mind when DS would be at soccer practice (knew the coach and were comfortable dropping off at practice but liked knowing DS could call if practice ended early). Up until recently he only carried it in his bag when going to soccer/tennis practice; now he uses it all the time to text and talk to friends. I love knowing that I can get in touch with him when he is not home and that he can easily contact us.
He also has an ipod - started with a shuffle, then a nano that he bought w/ his own money, now a classic that we got for "free" by using credit card points. He does not have a laptop but would like one - we have a family computer in a shared space and that's all it's going to be for him for the foreseeable future. Also does not have a digital camera - takes pictures with his cell phone when we travel; he's never asked for one, but if he did I would not be opposed to getting him one as a birthday or Christmas gift. Obviously doesn't need a GPS yet and we really haven't even thought of it, but I imagine that driving will be coming sooner than I am ready...

 

[taximomfor4]

my 15yr old has a cell phone (My old one), and a refurbished iPod shuffle (the old stick-shaped ones). She isn't allowed to use cell phone minutes, just nights and weekends and unlimited texting (as long as she's not being ridiculous...walking and texting, texting while she has company, texting during school hours, and texting at the table). My tween has a refurbished, old $29 shuffle too. My other kids (6 and almost 9 -- TOMORROW!) have none of those.

 

[disneynewbee]

laptop computer, cell phone, digital camera, GPS and IPod

My 15yo has all but the GPS, she can't drive yet so she has no use for it.
She got her laptop 2 years ago for Christmas. Her cell phone she got 2 years ago for her birthday and then she got the new dare for her 15th birthday. I believe the dare has the GPS capability but we don't have that set up. She has unlimited text and internet access on her phone. She got a digital camera before her first Disney trip in 2004. The Ipod was also a bday present that she got 2 years ago when she got her first phone. She will definately have a gps when she starts to drive.

 

[4lilpoohs]

My 15 year old has a cell phone and ipod. The cell phone he got for Christmas when he was 13. The ipod might have been for his 13th birthday. Next year for Christmas I will get him a gps.

 

[dismom9761]

Mt DS13 has a cellphone that he got for his 12th birthday.He asked for a new one for Christmas but the one he wanted is $300 so he is not getting it.

He bought an ipod with his birthday money in October.The new Nano.

He doesn't have a laptop,he uses the family computer.No need for GPS yet.

 

[bdoyledimou]

DS 11 just got a cellphone (pay as you go) for his birthday (last weds).
Both him and DD 9 have digital cameras and I-pods (Minis?) from Christmas last year.
For Christmas they are each getting an Asus Aspire One Netbook (which is a full featured laptop the size of a paperback , about 8.5 inches) to help with school work and reports.

We have a GPS in the car, but neither of them can drive yet... so they don't need to use it.