What to get a 9yo and 7yo for b-day and Christmas?

[kejowe28]

Mani-pedis girls day out with a set budget add some free activites and make a day of it

 

[StitchBuddy]

I totally understand why you do not want your children to have internet access. We compromised and let my daughter buy an ipod classic, no internet access ability. She loves it! She is 13 years old. I think people are to quick to give kids more than they are ready for/mature enough for. Our kids are bombarded by images from the media that are inappropriate for them. We also gave her a phone for her 13th birthday, not so much for her, but for our peace of mind. She is involved in lots of sports and extra curricular activities.

 

[southern_redhead]

I totally understand why you do not want your children to have internet access. We compromised and let my daughter buy an ipod classic, no internet access ability. She loves it! She is 13 years old. I think people are to quick to give kids more than they are ready for/mature enough for. Our kids are bombarded by images from the media that are inappropriate for them. We also gave her a phone for her 13th birthday, not so much for her, but for our peace of mind. She is involved in lots of sports and extra curricular activities.

That can be true, on the flip side of the coin I think some of the problem is parent's who aren't involved enough. My son and his friends text to stay in touch, none of them are "phone talkers" and I get that as I am not either. I do check his texts on a regular basis to see who he is talking to and what they are saying. For the most part it's "Hey" "WRUD" "NM" "K" LOL The lead such exciting little lives! I also know what he and my daughter do on their laptops and they always check with me before signing up for any gaming sites or visiting a new site they aren't sure of. We restrict time spent online, in front of the tv, etc... My 11 yo has Facebook and uses it so little it's almost a waste to have an account in his name. However, it is nice that his friends can go to his wall and leave birthday wishes or just say "hi" to show they are thinking of him. We travel a lot and it is fun for him to make albums with some pictures from our trips for his friends to look at. They do the same on their vacations. We have everything set to private/friends only viewing and he checks with me before confirming a friend. My son is very kind and very mature (emotionally) for his age. He is always respectful and tries to help others. I feel like by giving him these (monitored) privileges I am rewarding him for choosing to "do the right thing". My 8 yo DD on the other hand is not as mature as her brother was at her age, she is very silly. I won't let her have a phone or Facebook, mostly because I don't think a 3rd grader needs either one. She uses her laptop for webkinz, barbie girls, and such. She has asked "Can I get one when I turn 10" like her brother did but I am not sure that at 10 she will be ready so we will see. You have to base it on the child and your willingness to supervise them.