Would you let Santa do this.....

[hops&dreams]

I think the days of just going to play with friends or even expecting to be able to talk on the phone for extended periods of time are pretty much over. Kids just aren't freely available in their after school hours, friendships aren't limited to neighborhoods, and people in general are far more mobile than they used to be. I love that my kids text. When I was a kid and a friend moved away, it was a couple long-distance phone calls (that we usually got in trouble for because of the per-minute charges), promises to write, and then drifting apart. My son's closest childhood friend moved 12+ hours away but they text and voice-chat online through their video games so they're still very close even after 4 years of living in different states. To me, that is really, really cool.

I do think there need to be limits. My kids know better than to bring their gizmos to the table - that's a pet peeve of mine too - or check them in the middle of a face-to-face conversation. But IMO the answer to one extreme (overuse) isn't the opposite extreme (prohibition); it is good old fashioned common sense, limits, and moderation.

I totally agree. Moderation is key. I'm not so naive that I don't think DD will ever be interested in that stuff. I know she will. (my kid is just not yet, although plenty of her friends have recieved them before they even became interested in them). And when that time comes, it will be all about common sense, limits, moderation, and a good ole dose of respect. (the actual person in front of you will 999 times out of 1000 be more important than a conversation in your hand/electronic gadget.)

I do agree with the keeping in contact part though. But at my daughter's age, there's no reason she isn't able to do those things on the family's devices. We facetime with my mom-in-law at least twice a week, and with my sister's kids (10 yr old twins) often. Actually they send us Voxer messages pretty much every day. It's fun, being in their every day lives even though they live halfway across the country.

 

[caribear]

I have not read any of the posts except the original one by the OP....however this is what we did last year for our 2 children. We bought them each a 32GB iPod Touch. I wrapped them in a box within a box within a box..ect.....I think they had 4 wrapped boxed to open before they came to the small wrapped package with their iPods. Santa brought them otterbox cases, 2 books each, a board game and some candy. My mom bought them iTunes Gift Cards.

I could not have bought DD10 an iPod withouth buying one for DS5. It would have been constant mayhem at my house and DS5 already had been using my iPod Touch for the past 6 months or so for ABC and number games. They both love their iPods and play with them daily.

I have no idea what we are going to do this year. I would rather buy them 1 larger gift and forgo all the other "doodads" that they play with for 1 day and then we never see them being played with again.

 

[dhardawa]

Max got an iPod Touch when he was 2 1/2. It was one of the best purchases I have ever made. It is now obsolete and I'm planning to replace it or get an iPod Mini. He has tons of learning apps (all were free), music, movies, etc. and LOVES that thing. He uses it in the car, on planes, and anytime we're waiting and doing nothing. Best. Purchase. Ever.

 

[Tented1]

I'm so glad I found this thread AND learning about a kid safe browser might have just sealed the touch decision for me. (I just researched earlier today about parental controls.)

I think i'm in the minority here as I would NOT do it. DH and I might be super old-fashioned, but for our family, our kid needs to be just that - a kid. I think today's society gets so caught up in "oh, it's educational" that they forget, or overlook the other things it can do. Yeah, that's all fine and good that they can email their friends. Why don't they just go play with them, or talk on the phone over texting? I see so many kids now-a-days who are losing valuable social skills because most of their time is spent looking into a screen instead of at other people. It's one of my biggest pet peeves! (yes, I know I sound old, but I'm in my early 30's). It makes me SO mad when I go to a restaurant and I see a whole family together and they are all engrossed in their phones/electronic devices, and not saying a word to each other - through the whole meal! And I see it ALL THE TIME!!!!

In our house, DD (who is almost 9) will be asking Santa for books, Barbie stuff, craft kits, science experiment kits. This is the kind of stuff SHE is interested in, and darn it, I'm gonna bask in every single last second of her being a care-free kid!!!

Yes, there are apps that DD can learn from. Actually, all their spelling study-stuff is done through the Spelling City app. But a few mins of her playing/homeworking (the whole notion that playing and homework can be interchangable is another topic that ticks me off!) on my phone while I am in the same room is different than her having her own iPod Touch, where she has access to everything. Who knows who is texting her and what they are saying/sending pictures of, or what she is saying/sending pictures of? Who knows what she's looking up on YouTube? there are so many things that my daughter is still not ready/old enough to see, that it boggles my mind.

Also, I think I need to stop hearing work stories from my neighbor who works in the federal courts system. ick! There are some sick people out there!

And yes, I have an iphone, and I use it for work, but there are many times/places it does not have a place, and I refuse to let it take the place of real human interaction. (and yes, we also have a Kindle and Nook, so we are not technologically averse - just annoyed by what it's doing to our society, and the rude-ness that it makes okay).

Just my humble opinion. It would not work for my family.

There are kid safe browsers and parental controls. Texting, internet, youtube can all be turned off from whiat I understand. I have/had reservations as well.

I would rather compromise with this than allow a smart phone.

My daughters thing is music and singing. I want that capability as well as the educational apps that aren't available with her DSi (which I also almost didn't get because I didn't want her playing games all the time. She uses the DSi for pictures, records herself and her friends singing, keeps diary info. etc.)

I live in a very rural area there is no neighborhood kid social contact within walking or bicyling distance for a 9-10 year old girl. My DD is an only child and she rides one hour round trip to dance class two times a week.

My view is if you don't allow some moderation and monitored access then the temptation and the curiosity only loom bigger. Denying access isn't the same thing as teaching the right choices. Every family and every child is different. Also, different levels should be introduced at appropriate ages.

Your never gonna have an impact on what other people do or don't do as far as their behavior and your perception of their rudeness.

Teach your young to fly with the way you want and that is the direction they will go. (Hope and a prayer.)