Ipod Touch Appropriate for 8yr old??

**Mama2many** · 26-05-2011 19:14

So my DD turns 8 soon, and all she wants is an Ipod touch.... I'm just not sure if it's appropriate for her or not...

She's very mature and smart for her age, that's not the issues....I just don't know if it's the right thing to give an 8 year old...

I'm not sure if it's because it's something I would never have dreamed of owning when I was her age or what...

I asked a few mums at school today and 3 of their kids had Ipod touches and another was getting all her kids one for xmas this year...

Just wondering what other ppls thoughts are....

**MicE** · 26-05-2011 19:33

I went to a parenting talk at the local primary school a few months ago. One of the thing they warned us about is the Internet. This is one of the highest threats for kids today. They advised parents to make sure all Internet connecting devices were easily accessible by adults and preferably in a public space.
I'm not against an 8 year old having an iPad if you can trust then to look after them however the content via the net for an 8 yr old would scare me. I would either not enable it or limit what can be viewed.
From my side if my son was responsible enough I would get him one. It's no better or worse then a tv or radio you may have gotten them instead.

**waterlily** · 26-05-2011 19:35

Well my DD is getting one for her second birthday so yeah....

**shinebrite** · 26-05-2011 19:37

My girls are 22 months and nearly 5, they have my old iPhone 3GS as their iPod touch. They watch movies on it, play child appropriate games like coloring in, letters and numbers games ect. They love playing the music and dancing around on them! They're great!

**Aquillah** · 26-05-2011 19:39

I think if you are comfortable with it but worry what others will think then get it! Stuff what others think. If there is age appropriate music or music you think is suitable then go for it.

The only thing I would make sure of is that she does not have little ear phones rather more the headset ear phones (better for their ears) or maybe get someone to get her a docking station for her room so she doesnt have to have put on ear phones. I know there has been alot of worrying research that is showing hearing damage in young children because of loud music from little earphones.

I picked up a docking station from Target cheap and its great!

Also, who is paying for music to be downloaded onto the Ipod? I suppose that can get expensive.

Anyway, I think go for it. If she knows its expensive and can look after it then I say go for it!

**bubbanails** · 26-05-2011 19:40

My DD has one she has just turned 9 she has had it for about 6 months and i questioned the same thing.

I have to say i havent encounted any problems with her and the ipod, she has been very responsible with it. Although she does not use the internet alot only for school, i do get stuck with loading all her music which isnt a biggy. She was with me when we bought it and saw the amount it costs, which i think made a big difference to her in being responsible for it.

I think if you have some boundaries and rules, and you think your daughter is responsible enough, you should be fine.

**emmwill** · 26-05-2011 19:48

DD1 and DS both have them. They only get to download 1 game a week. It is great in the car on long trips. DD2 uses my iphone all the time and loves it.

**HoldingHands** · 26-05-2011 19:56

My DD1 is 28 months and she has my old iPhone with no sim in it. It has some great little apps on it and I go into the settings and turn off the internet. She doesn't really use it at home, but it's great if we're stuck waiting at the Dr's or something like that. It also has an iPod function so she has a few kids albums on there to listen to as well.

**RmumR** · 26-05-2011 20:01

DD1 got one for her 3rd birthday, yes i know thats very young but she had already been playing the kids games on her dads iphone and i was in and out of hospy pregnantvwith DD2 and it kept Dd1 quiet and busy when i had to take her to my many medical appointments.

we havent put in the code to hook her's to the internet we download games for her on our iphones and then plug into conputer and sync with her ipod touch

**Jensha** · 26-05-2011 20:33

Personally I won't be buying DD anything like that until she is in her teens. She isn't into games or anything and I hope to keep it that way for awhile yet. I might consider a cheaper kind of mp3 player at around your DD's age without all the other jazz. If thats something she wanted.