6 year olds and iPads...

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  • pastryari
    pastryari Posts: 8,646 Member
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    Honestly, I get the mentality behind it...but an iPad? No.

    Maybe the LeapFrog learning tablet. It's designed to stand up to kids, and a 6 year old isn't going to accidentally see porn on it

    Yup. My 4 year old brother has one of those leap pad tablet things. He does play with the iPad my Dad has but my Dad is all about expensive technology and gadgets and all that so he's been around them his whole life. But to buy one solely for the child's use? Seems like a waste of money to me.
  • WickedGarden
    WickedGarden Posts: 944 Member
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    Are the parents planning on getting their precious 6 year old a Ferrari as a first car? I mean, it's a great driving experience.
  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
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    FTR, the six year old in question is allowed to play his games on iPhones, iPads, laptops, etc. that belong to the adults in his life. But doesn't play on them very often and is supervised. He has been to different internet sites required by school, but that's it. He doesn't know how to use the computer on his own... he thinks everything is touch screen and doesn't get the concept of a mouse *LOL* Technology!! I won't be able to keep up in a few years, I'm sure.
  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
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    Excellent...

    How about the "We live in the sh*ttiest town in America and a 6 year old with an iPad is a perfect target for crime."

    How about, "You can't afford to pay the child's school tuition but want to buy him an iPad?"

    How about, "Do YOU want an iPad and are trying to find an excuse to get me to pay for half of it?"


    Wait... I may have digressed a bit here...

    hahahaha sounds like the ex husband wants the iPad

    I plead the fifth :tongue:
  • Cranktastic
    Cranktastic Posts: 1,517 Member
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    Excellent...

    How about the "We live in the sh*ttiest town in America and a 6 year old with an iPad is a perfect target for crime."

    How about, "You can't afford to pay the child's school tuition but want to buy him an iPad?"

    How about, "Do YOU want an iPad and are trying to find an excuse to get me to pay for half of it?"


    Wait... I may have digressed a bit here...

    hahahaha sounds like the ex husband wants the iPad

    EXACTLY
    :angry:
  • vim_n_vigor
    vim_n_vigor Posts: 4,089 Member
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    Excellent...

    How about the "We live in the sh*ttiest town in America and a 6 year old with an iPad is a perfect target for crime."

    How about, "You can't afford to pay the child's school tuition but want to buy him an iPad?"

    How about, "Do YOU want an iPad and are trying to find an excuse to get me to pay for half of it?"


    Wait... I may have digressed a bit here...
    It sounds like you skipped a few details here! If you can't afford other things that are needed, don't even think about it. If you aren't going to fully supervise, don't even think about it. If you are really trying to get someone else to buy it, get over it and buy your own. My iPad is locked like Fort Knox. The kids can't get into it without me being right there, and then, after it is logged on, I have to log on to the internet.
  • JPod279
    JPod279 Posts: 722 Member
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    If anyone wants to buy one (or two) for my girls please go ahead. There are some great apps out there that help them learn to read, build hand-eye coordination, etc... My girls have been able to operate my iphone since they were 2.
  • oddyogi
    oddyogi Posts: 1,816 Member
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    What about an iPhone 5 instead?

    :laugh:
  • _kannnd
    _kannnd Posts: 247 Member
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    I think it depends on the maturity level of the kid and the financial situation of the parents. I don't feel like every kid should have one, but they can be really good. However, if you are having issues paying other bills and such, then hell no they shouldn't buy it.

    My kid had an iPod touch at 2.5 years old. Was she spoiled? Maybe. But it made car rides a hell of a lot easier. My kid is also one that takes care of her things. Even at 2.5 years old. She's 7 now and has her own iPhone. It's my older 4, but it was something with my husband and I. She's getting to the point where she's starting to go to friends' houses and such, and we want to be able to get in touch with her at all times if needed. Plus there is this nifty little thing called 'Find My iPhone' if for some crazy reason she got separated from us.

    I'll probably get blasted for this but I really don't care. Like I said, the maturity level of my 7 year old is greater than some adults I know.
  • wolverine66
    wolverine66 Posts: 3,780 Member
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    put me in the "it's not a bad idea that they have access to one, but to get them one of their own is a little much."

    i have a boy who will be 2 in a couple weeks. he plays with an iphone occasionally, and i have no doubt that it has contributed to/reinforced recognition of the letters, shapes and numbers since about 18 months. but I don't think i could buy him an ipod/ipad/tablet/etc.
  • magj0y
    magj0y Posts: 1,911 Member
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    My daughters have electronics but they're used with supervision. If they had an i-pad it wouldn't be in their room. (my kids are 16 & 19 and the only things in their rooms that plug in is a clock radio) I don't think many people realize the value of learning these tools at an early age. My oldest started using my computer when she was 4. She learn a great deal of things. My youngest has excelled at power point since middle school and has always gotten A's in power point projects. Our friend's son is in 4th grae and is doing animated films because he had access to a computer at an early age. It's never a disadvantage to expose young children to electronics. The nurses at my doctor's office use similar things for their reports and they hate using them because they don't know how. Many schools will soon be utilizing i-pad type of electronics in school, this 6 yr old will have advantage because like it or not, this is where society is at.

    I would get the Samsung instead of the I-pad, though. Better quality and cheaper.
  • ElizaRoche
    ElizaRoche Posts: 2,005 Member
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    I know lots of kids that have tablets or iphones...

    Parents with more money than common sense.
  • sophiemama
    sophiemama Posts: 62 Member
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    I'm not gonna lie my two year old uses our Ipad more than we do (we personally did not pay for it, it was a gift for my husband from his dad) but hey keeps her quiet on long car rides so I don't see why it matters. I mean parents can do a lot worse things to their kids than this
  • suegmune
    suegmune Posts: 81
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    Go for it and get the heavy duty case for it.

    Here is one: http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/ecd9/?rkgid=275668648&cpg=ogpla&source=google_pla&gclid=CJqsrbW9uLMCFYZM4AodLE8Aiw

    Here are some other possibilities: http://noahsdad.com/best-ipad-case-kids-toddlers-babies/ (I didn't know there was more than a couple kinds!)

    My kids are 2,3,4 and have Nooks (they are the PERFECT size for them), an old android phone (perfect for the baby), and also 2 HP touchpads that we found for $99 that we put android on.

    I would never spend $600 on an ipad, but maybe the new size, or an older version of it. And when they go to bed, its ALL YOURS :)
  • fbmandy55
    fbmandy55 Posts: 5,263 Member
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    Next year, we will start issuing all our students (high school) iPads. Some of our feeder schools heard that, and now want to issue their middle school kids iPads so they'll be ready for high school. Won't be long before parents are wanting to get their younger kids one to get them ready for middle school....

    Our city and county school use ipads now, rather than books. They are rigged so that only the smart, geeky kids can break through them for access. Most only work with the school wifi.
  • YoungDoc2B
    YoungDoc2B Posts: 1,593 Member
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    Is the money coming out of my pocket? If not, I don't have a say in the matter. More important things in life to worry about than a 6 year old and an iPad.
  • BrieLP
    BrieLP Posts: 300 Member
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    um sure buy my kid an Ipad... I will just keep it in my possession :bigsmile:
  • AngryDiet
    AngryDiet Posts: 1,349 Member
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    We have a "family" iPad which I bought second hand, and came in a very durable leather case. It's been dropped and is fine. The iPad is for everyone to use, including the 6 year old and the 3 year old, with supervision.

    To be honest, the 6 yo liked it fine for a while, but then grew bored of it. It's not an ideal educational tool, IMHO. And 6 is too young to be surfing the internet at large. Mine doesn't even know about the web browser.

    It hasn't been a problem, but it also didn't keep the kids engaged for very long.
  • fbmandy55
    fbmandy55 Posts: 5,263 Member
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    Next year, we will start issuing all our students (high school) iPads. Some of our feeder schools heard that, and now want to issue their middle school kids iPads so they'll be ready for high school. Won't be long before parents are wanting to get their younger kids one to get them ready for middle school....
    Our city and county school use ipads now, rather than books. They are rigged so that only the smart, geeky kids can break through them for access. Most only work with the school wifi.

    It's good for kids to be learning how to use these things before they are required to. My son is excellent with math, reading and a hell of an artist and he isn't even in Kindergarten yet. Some he has learned from crafts and workbook but a TON of this he has learned from educational apps.

    My parents each have an ipad and my 5 year old son plays on it. He usually watches a netflix movie on the bed with it when the adults are watching tv. He has his own ipod touch, which I love because it keeps him entertained in the car on trips. Plus, he can blast MCR and Panic! at the Disco all he wants in his headphones and I don't have to hear it.
  • REDI4CHANGE60
    REDI4CHANGE60 Posts: 170
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    Well, my nephew bought his daughter (at 7) a iPad and that kid is all over it. He bought a screen protector and she has had it for about 1 1/2 years now. She is extremely proficient, can play all kinds of learning games and very ambidextrous using the 'toy'. It is her 'toy' of choice. Just 'fix' it so that they can't download games that can cost you an arm and a leg ... only took him once and he learned a valuable lesson (he wouldn't listen lol). Anyway, she got her's over the summer and the teachers said she was so much more alert and able to move around on the computers at school that she had the other kids following her leads. Just our experience.

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