6 year olds and iPads...

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Replies

  • bluefox9er
    bluefox9er Posts: 2,917 Member
    Let's say, hypothetically of course, someone wants to get a SIX year old an iPad. "It's a great learning tool," is the argument of said person.

    How would you respond??

    Completely hypothetically... of course.

    I got one for my niece on her 7th bday..she has used one since she was 5
  • ahviendha
    ahviendha Posts: 1,291 Member
    I wish kids wouldn't be hooked up to the internet so soon!

    Let them play in mud for pete's sake! (it's certainly frowned upon when you get older...)
  • magj0y
    magj0y Posts: 1,911 Member
    I had a black and white gameboy when I was... wait, no, I was older than 6.

    We owned the very 1st hand held interchangeable video game. I was in 3rd grade and it was sooo awesome.
    We played that thing to death! Unfortunately it wasn't a huge success due to the cost, so most people haven't even heard of it.
    The game boy wasn't the 1st. It had baseball, blockbuster and a pinball game. Super fun!

    My Kids played in the mud, jumped in rfaked leaves and played outside til the street lights came on up into middle school. Parents need to be responsible with their kid's usage and monitor what they do. It's a shame how many kids have tv/dvd/computers up in their rooms! That's like holding your kid's door open to predators! Too many parents are clueless.
  • healthyversionofme
    healthyversionofme Posts: 111 Member
    "What? No. Get him a book and an etchasketch."

    ^^Wins

    Plus, I'm not a fan of kids having nicer toys than ME
    LOL this too =p

    I disagree. First and foremost, depends on your finances. I am assuming you can afford this. What some adults fail to realize is that technology is taking over the world. Its hard to grasp for some, but kids are hip to it. I dont have an ipad, but i have i phones and my kids work them better than i do. My parents have ipads and they love them! If i could afford to buy them one, I would. Why hold them back. They also love to color, write, draw, play outside...i dont stop them from those things so why limit them from technology. I cant afford it, but if one can..why not? Also, there is a whole kid world out there to support kids and ipads/ipods...check it out....there are two competing brands: Apptvity and Itech. They have kid friendly cases to prevent breakage from drops and water as well, as supporting learning tools.
  • sapphireswi
    sapphireswi Posts: 583 Member
    Makes me think about the time when i was 6 . .

    I would take a stick to the park and draw stuff on the mud :tongue:
    Spend the whole evening looking for round pebbles
    Take off my slippers, jump into puddles and splash it all over
    Play make believe games (House, Doctor, School, FairyTales :laugh: )

    I guess it's nice that the Ipad can help the kids with their studies and development.
    I think they would find it just as fun to play about the olden way.:flowerforyou:
  • jcstanton
    jcstanton Posts: 1,849 Member
    Um, my brother and sis in law bought my 11 year old niece an iPod Touch (cheaper than the iPad) for her birthday, and it didn't last two weeks before she had dropped it and completely shattered the screen. I can't imagine that ANY six year old would be more responsible with an iPad. Edit to add: I suppose if it was something they used with supervision, maybe that wouldn't be so bad. However, I wouldn't let them roam freely with it. Too much chance of it getting damaged.
  • healthyversionofme
    healthyversionofme Posts: 111 Member
    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

    porn is not usually accidently found...but you can put parental supervision on the internet.
  • healthyversionofme
    healthyversionofme Posts: 111 Member
    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...

    well with all of this....NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! I assumed we were speaking of someone with the appropriate finances.
  • _kannnd
    _kannnd Posts: 247 Member
    Makes me think about the time when i was 6 . .

    I would take a stick to the park and draw stuff on the mud :tongue:
    Spend the whole evening looking for round pebbles
    Take off my slippers, jump into puddles and splash it all over
    Play make believe games (House, Doctor, School, FairyTales :laugh: )

    I guess it's nice that the Ipad can help the kids with their studies and development.
    I think they would find it just as fun to play about the olden way.:flowerforyou:

    You make it sound like kids do nothing but play on these things. My kid has an iPhone. At my last job, I had an iPad that she played with. Yeah, she played on it.

    But...

    She still has gymnastics 2-3x a week.
    She plays outside.
    She jumps in puddles.
    She plays at the park.
    She rides her bike.
    She helps walk the dog.
    She plays dress up and dolls with her friends.
    She watches tv.

    Guess what, kids can still do a lot of the things that 'we' used to do at the same age. Get over it, times are different now than when we were that age. I'm sure if you were a kid now, you'd want it too...
  • healthyversionofme
    healthyversionofme Posts: 111 Member
    Alright, what apps would you all suggest for the 6 year old?

    omg you would be surprised...there is a kid world out there in ipad land...remember...apple is genius!
  • healthyversionofme
    healthyversionofme Posts: 111 Member
    I know lots of kids that have tablets or iphones...

    Parents with more money than common sense.

    Just because you get your kid a phone, does not mean that you have no common sense.

    when the kid is 5 years old.. yes id say the parents dont have common sense.

    your so wrong...great learning tool..if i could afford it i would get for my 3 and 4 year old...they love it! and it helps them with abcs and 123s...
  • healthyversionofme
    healthyversionofme Posts: 111 Member
    How did we ever survive as children without iPads, DS, PS etc?.... Man. Must've been a third world country then.

    You have to grow with the times. Ipads werent out then so no worries. Now, if your child is advancing with the world..whats the issue?
  • healthyversionofme
    healthyversionofme Posts: 111 Member
    I was at a friends afternoon party yesterday and saw a 3 year old with an iPad. They had a large rubber case around it. He was playing chess, drawing with it and learning the alphabet. It was amazing all the applications for small kids that was on there.

    I was really impressed at what a learning tool this could be. It's so versatile and besides learning the applications this 3 year old was also becoming very comfortable with the latest interface with computers.

    If you can afford it I think it's awesome!

    this!! agreed...whats the problem right?
  • healthyversionofme
    healthyversionofme Posts: 111 Member
    After seeing what adults being attached to cell phones and tablets has done to how they speak and write, I can't get behind children with ipads or phones.

    My husband has more of these tools than most and his speech and writing skills are impeccable. How people use speech and writing isn't a reflection of the tool, but rather their laziness.

    You shouldn't allow lazy people influence when to educate your children in technology. It's not a choice on if, just when, and it's easier to learn when they're young.

    agreed...technology doesnt make you lazy...thats a personal choice... and my kids, who love all the tech stuff, also love being outside, playing in dirt, swinging, hitting balls, drawing, writing, and other things...but gasp they must be lazy due to me allowing them you play on an ipad/iphone. i wonder how many of these comments are coming from parents with toddlers in this new tech age?
  • sapphireswi
    sapphireswi Posts: 583 Member
    Makes me think about the time when i was 6 . .

    I would take a stick to the park and draw stuff on the mud :tongue:
    Spend the whole evening looking for round pebbles
    Take off my slippers, jump into puddles and splash it all over
    Play make believe games (House, Doctor, School, FairyTales :laugh: )

    I guess it's nice that the Ipad can help the kids with their studies and development.
    I think they would find it just as fun to play about the olden way.:flowerforyou:

    You make it sound like kids do nothing but play on these things. My kid has an iPhone. At my last job, I had an iPad that she played with. Yeah, she played on it.

    But...

    She still has gymnastics 2-3x a week.
    She plays outside.
    She jumps in puddles.
    She plays at the park.
    She rides her bike.
    She helps walk the dog.
    She plays dress up and dolls with her friends.
    She watches tv.

    Guess what, kids can still do a lot of the things that 'we' used to do at the same age. Get over it, times are different now than when we were that age. I'm sure if you were a kid now, you'd want it too...

    I dunno what gave you the idea that I THINK kids only play on an Ipad. I haven't said anything to the likes of that anywhere on my post.
    On the contrary I am saying that Ipad helps kids in their studies and to develop their abilities (2nd last line in case you missed it)
    And yes if I was a kid I'd want it too, cos that's how kids are . . if there is a new toy/gadget that their friends are using they want it too!
    I'm just saying that it is not indispensable!
  • _kannnd
    _kannnd Posts: 247 Member
    Makes me think about the time when i was 6 . .

    I would take a stick to the park and draw stuff on the mud :tongue:
    Spend the whole evening looking for round pebbles
    Take off my slippers, jump into puddles and splash it all over
    Play make believe games (House, Doctor, School, FairyTales :laugh: )

    I guess it's nice that the Ipad can help the kids with their studies and development.
    I think they would find it just as fun to play about the olden way.:flowerforyou:

    You make it sound like kids do nothing but play on these things. My kid has an iPhone. At my last job, I had an iPad that she played with. Yeah, she played on it.

    But...

    She still has gymnastics 2-3x a week.
    She plays outside.
    She jumps in puddles.
    She plays at the park.
    She rides her bike.
    She helps walk the dog.
    She plays dress up and dolls with her friends.
    She watches tv.

    Guess what, kids can still do a lot of the things that 'we' used to do at the same age. Get over it, times are different now than when we were that age. I'm sure if you were a kid now, you'd want it too...

    I dunno what gave you the idea that I THINK kids only play on an Ipad. I haven't said anything to the likes of that anywhere on my post.
    On the contrary I am saying that Ipad helps kids in their studies and to develop their abilities (2nd last line in case you missed it)
    And yes if I was a kid I'd want it too, cos that's how kids are . . if there is a new toy/gadget that their friends are using they want it too!
    I'm just saying that it is not indispensable!

    Sorry about that. It was more for a few other posts that I've read. People make it out like kids do nothing but play on these things. It's annoying.
  • fun_b
    fun_b Posts: 199 Member
    I'm probably extremely old fashioned as I don't agree with it but I think that is just the type of person I am. I am very nostaligic and I loved my childhood when all I had for entertainment was a tv set with 4 channels, a few good books and the local park to play in. I guess times are changing and I just need to accept it. One of my friends youngest sister is 14 and she told me she had contact lenses which she wore to school. I was completely shocked for about ten minutes. I still remember the days when I had to put up with bulky pair of glasses and try and fit in but boy do I look back in fondness lol.
  • marathon_mama
    marathon_mama Posts: 150 Member
    My kids have kindle fires. My husband and i each have an iPad. They get books from the school library on their kindles. i think they're great!
  • sapphireswi
    sapphireswi Posts: 583 Member

    Sorry about that. It was more for a few other posts that I've read. People make it out like kids do nothing but play on these things. It's annoying.

    That's alright . . . :flowerforyou:
  • amy_36
    amy_36 Posts: 421 Member
    My child is 9 so maybe the comparisons are not the same. He loves school. He loves to read. He loves to make experiments and know how things work. He excels in math, reading, writing, you name it. He loves to learn. He also loves to ride his bike, play in the mud and go on hikes. And *gasp*, he loves to use the computer and his iPod. It is possible for kids to love to do all the things you all seem to think they don't do when they have access to something such as an iPad or iPod.

    My son has saved up his money and we will be splitting the cost of an iPad Mini for Christmas this year with him. He is super excited. Some of the things he plans to do with it....he plans to read books on it. He is in a spanish immersion program at school and plans to have a translator app on it so he can use it when he does his homework. Yes, my kid who uses technology actually knows another language. He has been taught in spanish since he was 4 yrs old.

    It is to our kids what we allow it to be as parents. If you don't want your child to have one, don't buy one. But just because some other kid has one doesn't mean they are not good, well rounded, smart children like yours.
  • Let's say, hypothetically of course, someone wants to get a SIX year old an iPad. "It's a great learning tool," is the argument of said person.

    How would you respond??

    Completely hypothetically... of course.

    I would get my 6 year olf an ipad in a heartbeat. My children are adults now so this is really not relevant to me, but I would get a grandchild one too. I have seen, first hand, what a 3 1/2 year old can do with an ipad and I am so impressed. Yes, the games etc., are there, but so is a great learning experience outside of game playing and movie watching.

    Get to Amazon and order the 6 year old an ipad :)
  • BondBomb
    BondBomb Posts: 1,781 Member
    I'm probably extremely old fashioned as I don't agree with it but I think that is just the type of person I am. I am very nostaligic and I loved my childhood when all I had for entertainment was a tv set with 4 channels, a few good books and the local park to play in. I guess times are changing and I just need to accept it. One of my friends youngest sister is 14 and she told me she had contact lenses which she wore to school. I was completely shocked for about ten minutes. I still remember the days when I had to put up with bulky pair of glasses and try and fit in but boy do I look back in fondness lol.
    What are you 100? Im almost 40 and had my first pair of contact lenses in the 8th grade.
  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
    I soooo wish I could edit my original post to now lend more info, but alas, I cannot.

    I wanted insight on the pros and cons to help me think logically about my reply to my ex-husband on the issue of a 6 year old having an iPad. Like many others, I do see the pros and cons, actually. While I do think technology is amazing and frankly think my six year old is a little wizard on an iPhone, I can't support getting him an iPad... and here's the story on that.

    My ex-husband does not pay support (child or spousal), has yet to contribute a dime to our private school tuition, before/after school care, or the thousands in medical bills we have from some problems our son had this year. That is simply how it is. However, he has asked me to chip in on 1/2 the cost of an iPad for him for Christmas. This is the bottom line on why I will not buy him an iPad. It's not in the budget and those other items mentioned need to come first.

    While I am proud to be able to support my son on my own, that support won't (yet) include an iPad. And while my ex-husband is a great father, I think his intentions here are misguided while there are other more pressing financial matters at hand.


    And that's I guess all I can say about this particular "hypothetical" situation *LOL*
  • ElizaRoche
    ElizaRoche Posts: 2,005 Member
    I know lots of kids that have tablets or iphones...

    Parents with more money than common sense.

    Just because you get your kid a phone, does not mean that you have no common sense.

    when the kid is 5 years old.. yes id say the parents dont have common sense.

    And you don't know the reasoning behind it. Should most 5 year olds have one? No. But there are situations where it might be needed. Do you think that me giving my 7 year old means I have no common sense? Probably so. I have my reasoning though and don't really care what others think. You shouldn't really pass judgement on what others do.

    to each their own, i have my opinion you have yours.
  • ElizaRoche
    ElizaRoche Posts: 2,005 Member
    I know lots of kids that have tablets or iphones...

    Parents with more money than common sense.

    Just because you get your kid a phone, does not mean that you have no common sense.

    when the kid is 5 years old.. yes id say the parents dont have common sense.

    your so wrong...great learning tool..if i could afford it i would get for my 3 and 4 year old...they love it! and it helps them with abcs and 123s...

    congrats with that. But i wouldnt give my toddlers stuff like that, sorry, again MY opinion. There are other ways for them to learn their abcs and 123s.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    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

    porn is not usually accidently found...but you can put parental supervision on the internet.

    My biggest concern is what parental controls can't stop. The statistics on children being approached online are staggering. And much of this happens in "kid friendly" places.
  • MikeyD1280
    MikeyD1280 Posts: 5,257
    my little girl saved up her own money and bought herself an Ipod. (We teach our kids how to save money)

    she was six when she bought it.

    Her brother who is 2 years older, he was sad because although we teach how to save money, he always spends his on wrestler's. The funny thing, is now (they are 7 and 9) they are even better with knowing about money since you need to save it to buy nice things...
  • fun_b
    fun_b Posts: 199 Member
    I'm only 30! Maybe I'm just used to hanging out with geeks! :P Most of my friends only got contacts in their early 20/mid 20's.
  • perfectingpatti
    perfectingpatti Posts: 1,037 Member
    If you can afford an iPad for your child, if you can purchase the insurance in case something happens to it, and you supervise the use of it, what's the big deal?

    So, our children are growing up in an age of technology that we didn't. Personally, I would rather my daughter work on her iPad than play in the dark around the neighborhood like I did when I was her age. Times have changed.
  • JPod279
    JPod279 Posts: 722 Member
    I know lots of kids that have tablets or iphones...

    Parents with more money than common sense.

    Just because you get your kid a phone, does not mean that you have no common sense.

    when the kid is 5 years old.. yes id say the parents dont have common sense.

    I have 2 girls that are 5 and they have an iphone. It is the wife's old one. I guess I have no common sense, huh?