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Littlejen22
member
Electronic and kids poll
Littlejen22
member
Do your kids have iPods, handheld video games, tablets , etc? How old is the kid, yes/no, and if yes what do they have? If no, why. Also, if you are very antiiPod for kids, why?
I will post later why I am asking, but basically stupid conversation with someone today
I will post later why I am asking, but basically stupid conversation with someone today
Jen - Mom to two December 12 babies
Nathaniel 12/12/06 and Addison 12/12/08
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Electronic and kids poll
I was anti-electronics for children, especially when out at restaurants UNTIL I had my own child.
While I do not use electronics (even tvs) as babysitters, I DO look at them as tools to be used to make my life and the lives of those around me better.
HOWEVER, I try to be age appropriate with her access/usage.
DD is 3 going on 4.
She has her own Tag Reader (we bought the big-kid reader, but are using the Tag Jr Books. She has free access to her tag reader and books and pulls them out 3 times a week or so.
She was given a Leapfrog Explorere, but the games are over her head and she really doesnt like the fact that it is not touch screen. So we may donate it.
She gets to use my Ipad when I deem appropriate. I have very specific tv shows and movies that she is allowed to watch (just like I screen her tv time). She also has a nubmer of educational only games to play.
She ONLY gets to use the Ipad when we are traveling long distances in the car or is stuck in grown-up situations (like visiting non-child places or going out to eat).
But even then, we do not IMMEDIATELY give her the Ipad, nor do we allow her to use it the entire time we are out and about. I carry an "entertainment bag" whenever we go places like that.
But that is all because we did so much travelling when we were in Europe, that if we didnt limit or alternate, she would grow bored with the stuff on the Ipad and it woudl be useless.
DD 16 has a cell phone, ipod and we are considering an iPad mini for christmas. Our HS allows tech in school and it's helpful w/ keep her calendar, assignments and she can access all her textbooks online. As well as access my Nook account to get her summer reading. We are considering this b/c she can also use it to access her google cloud drive and store her papers and work on them anywhere.
DS 13 has a cell phone, DSi he doesn't seem into ipods or music so not an issue. He will use my Nook color for the games sometimes. Also DS has autism and the DSi actually helps in overwhelming/crowded situations.
Here is our electronic break-down:
9 yo SS - Nabi, PS2 (he rarely uses), and some other video game (handheld)
3 yo DD - Innotab
We have a family iPad (it is my DH - but the kids have their own games on it). I have a nook and will buy a nook for SS next year - we can then share apps and books.
SS does have an iPod touch and a kindle at his Mom's.
I am not anti-iPod for kids, but I think it needs to be age appropriate. SS has social skills issues and has been struggling at school - this is why we decided on the Nabi. It's age appropriate, has great parent controls, mixes fun and education. Both kids use their tablets often, ut SS rarely uses his gaming systems outside the Wii.
Hope that helps!
SS15-> has cell phone, PSP, Nintendo DS
SD13 -> has cell phone, Ninetendo DS, Ipod Touch
DS(18 Months) -> has a leappad that he likes to turn on and off an touch screen
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Our household does not have a tablet because we just haven't gotten around to purchasing one. But we are not opposed to them.
SD(7) had a DS but broke it with a week of having it. Last year DH thought she needed a tablet. I thought it was a horrible idea and so we compromised and got her the LeapPad Explorer. She broke it within a week and he bought her a new one. She has not broken the 2nd one. She is only allowed to take it outside of the house if we are going to be in the car for a while and I need the baby to take a nap or well actually that is the only place she has taken it that I can think of.
My niece(11) and nephew(9) both have iSomething or another. I can't remember what they have but when we go to dinner they no longer chat with anyone. They sit there and ignore everyone and I find this incredibly rude and I think less about my sister as a parent. She bought them for them because she is all about appearances and if she and the kids have nice things they most be important people. That is a whole other story though. I don't think they understand the value and they are very whiny when they don't get what they want. I think if it is the LeapPad/Frog stuff and it is teaching them things then it is good but giving them electronics just because that is what they want is stupid.
DD will get the Leap whatever is out at the time but she will not get an iphone, ipod, etc until she is older. I don't agree with it. This is one of the major things DH and I disagree on but he is a software engineer and deals with electronics all the time and are important in his line of work. It absolutely drives me crazy when we are just driving to the store up the street or something short and SD ask DH for his phone and he just hands it to her. She will be fine sitting in the back seat not entertained for the 6 minutes it takes us to get to the store.
My DD is 11, she has an ipod. She got her first ipod when she was 8, I think. We have an ipad, that we share as a family and she has a kindle at her Dad's house that she got last year.
We got my SD a Nook for Christmas last year, she was 5 at the time.
DS (8 in January) and DD (3 in January) both have their own Kindle Fires. DD's is actually mine, but she uses it more often than anyone else. They also have a Nintendo DSi they share.
I'm pro-electronics for kids. I'm also pro- limiting their usage and taking them away when the kid misbehaves.
Skids are 7 and 9. At BM's they have several game systems (including handheld ones) and their own ipods.
At our house, we have no game systems, and the kids do not have their own ipods (although SD frequently brings hers from BMs). The kids do have a shared old laptop, which is located in a common area, and they must have permission to use it. They also have a shared cellphone, which was purchased to ensure that their deployed father could contact them any time, but that is in my possession most of the time now.
I am anti video games. I am okay with computer games, but they must earn playing time through reading time. I am anti unsupervised computer time (or texting). I am not anti ipod per se. I am anti being-entitled-to-have-the-latest-technology.
Our kids have a lot of technology. DH is big on technology since he works in that field I have an iPad 2 (that I won in a contest) that I let them use too. DS plays educational games like MonkeyLunchbox on the iPad.
DD- 3DS, iPod touch(only thing DD asked for and got one year for Christmas), prepaid cell (her BD bought her), PSP (her BD bought her)- she also has outdated DSi, DS, Gameboy Advance (GBA)
SD- 3DS, Kindle Fire (her BM bought her), smartphone (her BM bought her), outdated DSi, DS lite, and GBA
SS10- 3DS, outdated DS lite and GBA
SS8- 3DS
Basically, DD got a GBA for the Christmas right before she turned 4 so she could watch videos or play games on car rides. Her first game was Dora. I had taken several trips to see my grandparents out of state that year. The next Christmas, DH and I were together so we got SD one (she was 4). The next year SS 10 got one (he was 4). Then started the upgrade/hand-me-down rotation started when DD was 7. DD upgraded to a DS and SS8 got her GBA. SD got upgraded to a DSlite the next year and gave SS8 her GBA (which was newer and with the brighter screen than DD's old one). Then SS10 got upgraded to a DS. The condition for upgrading was dependent on if they took care of everything/didn't have lost games, ect. The boys were not so good at keeping track of their games or putting things back in their cases so they missed some upgrades. As of last year their current systems were DD had the DSi, SD had the DSlite, SS10 had a DSlite and SS8 had DD's old DS. Then for all the big kids birthday's this year they each got a 3DS because that is the one thing they wanted. This is the first year they all got a new system. Usually we were only buying 1 system every 1-2 years. No one will be getting a new handheld system for a while now. Since they all have new systems all the old systems went back to the original owners for now.
All of the kids old devices are still in good & working condition and DS will be getting some of their old systems and we probably won't need to purchase anything for him for quite a while. I also really need to sell some of the old ones. And yes, suprisingly DD's GBA that she got 9 years ago still works even having been through more than 1 kid.
They are limited on the use of their technology. I heard the saying once that you should give kids technology so it can become collect-ology and it's so true! When the kids get in trouble the first thing they lose is their technology.
I am not against electronics as long as they aren't used as a babysitter
We are hoping to limit technology for this new one. My son is very much into video games and computers. I'm not a fan myself. I would be okay if he had other interests like sports, music, drama or something...but no. In fact, I'd like to get rid of tv/cable...we'd need to keep internet for DS's schoolwork though. DH can't seem to give up tv because of the sports, plus we have a roommate that rents from us that likes cable...so we can't get rid of that. Anyway, my DS (almost 13) has a phone(not the best keeper of it and has gone over on his data at least once...annoying), he has a XBOX 360 that lives in his room even though it actually belongs to our roommate/renter, and he has a laptop. He's had an ipod shuffle before but doesn't use it much.
DD is spoiled by my ex husband. She just turned 9 and has a smart phone, a kindle-fire, a laptop and tv in her room at his house...I can't even imagine what she will get this christmas from him. At least DD has other interests, she loves sports.
I hope we can keep the electronics to a minimum for the new LO. I would rather go outside to the park and play some sort of sport.
DSD (13) currently has a tv, dvd player, and toy texter that works up to about a mile (her best friend has the other, she lives nearby). She has had a radio, portable dvd player, ipod, desktop computer and school laptop but broke all except the school laptop which she lost priveledges to.
DSS (12 in December) has a radio, tv, dvd player, ps2 and school laptop. He has had an ipod like thing that he successfully sent through the washing machine within a week.
DD (1as of yesterday!) has nothing more advanced than a sing along book.
I'm not for tech for kids, but DH is, that's why they have as much as they do.
DS age 4 has Leap Pad, Tag Reading System, is getting MP3 and non-kids camera for xmas. When I had an iPhone he used that.
DD1 age 3 has Tag Jr Reading System, is getting MP3 and a kids camera for xmas. When I had an iPhone he used that.
DSD is 10. She has a kindle fire and DSI. She has had both for over a year and takes great care of them.
SD9 - cell phone(bought by BM and used only at BM's), and getting 3DS and portable DVD player for car for christmas from us. Not sure what electronics are actually hers at her mothers house.
DS6 - getting 3DS and portable DVD player for car for christmas from us
Both kids share a Wii and Xbox 360. They are also allowed on our desktop computer if they ask permission and only for a set amount of time a day. Game systems are taken away for punishment. The portable DVD players are for long car trips.
The reason SD's cell phone stays at BM's is because we do not believe children should have them. The rule with my DS is that when he is old enough to afford one himself then he can have one. BD, FI and I all agree on this. BM does not agree with this because she believes if SD is feeling left out because all of her friends have something then she needs to get it for her no matter the cost.
At our house we have:
Wii, Xbox, DH laptop, portable DVD players, Nook Color
SD8 and SD6 have limited access to all of the above, the only thing that is close to "unlimited" are the DVD players. We leave those out for them on weekend mornings so that DH and I can sleep in and not wake up to fighting over which show to watch. The DVD players are also used on car rides longer than 2 hours and plane trips. The Nook has a few kid books and games loaded and is used for special situations like waiting for a sibling to be done with swim/piano lessons. We have a few kid games for the Wii and Xbox, but they have limited interest in those. Which DH and I are fine with.
All of the electronics can only be used when they earn the privilege by behaving. Both SD's lose their electronic privileges about once per month. On one weeknight per week, SD can choose to watch TV after their homework/chores are done. Once they pick their weeknight, that's it, no more TV/movies during the week. We are way more strict about limiting electronics than BM, but we really don't care how its perceived by the girls.