DD broke her elbow last month and DH got her an ipad to survive the summer she was suddenly sidelined for. He set her up with her own email because it was necessary for her to download games (he learned while in Estonia for work that everything she downloaded went against his usage on his phone- the account he had her on- and her free downloads, charged internationally cost hundreds of dollars- oops).
ANYWAY. She just asked for my friend's email (she is close with our family). I am inclined to say no and only allow her to email DH and me because she's 5 and doesn't need access. On the other hand I love that it is encouraging the writing. On the other hand, she is 5. I don't want her pestering friends/adults, asking if she can play or watch her baby... On the other hand I can check with the friend and make sure she doesn't mind. But then I open the gates... sigh. DH thinks I'm ridiculous.
THoughts?
Re: Kids and email
I agree it is too young to have email. Unfortunately because of the extent of her injury, she can't practice writing easily or without exhaustion after forming 2-3 letters. Before injury she would write forever. She wrote out the Pledge of Allegiance as a present for her friend... Since the injury I have been letting her do word docs and then send them for her. We will stick to that, I suppose, so I can monitor. I tend to be overprotective and was curious/hopeful that was the case here.
One of the "jobs" at DS's preschool this year is "iPad cleaner". I laughed when I saw that next to floor sweeper. And I kind of agree with your H. : ) Technology is such an intergral part of most people's lives, and I think it can be used in an appropriate way for kids.