Yesterday Little Miss Spice, my Kindergartner, came home from school. We had a snack, did her homework, and relaxed a bit. While cooking dinner, she came into the kitchen and asked “Mommy, can I have an Ipad?” Without thinking twice, I assumed she meant a notepad, since she had a pen in her hands.
“Do you mean your notepad?” I asked her.
“No…an Ipad.” she corrected me.
I wondered where the hell she saw an Ipad, a commercial maybe? So I thought I would ask her what it was to make sure we were talking about the same Ipad.
Sure enough she cleared that up by answering “Its like a laptop computer but it is flat , just like a notebook and it has a touchscreen and you can open all kinds of things on it.”
While picking up my jaw from the floor, I asked “Where did you see an Ipad honey?”
“At school” she answered. ” ___ brought one in for Show & Tell. Can I have one? PLEASE????”
Are you kidding me ??!!?
A freaking 6 year old brought in a Apple Ipad to kindergarten for Show and Tell? What happened to teddy bears and hot wheels?
Am I just being an old fart? Am I one of those parents that isn’t hip to the game?
Does your 6 year old have an Ipad or other electronic devices? At what age do you think it's appropriate for your child to have a computer, iPad or iPod?
Post from Glamorous Insanity
Recommend
Comments (20)
Go ahead and bash me, but my 5 year old has her own MacBook and iTouch. With the way technology is advancing today, we encourage her to use things that are electronic so she won't be "out of the loop".
She uses the computer for gaming, mainly JumpStart lessons. She can read, add, subtract, and is learning how to type the "home row" of letters.
Those that do not embrace technology will be left behind, IMO.
@nickiesneon@xanga - yeah but there is no real reason why a child needs their own personal MACBOOK. Are you kidding me?! Whatever happened to a family computer? A child does NOT need their own laptop at that age.
That's ridiculous, you CAN embrace technology without buying a five year old a 1300-dollar piece of equipment. You know how many COLLEGE students can't afford one of those? They seem to do fine.
Just because your kid can type faster than any other kid doesn't mean he or she is going to use that laptop for learning. Maybe even less than 30% of the time.
You have no idea what you're getting yourself into, lol.
My 3 year old knows how to use our iTouch, but he will not be getting anything like that of his own any time soon! We bought Rosetta Stone for our family to learn another language and he knows how to do those lessons on his own (and he's actually starting to pick up some of the language he's learning!). But no, we will not be buying anything like that exclusively for his personal use any time soon.
My 5 year old loves nickjr.com and other kid friendly websites. She has a little desk in her bedroom that we set the laptop up on from time to time. And then last week we had show and tell and it was hard to not let her bring her zune. Seriously.
Soooo...... maybe you guys could get a "family ipad" *giggles*
@cassiopeia_cc@xanga - I didn't say I BOUGHT ONE FOR HER, I said she had one. It was a hand-me down that I purchased from Apple as a 3 year old refurbish.
I do know what I'm getting myself into. TYVM.
@cassiopeia_cc@xanga - BTW, think about what you say before you say it. You don't know who is on the other end. Am I a bad parent because I spoil my one and only child that I have left?? I buried one years ago, and if a computer is what makes her happy...then so be it.
A personal Ipad for a child seems to be a bit too much to me, but if it is a shared computer, an older computer, and always monitored what's going on in it then I don't think it's a bad idea. I don't think they should really be bringing it to school no matter what age though because things get stolen and it just doesn't end up well.. Or they get broken. I see kids with full functioning unlimited texting all the time now too. I think that's a bit far, but the world is getting more nad more confusing.. I could understand a phone where 911 can be accessed and parents can call but no calls out, but eh.. I guess it's just the world.
I think any age is okay for an iPod. I think it's good for kids to listen to music. My younger cousin had an iPod for as long as I can remember. As far as the iPad goes, I hope it was their parents and they were just bringing it in. Bad call on their parents part, IMO. I would say 13 is old enough for an iPad. At the youngest.
I buy my cousins the kid versions of what we have, but to have an actual ipad?? That's ridiculous!
I bought my four-year-old cousin a digital camera because he's into photography and it'll teach him how to use a camera. I have also bought him a small lap top that teaches him to type, spell, add and subtract, etc. etc. He even has his own video games. He loves it, but I'm about to buy him or any other child the actual thing. It's just way too far fetched that a six year old should need an ipad.
I think they should be much older, however, technology is moving to younger and younger children.
@nickiesneon@xanga - Exactly. That was entirely rude of that person. Who are they to judge your parenting?!
======= http://clotheshops.us/ ========
free shipping
competitive price
any size available
accept the paypal
Air jordan(1-24)shoes $33
Nike shox(R4,NZ,OZ,TL1,TL2,TL3) $35
Handbags(Coach lv fendi d&g) $35
Tshirts (ed hardy,lacoste) $16
Jean(True Religion,ed hardy,coogi) $30
Sunglasses(Oakey,coach,gucci,Armaini) $16
New era cap $15
Bikini (Ed hardy) $25
======= http://clotheshops.us/========
My kiddos (4 and 6) have my odl computer. We've got the icons for the programs we let them use on the desktop. We actually waited pretty late to get them onto technology given that DH and I are both computer scientists by degree/trade. They use it occassionally but honestly they seem to be more interested in chasing the dog around the house, running around outside, or spending some time watching TV. A laptop would be entirely out of the question if for no other reason that I want to know where my kids will be when using the computer so I can keep an eye out from across the room. They're awfully young for me to let them use that kind of equipment without some kind of supervision.
I have to say that I've considered an iTouch for my 6 year old. There are just so many cool apps that he could mess with. That said, he can't seem to keep up with his normal toys so I don't think we'll be doing that, as cool as it would be. Both boys do have their Leap Frog handheld games and Tag readers. Ahem, and I did have the 6 year old playing World of Warcraft with me the other day - he's not really coordinated enough for it yet.
@nickiesneon@xanga - sorry if I hurt your feelings, but your words were misleading. I would still think your nuts if you bought your kid a brand new computer.
The most warm with! Do not want to package into Xiao Panmei cold winter.
If money were no object and the kid was going to take care of it? *shrug* I don't know that I would have a problem with a kid having one. My biggest problem for purchasing computers/ipods/etc. for the boys is that they don't take care of things. One of the DSi's has already had a "near-death" experience and they're not quite 4 months old!
Do they need one? No. Air, water, food, shelter...none of us really needs one. But I do agree with @nickiesneon@xanga; fighting technology is not only pointless, but potentially harmful in the long run. (Should we all become blobs a la` Wall-E's take on the future? No, of course not. But they're going to 'need' to learn how to use a computer in life if they're to be sucessful. I've never had a job that didn't require me to be computer literate.)
WOW!!!!!!!!! I'm as floored as you are! these kids are growing up in an advanced technological age, but no freaking way will my kid have an iPad at 6!!! Maybe 16! lol!! I didn't even get a game boy till 2nd grade (earlier than most of my friends)!
Also, a 6 year old could easily ruin one, or become addicted to it. No fun. they can fool around with my iphone from time to time, but no they can't have one in kindgerten?
Kids who don't own computers aren't 'left in the dust', that's why they have computer classes. I don't think (when I have kids) that I'll buy any tech stuff for them until they're 12. At least that way they won't constantly rely on technology to function in their daily life.
That's right! Everyone has different taste. While,Ed Hardy Clothing leads fashion trends recently. No matter the pursuit of comfort, elegance, or the pursuit of individuality, unique, these are somewhat displayed on the clothing. For example, Ed Hardy, launched by Christian Audigier a few years ago, now can be seen almost everywhere in the street. In 2010, Ed Hardy lauched many latest styles, Ed Hardy tattoo sleeve shirts, Ed Hardy Sunglasses, Ed Hardy bikini and so on. So, just put on Ed hardy clothing and be a fashionable person!
You don't need to buy little kids computers or iPads. Thats ridiculous. Let them go to computer class. Let them use the family computer. But no kid really needs a lap top of any sort until they go to college. I grew up just fine with technology and didn't have a laptop until I was 17. You don't need to buy your 5 year old a lap top to keep them "in the loop". They'll manage that just fine on their own.