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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Appropriate ages for electronics?
It seems like a lot of kids are getting things like cell phones and iPod Touches (or other mp3 players) at pretty young ages.
At what age do you feel it's appropriate for a child to have a high-tech device like that?
Re: Appropriate ages for electronics?
For me personally, it seems like too many people drop too much money on their kids. I mean, $200 or more on ONE gift for a kid (in the case of an iPod Touch)? Or a comparable amount over the life of a cell phone and its associated contract?
I understand that cell phones are great for emergencies, but in that case you only need the most basic phone, NOT a smart phone like an iPhone. Even a text-capable phone can be overkill in that situation.
Granted, when I was little iPods weren't as in fashion as they are now, but my first mp3 player was a Creative Jukebox Zen that I purchased with my own money. And I didn't have a cell phone of my own until after I started college, and then I got that with my own money too. Up until then if I had need for a "just in case" phone, my parents had an extra cheap phone I could borrow.
ETA: The only phone I'd buy for a child not even old enough to drive yet would be the most basic model of Firefly. That is a true emergency phone.
2011 AthensGAHalf official time: 2:33:31
Ze Blog
I think for cell phones, a lot depends on lifestyle. Once we got to high school, the office wouldn't let you use the phone to call your parents if your ride forgot you after school (I believe it was the same when my brother was in middle school a few years after me; also, the pay phone needed some ridiculous amount of change to call even local cell phones), so a cell phone became very, very useful. I got mine when I was 14.
I could see giving a child one sooner if different people were in charge of pick-up on different days or something like that. Any younger than high school, though, and my kids would be getting a phone with major parental controls, no Internet, etc. so it was truly for emergencies.
mp3 players; I don't think there's an age limit on the devices themselves, but I think the specific ones chosen should be age-appropriate. There's nothing wrong with getting your young kids an mp3 player because that's how most of us listen to music nowadays, but it doesn't need to be expensive or an iPod. There are plenty of kid-friendly options out there; most young kids won't care about the difference (ugh, and I would hate it if my kids were techno-snobs about brands at that age...that's what adulthood is for!
).
A boss I had about 5 years ago bought his 3 year old daughter a DVD player for her birthday and was completely shocked when she started demanding expensive gifts after that.
I think it depends a lot on the situation and the electronic device in question. I don't know the ages of the other posters, but when I was a little kid cell phones and MP3 players didn't exist at all so it was a non-issue. But I did get a Nintendo for Christmas when I was 7, and I had a walkman that I used primarily for long car trips for as long as I can remember (I think it was a hand-me-down from my brother at first, before it broke and I got my own). When I was in high school my parents got a cell phone, and I'd take it with me on school trips, but that was it.
I agree that a 3 year old doesn't need an iPhone (although I would argue that no one really *needs* an iPhone), but I see nothing wrong with them having a cheapo MP3 player, especially for trips.
Phones are kind of a different animal because you can get them with a huge range of prices and they are more for safety than for entertainment. There used to be payphones EVERYWHERE, but cell phones kind of killed that and now they can be really hard to find. I think a tween could have a basic phone with no web or texting capabilities. But again, I don't think anyone needs texting capabilities.
My DS had a TracFone in 5th grade because he was taking the bus home from school and had about a 3 block walk...I was still at work when he got home. He knew it was for emergencies only. I gave him a set amount of minutes per month and if he chose to use more than that he had to pay for them himself (I believe I bought 30 mins a month which then doubled because of the phone he had. He never had to buy over the 60 mins.).
Just this past summer we both got a family cell phone plan through Verizon. He's 14 and just started high school. I told him I would pay $50 toward a phone and he would have to pay the difference (he chose a $75 phone and paid the $25 over and above what I said I'd pay). I'm glad he has it because we got rid of our land line when we got these phones and that's the only way I can get a hold of him once he's out of school. It's also convenient for both of use because he can call me when he gets out of track practice, etc so I can come and pick him up. He's pretty responsible with it and had proven with his TracFone that he takes care of his things. He also knows that I am able to see who he calls and texts and that I can as to look at his phone at any time.
DS bought his own MP3 player (iRiver?) when he was about 9. He then bought his own Nano a few years ago. For his birthday/confirmation/8th grade graduation this past Spring I bought him a Touch. He's had it almost a year and takes very good care of it. He knows when he can and can't use it and it's never been an issue. Any accessories or songs/apps he wants he has to pay for himself.
I think it depends on the kid. My DS has proven to take very good care of his things and I think it's a great way to let them show they are responsible. We started small (nano and tracfone) and then went for the nicer things once I was confident he was responsible. He knows that if his phone is lost or breaks and it's his fault that he has to pay for a new one. So far so good and it's been 6 mos. Some 14 yr olds couldn't handle it....you have to know your kid.
Don't go giving your son all the credit here. It sounds like you did an awesome job raising him to understand that having these kinds of devices is a privilege, not a right.
Ditto this. Great job mom and dad.
2011 AthensGAHalf official time: 2:33:31
Ze Blog
Thank you! I feel like I've done a good job.
I think age is less of an issue than the maturity of the child. I think they are ready for more expensive gifts when they have proven they can take care of it. In the case of an mp3 player, I would buy a cheaper one for $30-50. Then if the child can keep that for say a year without it breaking or losing it, then we could discuss getting a more expensive unit, like an ipod.
As for cell phones, I don't think there is any need for a child to have one that isn't old enough to be left alone. If a child is say 12-13 and gets their first phone because they might be staying home alone, walking to/from school, etc, I think that's fine, but it's still a privelage.