Kindle fire for 7 year old

rolltidewife

Is it way to early to buy a 7 year old a kindle fire? We were thinking for christmas of getting our 7 year old a  Kindle fire.  Our rule would be in order to play any games on the kindle fire you mus first t read for 20 minutes.  She has been asking for one but I am just if it is too early to give her something like this. 

Tofumonkey

My two year olds each have an Ipad. I feel that technology at early ages is a great thing.

What I'm not comfortable with is young kids having smart phones. I don't think that is necessary, though I'm torn on it because more and more homes don't even have a house phone, so would your kid use their parents' mobiles to call friends and things? Not sure. But even though my toddlers have Ipads, I side eye the parents of 8 year olds with Iphones.

I'm kind of a hypocritical cow.

For the reading rule, I don't know your kid but I'm not sure if that would be the best approach. I think that encouraging reading through talking about books, helping her to choose and download books, talking about authors and discussing the books that she is reading, read the same books, etc. is more encouraging in developing a love of reading rather than forced reading time.

MsJen

I bought DH an iPad last year and our (then) 4 1/2 year old loved it.  She still plays with it almost daily.

There are all sorts of educational games and activities you can load on it so setting sometime of "education" requirement is a good idea before she starts playing all those death-fire-and-destruction games.

Tofumonkey

MsJen:

I bought DH an iPad last year and our (then) 4 1/2 year old loved it.  She still plays with it almost daily.

There are all sorts of educational games and activities you can load on it so setting sometime of "education" requirement is a good idea before she starts playing all those death-fire-and-destruction games.

Sorry. I love that in your post you write "death-fire-and-destructions games" as though they are a bad thing but the picture of your dog in your post looks like your dog would love nothing more than "death-fire-and-destructions games"!

alithebride

why only 20 minutes?

chiualover

Will one of you posters please adopt me?

My birthday is Nov 3rd, I will be 56.

MiniMugLinton

chiualover:

Will one of you posters please adopt me?

My birthday is Nov 3rd, I will be 56.

 LOL

littlemisswitness

DH and I are saving up to by my neice an iPad next year when she starts school. Just as a little present, (she will be 5 then). I also think technology at an early age is awesome. Kids need to know how to use the technology of their day.

Jim&Jaime

littlemisswitness:

Just as a little present,

As a little present, I bought someone for my nephew from the dollar bin at Target. 

srgw

My kids are going to hate H and I. They will not have their own cell phone, kindle, ipad etc. They may borrow/use ours if they ask nicely and only for x amount of minutes a day. Once they're old enough to want to talk on the phone a lot maybe we'll get a land line or something. IF they get a cell phone it'll only be one that dials 911 and x amount of other numbers (mine, H's & grandparents/aunts/uncles) to use for emergency purposes etc. H and I had to pay for our own cell phones if we wanted them. Our parents didn't foot the bill for us. So our teenagers can do the same. A kid younger than 16 years old doesn't need a cell phone. Unless it's a cheap dial 911 kind.  /end rant

FWIW: we have no kids yet. We also don't have a kindle or ipad.

srgw

Jim&Jaime:

littlemisswitness:

Just as a little present,

As a little present, I bought someone for my nephew from the dollar bin at Target. 

Or the dollar store. 

sooshi4u

I wanted to de-lurk for this. While I love my kindle, I did have to link my debit/credit card to the device. I would look into that aspect before giving something to a young kid. The ipad might be a better choice because you don't need to link a card to an itunes account. Plus you can redeem gift cards on the tablet itself. Plus  you would have control of the itunes password and can monitor downloads.

cricket930

srgw:

My kids are going to hate H and I. They will not have their own cell phone, kindle, ipad etc. They may borrow/use ours if they ask nicely and only for x amount of minutes a day. Once they're old enough to want to talk on the phone a lot maybe we'll get a land line or something. IF they get a cell phone it'll only be one that dials 911 and x amount of other numbers (mine, H's & grandparents/aunts/uncles) to use for emergency purposes etc. H and I had to pay for our own cell phones if we wanted them. Our parents didn't foot the bill for us. So our teenagers can do the same. A kid younger than 16 years old doesn't need a cell phone. Unless it's a cheap dial 911 kind.  /end rant

FWIW: we have no kids yet. We also don't have a kindle or ipad.

 

This is our feeling as well.  

srgw

cricket930:

srgw:

My kids are going to hate H and I. They will not have their own cell phone, kindle, ipad etc. They may borrow/use ours if they ask nicely and only for x amount of minutes a day. Once they're old enough to want to talk on the phone a lot maybe we'll get a land line or something. IF they get a cell phone it'll only be one that dials 911 and x amount of other numbers (mine, H's & grandparents/aunts/uncles) to use for emergency purposes etc. H and I had to pay for our own cell phones if we wanted them. Our parents didn't foot the bill for us. So our teenagers can do the same. A kid younger than 16 years old doesn't need a cell phone. Unless it's a cheap dial 911 kind.  /end rant

FWIW: we have no kids yet. We also don't have a kindle or ipad.

This is our feeling as well.  

Glad I'm not alone in my opinion. I see little 8 year olds with iphones and I just want to bang my head against a wall. What's wrong with toys? Or using their imaginations? Kids don't need gadgets to have fun.

Joy2611

srgw:

cricket930:

srgw:

My kids are going to hate H and I. They will not have their own cell phone, kindle, ipad etc. They may borrow/use ours if they ask nicely and only for x amount of minutes a day. Once they're old enough to want to talk on the phone a lot maybe we'll get a land line or something. IF they get a cell phone it'll only be one that dials 911 and x amount of other numbers (mine, H's & grandparents/aunts/uncles) to use for emergency purposes etc. H and I had to pay for our own cell phones if we wanted them. Our parents didn't foot the bill for us. So our teenagers can do the same. A kid younger than 16 years old doesn't need a cell phone. Unless it's a cheap dial 911 kind.  /end rant

FWIW: we have no kids yet. We also don't have a kindle or ipad.

This is our feeling as well.  

Glad I'm not alone in my opinion. I see little 8 year olds with iphones and I just want to bang my head against a wall. What's wrong with toys? Or using their imaginations? Kids don't need gadgets to have fun.

I originally read this thread thinking how sad it was that a kid wouldn't hold a real book or go to a library.  Maybe I'm old school, but I don't like Kindles.  I much prefer a tangible book and pages.  I'd happily buy my kid a mountain of books with the money I'd spend on a Kindle Fire.

chiualover

I feel better knowing that I am not the only one

thinking this is a bit over the top.

(but I am still up for adoption, oh, and I also don't

have cable tv, there is always Christmas!)

annieravensfan528

I personally think that's too young.

rolltidewife

I have finally just read all your comments.  Thanks so much.  For the comments.  I agree with the post about the cell phone.  Our kids will not be given a cell phone in the near future.  They will need jobs to pay for their own phone.  Someone asked why only 20 minutes of reading.  Her homework every night is 20 minutes of reading.  If she would like to read more than by all means read more. I also like the fact I can down load all of her text books for school on the kindle.  Thanks again for everyones thoughts.