My 7-yr old wants a an iPod
Published by Wfs on 2009/12/11 (365 reads)
So my 7-yr old tells me the #1 thing he wants this year is an iPod Touch. In fact, he tells me it is the only thing he wants.
My first reaction was this sounded like a bad idea. Why would a 7-yr old want or need one of these? My second reaction was to feel guilty because I knew this was my fault. I use mine so much that he is just copying me.
But then it occurred to me I might be overreacting. Right now I see him and all his friends zoning out with their Nintendo DS. For the most part all that device can do is play mindless games. Yet almost every child in his class has one. There are other game systems and electronic toys but this is the one I am familiar with due to its popularity.
Product Cost
My first reaction is that the iPod is too expensive, too indulgent to give a child. Then it occurred to me that the difference in price between the iPod Touch and the DS is only a few dollars - they are practically the same price range.
Software Cost
A typical new DS game costs around $20-$30. A typical iPhone game is around $0.99 - $5.00.
Quality
Well when it comes to games the iPhone has a lot of really great titles and a lot of really bad ones. So does the DS. However usually there is a free version on iPhone you can test out first. Can't do that on the DS as far as I know.
Variety
In this category the iPhone wins hands down. The variety is endless. Yes there are tons of pointless apps but a discriminating parent can locate hundreds of great quality educational and entertainment applications for the iPhone. I have tried for two years to locate educational DS games and found probably three that held his interest for more than a few minutes (See $30 price tag!). Here is a good starter list of kid-friendly and family-friendly apps for the iPhone.
Overuse and abuse
I was also concerned he would play too much. The truth is it is like anything else. The parent needs to parent. Doesn't matter if it is tv, video games or ice cream we need to be good parents and not use the device as a substitute. So if I regulate his use what's the problem? I don't see any.
Controls
So I decided if I do this I will hold onto it or my wife will and we will give it to him at appropriate times. We also won't give him his own iTunes account (that seems insane to me) so we will control what he purchases and when.
Advantages
Some benefits I didn't consider until now - unlike a DS, the iPod can act as a music and movie player as well as audio books and a digital book reader. Also he seems to love the educational games that we have tried - I mean LOVES them. So if it is tradeoff between Super Mario Brothers on the DS (which I like) and him practicing his vocabulary or math skills, there simply is no better choice I can come up with.
In summary, my conclusion is that there are huge advantages and I have moved from thinking it's over indulgent to what a great educational and entrainment opportunity. As long as I parent with it rather than letting it go unfettered this should be great for us.
How about you? What do you think?
My first reaction was this sounded like a bad idea. Why would a 7-yr old want or need one of these? My second reaction was to feel guilty because I knew this was my fault. I use mine so much that he is just copying me.
But then it occurred to me I might be overreacting. Right now I see him and all his friends zoning out with their Nintendo DS. For the most part all that device can do is play mindless games. Yet almost every child in his class has one. There are other game systems and electronic toys but this is the one I am familiar with due to its popularity.
Product Cost
My first reaction is that the iPod is too expensive, too indulgent to give a child. Then it occurred to me that the difference in price between the iPod Touch and the DS is only a few dollars - they are practically the same price range.
Software Cost
A typical new DS game costs around $20-$30. A typical iPhone game is around $0.99 - $5.00.
Quality
Well when it comes to games the iPhone has a lot of really great titles and a lot of really bad ones. So does the DS. However usually there is a free version on iPhone you can test out first. Can't do that on the DS as far as I know.
Variety
In this category the iPhone wins hands down. The variety is endless. Yes there are tons of pointless apps but a discriminating parent can locate hundreds of great quality educational and entertainment applications for the iPhone. I have tried for two years to locate educational DS games and found probably three that held his interest for more than a few minutes (See $30 price tag!). Here is a good starter list of kid-friendly and family-friendly apps for the iPhone.
Overuse and abuse
I was also concerned he would play too much. The truth is it is like anything else. The parent needs to parent. Doesn't matter if it is tv, video games or ice cream we need to be good parents and not use the device as a substitute. So if I regulate his use what's the problem? I don't see any.
Controls
So I decided if I do this I will hold onto it or my wife will and we will give it to him at appropriate times. We also won't give him his own iTunes account (that seems insane to me) so we will control what he purchases and when.
Advantages
Some benefits I didn't consider until now - unlike a DS, the iPod can act as a music and movie player as well as audio books and a digital book reader. Also he seems to love the educational games that we have tried - I mean LOVES them. So if it is tradeoff between Super Mario Brothers on the DS (which I like) and him practicing his vocabulary or math skills, there simply is no better choice I can come up with.
In summary, my conclusion is that there are huge advantages and I have moved from thinking it's over indulgent to what a great educational and entrainment opportunity. As long as I parent with it rather than letting it go unfettered this should be great for us.
How about you? What do you think?
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