Kids Xmas, Tablet for Kids

BOBS

JC9297 wrote: »

We bought a Griffin case for my son's iPad and it certainly removes any worries about it being damaged (he is 19 and has autism and a learning disability). It does make it bulkier and heavier though.


I personally wouldn't buy an iPad for a 6 year old, just like there is no way our 15 year old is getting an iPhone , however I do think they are great for the whole family to share.

guy in apple store recommended otterbox - they are an american protective case and make ipad pretty wel protected. He brought up their american site and recommended ordering direct. Not that we have bought any tablet ourselves yet

pinkclouds

pearl123 wrote: »

Also ipads/computers are quite addictive. Many people can't wait to get online. Do you want a 6 years old perhaps being addicted to being online?
Would it be wise of a brain that is developing?

ICT lessons are YR/P1/age 4 upwards and TVs are commonplace. Just limit the amount of time spent using the device e.g. an hour of watching videos or TV on the iPad counts the same way as an hour of watching an actual TV or a DVD.

I wouldn't endorse unsupervised internet time on any device. (For young kids, that is. No one is watching me, typing here!)

lil.smartie

Another +1 for an iPod touch.. My 31/2yr old loves her leap pad which she had last birthday with some games for Christmas but she loves Daddy's iPhone more...
Oh and Otterbox are fantastic!

Kate

jellyhead

rachbc wrote: »

Or of course like my dd and my friend's ds - they might just decide to believe regardless of what they are told.

My eldest did. At the age of 4 his teacher told him that Santa most definitely does exist, and he believed her (not sure why, as he refused to believe in the tooth fairy or easter bunny). I don't think he'd heard of Santa before then. I'd always said I'd never tell him. Both of my children were entranced with the idea of christianity once they started school too - I think it's the baby Jesus (and the magic reindeer with Santa).

I decided I'd let them believe what they wanted to. Eldest decided at age 7 that it was all nonsense, but youngest will have to be gently told the truth when he's 12 I suspect, and will probably believe in christianity a lot longer, perhaps forever.

But anyway, Mildred's had all this on other threads

mildred1978

jellyhead wrote: »

My eldest did. At the age of 4 his teacher told him that Santa most definitely does exist, and he believed her (not sure why, as he refused to believe in the tooth fairy or easter bunny). I don't think he'd heard of Santa before then. I'd always said I'd never tell him. Both of my children were entranced with the idea of christianity once they started school too - I think it's the baby Jesus (and the magic reindeer with Santa).

I decided I'd let them believe what they wanted to. Eldest decided at age 7 that it was all nonsense, but youngest will have to be gently told the truth when he's 12 I suspect, and will probably believe in christianity a lot longer, perhaps forever.

But anyway, Mildred's had all this on other threads

Thank you. As I've said before, we won't be telling LO that Santa does or doesn't exist, just that some people choose to believe. The same way we'll teach him about different religions that some people choose to believe. What he chooses to believe is up to him. We just aren't prepared to actively perpetuate the lie/fib/fairytale.

As we downplay Xmas anyway, and don't do trees or cards or gifts (we're usually on holiday) I can't imagine it will be a huge deal. It certainly hasn't been for other people I know.

Erinnire

Blimey I wouldnt be buying an Ipad for a 6 year old... Not that I could afford to anyway!

I am getting my daughter a DS for her 5th birthday and im still not 100% sure she will be able to use it...

I think the Andriod tabelt is a good idea, there are some nice little apps for kids.

claire16c

rachbc wrote: »

When we got my Ds his we got this...oh what are you going to get him next year to top it. We'll see what he wants and what we can afford. Presents don't have to get bigger every year - when he was about 8 he got a psp, the following year he jut wanted a game for it...one year we got him (he didn't ask for) a laptop then for christmas he only wanted trainers and headphones.

Yeah but if youve bought them an ipad, and then for whatever reason the next year they ask for something you cant afford - which could be less money but for whatever reason you couldnt, it would be pretty hard explaining that to a 7 year old.

And then when theyre a teenager which is the age they are the most likely to ask for expensive items, what are you going to say then if you didnt want to purchase that item? They had an ipad at 6 so what else is left? Youre setting up some big expectations even if they dont always go for them each and every year.

daska

I bought an ipad2 earlier this year which was primarily for DS2 as it's great for special needs but it's the 'family' ipad (i.e. mine ) not his personally. He has to ask to use it but he has his own page for his apps. He learned more from that in a month than from all the vtech/ leappad/ zippity type things he had previously. It's far more intuitive and user friendly.

I also have an otterbox reflex for it but that didn't stop the screen cracking when it was hurled at the floor during a meltdown. I opted for that rather than the thicker version because I have problems with my grip so I don't know if the Defender might be the better option. Ironically he wasn't playing with it at the time, I'd used it to look something up and then left it on the kitchen table - the meltdown was about an apple having marks on it

Bufger

Cant you buy it as a whole of family present for everyone? that way he learns to share it but if his friends come round you can all pretend its his.

I wouldnt be buying a 6 year old an iPad but if the whole family can use it then an agreement that its a main present for all would cut christmas costs and give everyone something.

When I were a lad (only 20 years ago) my parents bought me and my brother a joint main present. Sega was for us both, N64 was for both of us etc. Its one way to keep up with the Jones' but not break the bank.

jellyhead

claire16c wrote: »

Yeah but if youve bought them an ipad, and then for whatever reason the next year they ask for something you cant afford - which could be less money but for whatever reason you couldnt, it would be pretty hard explaining that to a 7 year old.

My two didn't have much of a concept of money at age 6. As far as they're concerned a present like an ipad isn't much different to a £30 vtech camera or a £7.99 chocolate coin maker.

As rachbc said, one year they get an expensive item and the following year they are happy with a game for it, or something else cheap. They don't ask the cost or check that you've spent more on them each successive year.

Mine had the Skylanders game (bought on a new catalogue account, so it only cost £30-ish) for christmas, then on his 7th birthday he was hoping for a new figure for it. He never once thought that his parents should be spending more than £7.99 on him, little kids minds just don't work like that.