Kids Xmas, Tablet for Kids

sassyblue

claire16c wrote: »

But for a 6 year old?? wth? Whats he going to want next year - an apple mac? When hes ten - a flat? It can only go downhill!

I love it. Do you write for the Daily Mail? :rotfl:

balletshoes

Bufger wrote: »

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.

thats a really good idea, its what my sister did last year, the ipad was bought as a "to the whole family" present from Santa, for the 4 of them, mum, dad, son, daughter. Its worked well too, theres little fighting about it (probably because theres a laptop in the household too, and a desktop pc if anyone's desperate ).

The kids in my sisters house are older though, they were 11 and 14 when the ipad was bought for the family.

OP do you think your family would get the use out of an ipad? If not (I can't get on with it at all, I like keys, not swiping stuff with your finger) maybe a smaller android tablet?

kj*daisy

We bought one for the whole family last Christmas, anything like that, the wii the x-box, computer are a whole family thing. We can't afford one each of everything so do it that way instead!

Buttonmoons

Funny as I have an Imac which my 6 yr old uses, and 2 weeks ago I bought an Ipad 2, which she mainly uses, I just use it to check the odd thing or watch netflix. Still need to find reccomendations for decent apps for it for her though, I'm reluctant to buy something and its rubbish.

Xmas she wants a pair of slippers that's ears go up and down.

NewKittenHelp

raven83 wrote: »

I agree it is sad now that kids don't seem to want the more traditional toys these days and would rather spend their time looking a computer screens. My youngest DD has just gone 6 and I wouldn't dream of getting her an Ipad! I can't help think a lot of it comes down to parents wanting to keep up with the "status" thing. They are expensive and tbh more of a luxurious "toy" than a real essential. I know of parents that have fed their kids beans on toast for nearly a month and not paid bills just to be able to say they have an Ipad. I think it is incredibly sad.

No toys are real essentials.

19lottie82 wrote: »

A £400 gadget for a 6 year old? It's your choice OP but, personally, I think that's insane! If he gets things like that at such a young age, where will it stop further down the line.

I'm with the others, just buy him an Android tablet (they have loads on ebay in the weekly deals section), there are plenty for under £100 - chances are, he won't even know the difference!

http://deals.ebay.co.uk/?_trksid=p5197.m462#1

Just me?

freyasmum

Funnily enough, Id been thinking about getting a tablet for my girl (also six).

She's had numerous leap pads and has had a ds for two and a half years (my sister bought them for her!) and the games on them are extortionate! She loves playing games on poissonrouge/cbeebies/nickjr/etc websites and is always picking up my camera to snap away with. She would get a lot more use out of a 'real' tablet than perhaps the more age appropriate toy ones.

With regards to the get them an iPad and where will It ever end argument; most young kids do not know the value of money, or how much these things cost, so to buy them an ipad would not necessarily mean that they will end up being greedy and money-grabbing. My girl would be just as delighted with 50p to spend on sweets as she would be an iPad or any other toy/present.

I have a cousin the same age as my daughter, SHE knows the cost of absolutely everything... and the value of nothing.

Another cousin on a day out with his dad, after being taken to a kids softplay and being bought snacks and sweets etc, enquired as to where he was being taken next - as his mother had told him to make sure his dad had spent 'enough'.

Kids learn what we teach them.

rachbc

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.

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.

My son is a teenager - he didn't ask for the ipad we got it for him cos we new it was what he really wanted but didn't think he would get it. When he has asked for things I think are not appropriate I would and have said no - certain ps3 games etc. or things that won't last or don't give value for money.

FBaby

Ha ha, I came outraged reading that anyone could consider byuing an ipad to a 6 year old, then read about the offer with the blackberry tablet and bought two, so in the end, am grateful for the thread!!!

Saying that, i am still shocked that so many people think it normal to buy such a present to a 6 yo. I go from the benefits and debts forums, about how people struggle and can hardly afford to it, or who owe ££££££, to coming here where this seem almost a normal gesture.

My partner and I earn a fair amount of money and still I am debating whether to buy one for me because my laptop has given up (but can use my work one for the time being). We both only got smart phone (and not the latest i-phone) last December.

My kids are 9 and 12, and I certainly wouldn't consider buying them a i-pad. As stated above, I got them the £129 blackberry and that already I consider a luxury. They will be over the moon because their expectation are reasonable.

As it's been mentioned here, I strongly believe that the more you give a child, the more they expect. If in addition to that they have no concept of earnings/savings/debts, then I think it is a very selfish thing to do as a parent. I believe that those are the kids who will want a new car at 18, a luxurious, all newly equipped flat at 20 and the rest. Those who are rich and can afford it because blaze before their age, those who can't afford it, well....end up in the other forum...

Adding to that my views that a 6 year old should be spending most of his time interacting with real people and being active, it seems a extremely lot of money to spend on something that they will only use for an hour or less a day.

rachbc

FBaby wrote: »

I strongly believe that the more you give a child, the more they expect.

And my experience has been different. My son has been utterly speechless and grateful on the occasions we have got him ott presents, and just as grateful and happy on the occasions we have got him the smaller gifts he has asked for. When circumstances have been different or I have said no he has been upset but never resentful or brattish.

Kids being 'spoiled' is less to do with what they have/ are given than how they are expected to behave.

jellyhead

Who are those blackberries for, your children? I don't really see much difference, except for the cost factor which won't mean much to a 6 year old (and I don't see a problem with that, not at 6 - they should know that they can't have everything they see, know how to save etc. but they don't need to know the cost of various electronic toys).

I agree with the gist of your post, but I don't see why you'd criticise people for thinking of buying an ipad for a 6 year old, yet you bought something similar for a child of 9 who ought to be playing outside or interacting with real people too, surely?