Daughter wants an iPod Touch

An ipod touch for a grade schooler? my son is 21 and would love to have one and I could not get him one. Isn't accessing the internet and texting pretty much what the ipod is for? Maybe I am stupid here not knowing all the latest gadgets. you are right though that electronics whether game device, cell phone, or kindle or an ipod all change so rapidly and everyone wants the latest device. I had 5 children so I guess my children would have really been left out of this electronic age loop. I could see getting her a Nintendo DS over an ipod. Good Luck with whatever your decision is, but just a heads up, my Daughter in law has a 15 year old that has her drivers permit. Mother has a Mercedes Benz that she is using to learn to drive. When you start a child out on a Mercedes, how do you settle them into a car THEY can afford like a ford or chevy? I am still trying to wrap my brain around that one. Guess I am getting old...sure glad my kids are grown. And sure glad stuff wasn't as expensive when they were home. Just remember what you teach her now will carry a long way over getting everything they want. Sincerely hon good luck with whatever you decide!

My youngest is 13 and I got her one last year for her b-day. There is an app that has to be downloaded for the texting. It's wireless so if you don't do wifi..you don't have to worry. I know how you feel about the "keeping up with the Joneses" thing. They always say "everyone has one but me" I went through that with the cell phone. I just did not believe there was a purpose for a young child to have one...especially if they are never away. My 13 year old reads ebooks on her Ipod. They are pretty neat little contraptions. If your not comfortable with it, I wouldn't get it though. If I did, I would monitor her usage if you do have the wireless connection. They are just like little computers.

it doesnt end. personally, i think that grade 4 is way too young for anything like that but who am i to say? most of my daugters friends had blackberries as early as grade 6 (she is in grade 9 - still with no phone or any electronic device.)

In fact I agree with you. It is true that the Apple products are not cheap at all. I don't think that I need to follow others whenever they have new things. I should be myself and have my own style. In fact I think a cellphone is much more useful for your daughter than an iPod Touch. I don't think the products like iPod Touch or iPad will be good for young children. Since there are really quite a lot Apps and it is very easy for them to be addicted to it. They will spend lots of time on them rather than study. And I prefer children to have more outdoor activities rather than playing stuff like this. I love China

My little sister has one that she will let the kids play with from time to time when they are at my mother's house, but my daughter has actually never asked me to get her one of her own (she will be turning nine next month). With that said, I don't think that I would just buy one for her because I find that kids don't have a lot of respect for things that are simply given to them. Last year I made Kathryn save her own money so that she could buy a DS and because of doing that, she's taken better care of it than any of her friends have done.

If you always say no to her then you should probably say yes to this one. A child who is feeling left out tends to become rebellious. Though I understand when you say that it is pricey because it really is. Why don't you buy her this gadget in exchange of something that will teach her a moral lesson about why money should be spend wisely. Make her do extra chores in the house in exchange of it.

No way in Hell would I get a kid that age anything with internet access!!! Not only that, but for her to get anything from the iStore, she'd need a CREDIT CARD (probably YOUR credit card!!!). At first when you said "daughter" I thought "oh, big whoop. I have one, and I bought it myself." Then I saw that she was only in fourth grade!!!! I was in the 4th grade in 1992. The world was a very different place 20 years ago. A very VERY different place. Personally, iPods, cellphones, etc. should be restricted to age 16 and up, considering the responsibility it takes to use them.

Most of those other kids will probably grow up and wonder why they can't get a job or why life isn't going well for them because their parents haven't taught them to sacrifice for what they want and also that all they have to do is ask and they get it. Don't do that to your daughter. Sure you've said no a lot--it's a frickin' economic mess out there! I can't think of a more irresponsible way to spend money these days than all those expensive luxuries that kids don't need. And in 4th grade?!! Every child deserves love, shelter, clothing and food. Beyond that it's all gravy. And too much gravy makes people fat and unhealthy.

Well technology changes everyday, something thats new now, might not be so new next month, there will always be something thats a little better. I'm shocked that kids in the 4th grade have iPods, I don't even have one because they're too expensive. Sometimes I think parents buy those things for their children to use as babysitters, just like all the video games, I have a nephew that plays those things and thats all he does. He don't get out and do any kind of exercise, he won't go outside and play, he'd rather stay in the house playing video games. I don't think you should feel like you need to keep up with the Jones's, if it was me, I wouldn't buy her one, maybe there's some kind of compromise you can come up with without having to spend a arm and a leg.