We R torn...what would U do?

[jlschlangen]

Ds has decided he wants an ipod or a kindle fire. Ok fine. He saw a ipod in the Target ad on sale. Fine. Well he's been earning or getting money from different things (V-day from gparents, reading, extra duties at home which he doesn't usually get pd for, picking up apples from gpa). He counted his money. He has $124 I believe. He is trying hard to buy it. Note: ds is almost 9. He is in the 3rd grade. We are torn on whether to let him get a kindle fire off of amazon b/c of his age and he has a sibling and she will most likely want one when she is his age.

When did your youngest or your child get their first big purchased electronic item (device)? ALso, what would you do? Besides if we let him get it dh & I would buy it and we'd put his money in the bank for when he goes to college.

We are beyond proud of him for earning the money and trying to get it on his own.

TIA

[Samantha]

I think that he should first decide what he wants.. ipods are for music and kindles are for reading. Both, in my humble opinion, are good for kids. He earned, he saved up for it so i don't think there's a good reason for him not to get it, if his siblings get upset and want one then they should work for it and save up for it as well. I also think its impressive he wants a ipod or kindle and not a video game device or something.

Good for him! I say let him get his reward!

[lilmermaid]

Dd1 just got a kindle for Christmas from us and she loves it!! I didn't realize you could do so much on them besides reading! She can play games, watch videos and listen to music. It has good parental controls too!

I guess I don't worry too much about DD2 wanting one. She actually said she would get it as a hand me down, lol! Who knows what the latest gadget will be by then?

Huge kudos to him for saving up the money to buy it!!!!

[love]

IMO I'd get the iPod. I'm not keen on the kindles or nooks. We just got baby cakes an iPod and there's a ton he can do on it. He was always stealing our iPad and we didn't want to get him one just yet and didn't want him to break ours so we got an ipod. He can play games, download apps, listen to music, wifi, FaceTime ( great when daddy travels) watch full movies and read books. It's just like our iPhones besides the talking on the phone part! We got him an otterbox case and its perfect!!! Easy to manage for him and it wasn't so expensive where if something happens to it it isn't a huge deal!

Yay for him for saving money! That's a ton of money for a little kid!!!

[sarahisis]

Kindle... more kid friendly than the I pod touch. I have both and only use the iPod for music. I hate dealing with small touch screens... My son has my old kindle, loaded with games, books, music and videos and he doesn't have to strain his eyes to see it....

[bumblebee23]

My boys came at me one year with CRAZY xmas lists. Mostly because they saw that there friends had all this stuff and they wanted it to. I had to explain to them that mom and dad don't have all sorts of money to buy them all this expensive stuff so if they wanted it they had to buy it themselves. I am the banker (like in monopoly). If they get/earn money it is given to me and I keep it hidden in an envelope somewhere.

They are saving to buy and Xbox. I will in fact make them use there own money to pay for it. I am trying to teach them that if you want something first you have to save then buy. My oldest is already talking about continueing to save for a house, car, and paying for other things. So I must be doing something right.

[slufoot]

Is there a store (like Target or Best Buy) where you could take him to look at both the Kindle and iPod so that he can look and check them both out to see which he would prefer? I know that I didn't know the Kindle could do music and games as well as books. Since he is spending his money, he should probably look into them a little as well (as we all do with bigger purchases). Very awesome that he saved up and worked to do extra chores to get this!

[ReneeW]

My DDs (8 and 5) have an old iTouch that used to be DHs ... they use it mostly for music and a couple of games, but they don't have access to it all of the time.

Personally I think it's great to have kids save up their money to buy something, it's a good lesson about money, finances, savings, etc. But you may want to lay out some rules ahead of time, depending on which one he decides to buy. I like the idea of having him try them out to see which one he likes better, you could even go online with him and see what customer feedback is out there, consumer reports etc. so he learns how to be a savvy shopper.

[deannemdm]

an iPod (touch at least) can also be used as camera, not sure about kindle or e-readers.
DD got iPod touch last year for christmas (she was 10). She now uses it at school (the teacher helped her get some apps for schoolwork and it is her planner). Get a little nervous about it at school (theft), but she for over a year now she has been fine with it.
IPods are smaller so they can get lost in a shuffle easier than e-readers

[jlschlangen]

We already told him if he gets one the rules of the item. Ds said he does not want a used one b/c he doesn't want to spend all that money in case it doesn't work. Maybe we will have to take him to Best Buy to look at them and feel them. He has seen a Kindle b4 & and an ipod. A lot of his cousins have ipods. None of them have kindles though.

[onlyoneboy]

DS1 has my old iPhone that now functions as just an iPod. He is restricted on when he can use it and where he can bring it. I don't see a problem with either. I think it teaches them responsibility. DS1 know's if he breaks it, it will not be replaced.

[jlschlangen]

We told ds the item cannot go to school. What ds wants the object for is: games, music I think, look things up on google, watch youtube videos, possible read once in awhile on it.

[jlschlangen]

I am pretty sure he will end up w/ a kindle fire.

Dh I think is going to order him one off of amazon b4 the month is over b/c this month he has free shipping. So he better hurry if he is going to. He doesn't say much if we (me or ds) asks about it.

I do have 1 ? though if he were to get one can one plug into it w/ ear buds to play games or listen to music? If yes, good b/c I got him a set of ear buds for it.

[sarahisis]

Yes.