What age for an iPod?

[Dancergirl]

Dd3 is 9 (Year 4). She would love to have her own iPod and we have at home dd2's old itouch (she now uses her phone for music).

I can't help feeling 9 is a bit young for an expensive (albeit second hand) bit of tech. I don't think she wants it for music, more for games.

What do you think? And if it's a handed down one, would you still wait for Xmas/birthday?

[elephantcustard]

My kids got one from age 7, with safari and messaging switched off and obviously all parental controls on. they are good fun. if you are okay with a phone why not an ipod, particularly if itd not being used, perhaps a nice gift to her for the summer holidays?

[Dancergirl]

I'm ok with a phone but not before secondary school age when they actually need one. The wanting to play games on an iPod would just annoy me. Do you limit their time on it elephant?

[elephantcustard]

Absolutely! Or it would be non stop..if they want to use it mon to thurs, all homework/prep for morning and chores must be done... Free range on sat/sun morning til dh and I get up....not allowed until 8 at earliest. There are good fun apps and I join them on several games (clueless) but fun times

[MilkTwoSugarsThanks]

DS got his first iPod aged 6 I think, but it was parentally controlled to the max

[nicolasixx]

Xmas of Y5 here - most were late Y4/early Y5 and definitely as a birthday/Xmas present. Some of the only children received them much earlier.

[Hulababy]

DD had an iPod from being pretty young, I saw it as no real difference to getting her a CD player or whatever as initially it was just an iPod music (nano?) But then she had an iPad from about 10 and a laptop before.
However DD has always taken care of her things. None have ever been lost or broken, and she is 14y now so a few years of taking care of things.