What does an ipod touch do ?

[itonlyhappenedonce]

Just re-perusing my 7.5 year olds christmas list again and realised I have no idea what an ipod touch actually does and why on earth it would appeal to a 7.5 year old. Not sure he knows what it does himself!

You can play games on it, watch videos, and listen to music. You can also access the internet (if you're near a wireless network) - so all of youtube etc - and on the newer models (4th generation and above) there's a camera so you can take pictures and video. There are also apps which make the pictures funny, such as making people look like an alien or have a big mouth or making them look old or really fat or thin etc.

Also you can get any app you can get for iPhone so the funny voice changing ones etc would appeal to a 7 year old.

It's basically an iPhone, but without the ability to make calls or text!

My 5yo ds has one, he has his music on it he likes, plays games does phonics and maths on it too, story books on there, takes photos and makes videos and when at home has cbbc/cebeebies iplayer/skygo access or when in the car has tv/films we've downloaded. You can get A LOT of free content I've not paid for anything on his. Imo they're a far better 'console' than nintendo ds' helps that my own ipod touch has lasted 2yrs of rough handling so far whereas my sisters ds has been replaced 3 times for various stupid reasons.

Thanks for replies, internet bit worries me - can you sort parental controls or limit it to certain sites ?

I think you can, not sure how though.

You can restrict access to safari/ youtube etc and limit age restrictions on apps- I have DDs set so she can't download apps without permission.
I have also set a pin code on it which she doesnt know so she has to ask permission to use it or else she would be playing Minecraft in the middle of the night

Oh interesting about the pin - that would be perfect. In theory I have no problem with getting technology gift but don't like the potentially unlimited aspect of a hand held.

My children love theirs but u haven't worked ou how to stop the going on YouTube

In the settings, under General and then Restrictions, you can turn off things like You Tube, Facebook, internet etc. dd is not even aware that these things can be on her iPod. That's the beauty of it, it will grow with her as we can unlock things when she gets old enough for them.

On IOS 6 and above, You Tube is not automatically loaded and you have to download it as an app anyway (and you can put restrictions in place to stop them).

I've done that but we have a family iTunes account do unless I get rid of the YouTube ap on mine and dh's phones it is on the children's.

OP exactly the same dilemma for me. DS (8) wants one but there is no way I want him accessing the Internet other than in a public space where I can see what he's doing. Evil mother might just get him a nano for music and audio books.

you can turn off internet access completely

Pictures- you don't have to get rid on your phone to turn off on dc's iPod.

Pictures when you sync them, you can choose which apps to sync and not have the same ones :)

A word of caution, if you turn off youtube in the settings it o ly turns off the app and you can still access it through the Internet browser.

The only way to actually block it is to download k9 browser and manually block the site using it.

Ds 9 just got one for his birthday. I am crap at tech stuff but even I managed to disable internet before I gave it to him

You could just put a password on your router (most have them anyway) and then not tell them what it is. The iPod won't be able to find the internet connection even if they manage to switch it on and they won't be able to access anything.

Re, security. I have a pin lock on ds' ipod touch, he can't go online, appstore or itunes, download or delete games, or even turn the volume up full. I've also set it to reject downloads of any apps with an age rating above 6yo without password confirmation so me or dp can't accidentally download anything. Iplayer is locked to cbbc/cebeebies only also. The parental controls are excellent.