Thoughts on ipods and ipads...

[foreverondiet]

I can't believe I am about to allow this, but after 2 years of saving my DD (age 10) and my DS1 (age 7) have saved enough - DD for an ipod and DS1 for a 2nd hand ipad mini.

I honestly did not believe when they started saving that they would ever have enough, they have kept every £ given to them for 18 months, including birthday / Xmas money etc - basically think no presents for 2 birthdays and a Xmas each as asked everyone for money.

Obviously I will put controls etc on and they will not be allowed to play for more than a certain number of hours a day. Am I mad to allow?

DS1 loves maths and will play maths apps a lot, but he also loves pointless games. DD likes iplayer too much but also loves listening to audio books and she will use for that.

I guess the problem is that when they started saving I didn't think they would ever get there, thought they would spend their money! Now I suppose I have no choice

Well done to them for saving- my dd did the same.

My advice is to consider a "contract". You should be able to access content to make sure they are staying safe, rules about taking it out if the house and safe storage in the house etc. For dd she gets iPod time based on meeting certain tasks - homework, room decent and a few more personalised ones. Then she is free to play mindless crap did the rest of the day if she so desires.

Turn off in app purchases as a top priority.

And maybe treat them to a decent case each to protect their purchases. Accidents happen and I reckon my case has saved my iPhone screen several times over.

Oh and morrisons tend to do promotions on iTunes gift cards near to Xmas time. Might be worth looking out for.

Turn off in app purchases and check that it's set to immediately ask for the password.

The default lets you buy things for several minutes and is the cause of our only over spend. a whole 7.99 for a whole album so hardly the end of the world. DDs were buying odd songs, pressed the wrong button and it didn't ask for the password (DD1, knows it and knows she has to pay).

Good cases are a good idea if only because it makes ipods harder to lose if they are bright colours.

I don't have any rules except you pay for any thing you buy and normal internet common sense applies.

DD2 has had a pretty much unlimited lap top since she was six, if she couldn't remember the internet talk at 9 when she got her Ipod she wasn't trying, she had heard it at regular intervals.

She's had it again this week having acquired a BF (she's not yet 13 )

Trouble is I think 7 and 10 year olds pay far more attention to never give out personal details, don't write anything nasty and don't post pictures, than do know it all 12yos. I know they do post pictures and I just hope some sense prevails.

As you say technology is not a genie you can keep in its lamp forever, even if my two didn't have gadgets, all their friends do.

So I'll just keep getting resigned looks for giving the talk again (They get the other talk about, sex, drugs and getting drunk too, DD1 is 15). My DDad chain smoked and now has heart trouble, so that's sadly one talk they don't need.

Yes contract is a good idea, so they understand that they don't have unlimited access.

I think they will be on my Apple ID (I have iPhone) but not have password so they won't be able to download any apps free or paid for unless I am there. This has advantage that if one of them buys an app they can both play. Will turn off in app purchases and set to immediately require password. My account currently linked to credit card but I rarely buy apps and never buy music so might change to vouchers. And will add lots of restrictions eg to explicit content.

Neither of them interested at the moment in internet or talking to strangers but obviously will monitor.

Wow, I'm amazed such young children saved so much money; good on them.! Saving money is a great life skill, that many adults never achieve! Lol I'd definately let them have the iPod/iPad and enjoy what is obviously a very much longed for procession to them. Bless them

I wouldn't put them on your ID. My dd gets messages intended for me, and kindle app etc allows access to all books so ones that I read ( murder etc) are accessible to her which I'm not happy about.

I intend to set her up one of her own. Games cost v v little really. Think only one dd bought was 69p. The rest were free.

Bluecarrot - what sort of messages - do you mean iMessages - one of my friends said they had managed to set it up with their Apple ID for apps but different for email and iMessage?

Re: kindle I don't actually have it on my iPhone and on my android tablet it's logged in to my dad's account so I can read his books.

Yes- she was getting iMessages. I wasn't aware you could have two apple IDs on one device.

No one Apple ID - but more than one email address associated with it. My FaceTime and iMessage come to my email address and phone number and hers go to her e mail address. So if I wanted to could see all her iMessages (currently I don't but could change that) but she won't see my messages as her iPod only gets iMessages to her email address. Does mean that I have had to set her photos reminders and memos etc not to synch to iCloud - unless I wanted her to see mine.