Is a digital camera too old for a 5 year old?

[cornetjo]

I have seen the Little Tykes My First Real Digital Camera in Woolworths and was thinking of getting it for my 5 year old. However it doesnt have very good reviews (re image quality). There are a few second hand ones on ebay going for about £15-£20 and I have been thinking about getting her one of these. But I can imagine what nanny would say - she's too young for something like that.

I am sure she would use it, but should I wait until she is a bit older.

oh definately get a real one.
ds1 got one last xmas - he was 4y3m. He actually had my mum and dad's old one as they were getting a new one. He very quickly got the hang of it and still uses it a year later.
Great present.

I bought ds1 and dd cameras for their 6th birthdays. But I bought adult ones, not children's ones. The children's ones get terrible reviews, and for the price of a cheap adult one, you might as well. Five is quite young though, it depends how you'll feel if she doesn't treat it very gently. At 6, neither of mine were great, though dd is nearly 7 now and is very good with it. They love them too.

well you know your child but I am all for saving these things until they are properly old enough and you are genuinely stuck for waht to get them!

We are getting dd1 one for xmas but she is 8 and we have bought her a fairly decent one which isnt top of the range and cost about 70. We know she will LOVE it, whereas my 5 year old dd2 will be even more thrilled by her polly pocket so why bother?

we got DS a 'normal' digital camera - ok we gave him the one that came with the photo printer [really we are not meanies, i promise]
he did very well with it...then the shutter jammed when we were on holiday
i have heard that the little tykes one isn't good, i'd suggest waiting til she is 6 or 7 (am doing the same waiting with our 4yr old) and get her the lower end of the "proper" thing

HTH

I got a cheapo one for my 8 year old and she didn't really appreciate it. I'd save it for when they're older tbh and then get a good one.

It wouldn't have been something I personally would have thought was suitable for his age at the time - but he started using mine and asked for one.
It does depends on the child - it was top of ds1's xmas list, he has used it loads, he takes very good care of it (holds it properly, puts it away out of ds2's reach, doesn't throw it about etc).

I really want to get that camera for my 2year old, she took some good pictures on my phone and my old camera before she broke it lol. So alas I think I will have to pass on it this year, but if she keeps up the photo taking then prehaps I shall consider it for next year

We have got ds[4.2] a vtech digital camera for christmas..have just been playing with it and its actually a really nice little camera for kids.

We got DD a digital camera last Christmas when she was 4y8m. We decided against the child's one as the photo quality didn't look great and the digital view finder was so small and unclear. For very little more we got DD a Canon Powershot camera in the sale. Loads better quality with lots of functions for her to grow into. It is essential point and click on manual mode however. DD has been able to use it very well, no problems, since then.

Will just add I think if ds had been only child or youngest we might have got a different camera..however with a nealry 1 and 2 yr old about then we had to buy him the most robust looking one.

hula thats good to hear, its the one we have got dd1

I think buying a proper one is the best idea. I would only get a cheapish one though because, 1. a 5 yr old could break it (understandably) and 2. could get bored with it. Probably shouldn't be the main present too, even if it's on their list.

Allowing a young child to take photos and then to 'play' with the photos in photoshop (for eg) is great fun.
My ds has been doing this for years, but his enthusiasm comes and goes (as with a lot of things)