How Old Was Your Child When You Bought the Ipod Touch?

I teach high school. I am so tired of seeing kids sitting in class before the bell rings staring at their hand held devices (allowed between classes at school). They rarely talk to one another anymore.

My older two each got one for their 6th birthdays. My daughter was 4 when I gave her my old iphone (which acts as an ipod now).

Factors with the oldest: he wanted a personal gaming system. I researched all of them and decided I wanted to give him an ipod because the games were cheaper and it was more versatile, acting as a camera, video recorder, texting device, music player, and video player.

The second one - he asked for one for his birthday.

I love them and don't regret my decision at all. The hardest thing will be putting the two year old off for awhile because he loves playing on his siblings'.

My dd paid 1/2 out of her allowance money. She was 9. It has been the thing she has played with the most over the last year. She loves taking videos and she gets gift cards for apps on bday and holidays.

I'd say no to under 15. Kids don't need another screen.
They need outdoor play time.

Our daughter won one in a school raffle a month ago. She's seven and it seems age appropriate for her. She just uses it to play games.

My big tip if you buy one is to make sure you don't get the model we have. Make sure yours has the camera that takes photos both directions. The one our daughter won only takes selfies. It's very bizarre but when I took it to the Apple store to get fixed, they said that's actually how the phone was designed. Who just wants to take pictures of themselves?

My sons are 11 and 8. No Ipod touch for them!!
I don't see the point in buying the ipod touch. Why? They have DS's for games, TV for shows, and the computer in case they have homework or want to play games.
There is no need for me to buy one yet.
I am sure by the time I feel it's acceptable to buy one there will be some other newfangled awesome thing that they want.
L.

8 and 9.

They were (and still are) the best gifts I've ever purchased. I would never buy a DS or other handheld gaming device for them. An iPod Touch or a Google Android device where you can buy apps from iTunes or Google Play is the very best choice because the games and apps are so very cheap!

Also, OF COURSE you have parental controls that can limit access to the internet and Youtube, as well as limiting any access to explicit content.

I very much recommend either an iPod or Android touch device for your kiddo at age 8 and up. Be SURE that you get an excellent case (like an Otterbox or similar) to protect your purchase.

7 & 8. I have to laugh at the 'kids don't need more screens' comments. It's not the number of screens, it's the rules the parents have in place. My kids are outside any time it is nice enough to play outside. They aren't allowed to watch tv, play video games during the week and handheld devices can't be turned on till after homework/chores are done. They are only a problem if you let them be a problem.

ETA: My kids use them to text friends and facetime friends/family more than to play games. My 11 yo uses his for instagram a lot (we have a contract, I have the password - not him, and I don't hesitate to ground him from it if needed)

My son is turning 8 and has no screens. No plans to buy any. Maybe a Kindle reader (not tablet) when he is a little older - I don't look at that as really different from a book.

My kids received iPod Touches when they were four and a half. They were hand-me-downs, not new purchases (I would not have bought them for such young children). But, having gotten them... I have to say they were great for small kids. We use them for movies on airplanes and for games as a treat. My kids probably only play with them for a few hours a month, but having them as an option is fantastic.

Both of my music geeks got one in middle school.
About 6-8 yrs ago. It's still going.

7.5 I think. My kid does not sit on her but playing video games all day but she will sit on her butt and read all day if I let her. =)

I hate to admit it but she got her itouch as a just because present because her sister dominated her iPad (7th birthday). My second daughter did use it to create animations. It helped her speak and assisted her in imaginary play. (she had a very limited vocabulary at 5 (ASD)). My kids don't do TV but they do watch netflix on their gadgets. It was also handy for the long drives we do in the summer. We have also used it for sight words, as a dictionary as a review course for science olympiad thru quizlet.

How old is old enough really depends on you.

My kids are 10 and 6 and don't have an Ipod touch. I feel they need to be outside playing in the fresh air, sunshine (what's left of it), and friends. They don't need to be sitting on their butts all day playing video games.

My 10 year old got a DS Lite a few years ago for Christmas. He kept leaving it laying around and had it taken away 3 months later.

First was 10, second was 8, third was 7. The younger ones want it as soon as the older ones get it!

My older son got his for his 10th birthday and my younger son got his for his 8th birthday. I wish we had got them sooner, then they wouldn't have needed the ds's, camera's and the mp3 players. By the time they got theirs most of their friends already had them. They are really great for waiting rooms and long car trips.

My daughter was 6. I know many people who bought them (or iPad mini) for kids younger than that but at 7, she is now really liking it. I hear all of the - I want my kids to play outside stuff from posters below but my daughter uses it mainly for music. A few games here and there (especially in the car) but she is no way addicted to it.

Why did I buy it - he older cousins had it and she wanted one. We don't have a WII or any gaming system so I thought this would be good for her. And it is. And besides - I didn't buy it. Santa did!

We got one for our son as an 8th grade graduation present.
He was 14.

Our daughter was 12 when she got her IPod. We are old school and she still doesn't have a phone but with the touch she can IM us and it helps her keep in touch with all her friends and family in the states. That's been the best part of it is her ability to facetime with her friends and fam back home.

Thanks for asking this question! My 10 year old asked for one for Christmas so I started looking online today to see what features it has and what is comparable. It concerns me that it has access to the internet and YouTube. I just really don't know about it! I will be following your post to see what other people think!

My daughter will be 8-1/2 years old when she gets hers this year for Christmas =)

We skipped the iPod and just gave our son my old iPhone when I upgraded. He was 9, and still has the phone and has cared for it well this past year. I think it depends on the maturity of the kid. But, we also don't have a home phone so I felt it was important to have one extra phone in case my son was ever home alone, and also so all his friends are not calling my personal cell all the time.

The more responsible of my kids got an Ipod Touch (2008 model) for Christmas at age 12-1/2. He got an Iphone for his 17th birthday. My other son got an Ipod touch for his 14th birthday, paying for 1/2 of it with birthday money from other relatives. My biggest concern with Ipod touches and Iphones is constant access to the internet. However, the Iphone has been very useful for my older son for Google maps (not operated while driving) and school website access.

I agree with the other poster who said be careful which one you buy--my son is VERY disappointed that he can only take "selfie" photos with his Ipod 5 and it seems like a very strange design. We weren't fully informed when we selected the model. It does not have a regular camera if that matters to you and your child. I wouldn't purchase this particular model again.

ETA: I second get a durable case for it. They get dropped all the time! Also, be careful of the charger cord. My younger son has ruined two chargers in two months by scrunching them in his pockets. We are in "negotiations" as to payment of a new charger.

Honestly we won't buy it at all. We would look for something that just plays music

I got a new iPhone, and my iPhone 3 still works on WiFi, but without cell service. So it is essentially an iPod Touch in terms of function.

Both my 3 year old and my 7 year old love it.

I wouldn't have bought one for a 3 year old, but since I have the phone sitting around, I let him use it and he loves it.

He bought his own, with money he earned, or combined with birthday money, probably when he was 10. Trying to figure out how old is old enough, is tough. I think if your child is responsible, or has earned the money to buy something he wants, that's OK even if he's younger. My boys spend plenty of time outdoors, and they like to take their music with them when they are doing chores too.

I work at an elementary school.
Lots of kids have the iTouch.
Not the young ones though. ie: kinder, 1st, 2nd.
But their older siblings do have it. And the older kids have it.
NOT every.single.kid. mind you.
But some.

My oldest, my daughter, has been using an iTouch since about 4th grade. It was a hand-me-down from my Husband. For her to use.
Now, she is 11. In Middle School.
She recently bought an iTouch, herself, with her own savings.
It was her b-day gift to herself.
We allowed it.
She was sure about it. It was a good purchase.

Then, my son who is 7, by default, because we are a tech family and have gadgets in the house, uses, the iTouch and our iPad and last year a relative got him and my daughter a Nook HD.
Their Nook is "theirs." The iTouch my daughter bought herself is "her's." But WE make the rules on it.
The iPad is not, theirs. It is ours.

My kids, are good about things/our rules/usage of it and are respectful and savvy about tech use. They learn it in school too, from Kindergarten.
We can trust them.
They always ask us first, if they can use it or do something on it or if they would like to download something.
They need our permission.
They know it.
They do it.
We never have problems with them about gadget usage.
My kids are allowed to use the tech gadgets we have in the house, because they can be trusted, they are self-controlled about it and listen to us about the rules for it. And they do tons of other things and are not addicts to it.

The current iTouch model, is awesome.
It has the newest OS in it which is the iOS7 and can take photos and video too and it is very very good quality.
It also has "Siri" which is a voice helper. Like having your own assistant in the iTouch. My daughter can say to her iTouch "what is the weather today..." and "Siri" will answer verbally, with an answer or will look it up for you on the internet.
My daughter's iTouch can take photos from both sides.
And per using it on the internet... well she can only do that at home. Where we have it set up on our WiFi network. And a password has to be input.
She can't use it, anywhere else where there is WiFi. Because she doesn't have access to it anywhere else, except at our house. Due to password input.
An iTouch, is not like an iPhone where it can be used anywhere anytime on the internet. Correction: but places where the WiFi is free it can be used.

Just got them for my kids for Christmas this year. They are 5 and 3.

Santa delivered them when they were 11 and 9. They were so excited and grateful.

I have to tell you this little tidbit. I have been grateful many times that they had their iTouches simply for the camera ability. It was before I had a smartphone and I would forget our camera when we were out and about. The kids' iTouches have captured many photos and videos on family vacations,performances and birthdays that would have been lost due to mom's lame camera forgetfulness.

We have some features turned off on their iTouches so they can't surf the web willy nilly. They mainly use it for apps, music and texting with friends. Neither of them have phones and they are 13 and 11 now.

Five years ago I bought my then 14 yr old son one. Remember it's only been on the market since 2007, not that long ago really. Personally I think the age at which the kids get gadgets/technology is going backwards. I would see no issues with getting a 10yr old one, or a phone even. But 6 years ago all this stuff wasn't so prevalent.
But 6 yrs ago it seemed a little much, hope that made sense.

I never bought the iPod touch. Our oldest son saved up his own money and bought his own (with our permission) when he was 12. Because he used his own money for it, he took excellent care of it. Now he is almost 16. He bought his own laptop last year, but the iPod touch is still in great shape. He has a part-time job at the State Fair every year where he makes quite a bit of money, and he mows yards, too. He saves a third of what he makes, but has made some good purchases, too.

My 13 year old got the iPod Touch Nano when she turned 13. I refused to get her one sooner. She still has rules involved. She treats it like a newborn baby.

We got our son his ipod for his 10th b-day. We skipped right over the handheld games (except the leappad--that was awesome!) He is 11 now and still loves it! Although he is saving for a laptop or ipad someday.