At what age do you think kids should get pricey gadgets?

[Italiahaircolor]

IMchildlessO, I think it boils down to when they are mature enough, which goes to caring for it and understanding the responsibility of it.

 

[Dancing Fire]

IMO...people are just wasting their money by chasing the latest electronics gadgets. they'll never catch up cuz the newer models will be out within 3 months.

 

[Trekkie]

I'm not a mother, so my opinion probably doesn't count, but I believe children should get pricey gadgets when they can afford to buy them for themselves. If one can afford to buy one's child a nice toy or gadget it should be a gift, not expected.

I see so many of my 16 year old brother's friends' parents rushing off to buy their children the latest iPod, iPad, BlackBerry etc but they complain about the credit card bill / school fees / the mortgage. When I broached this subject with someone I thought to be a close friend I was told I can't possibly understand, because I don't have children . Apparently once one has children one wants to give them "everything of the best" and this means giving them the latest gadget the moment it is released.

My brother is 16 and I started saving for his university education the moment I started working. It wasn't much at first, because I wasn't earning much. But over the years it has accumulated (don't you love compound interest?! ) and I am confident that I will comfortably be able to afford 4 years of university education, including residence, books and a minimum of pocket money (just enough to pay for toiletries, the occasional pizza and other sundry expenses. If he wants more money, he can earn it himself). Yes, he has gadgets and yes he dresses well, but I have tried to teach him that these things are luxuries and not essential to his everyday living. His computer was a reward for exceptional marks in grade 8. It's a nice computer but not the latest and greatest. He dresses well but I only do clothes shopping twice a year, during the sales, and even then it's usually at factory shops. I see no point in spending a fortune dressing someone who outgrows his clothes at such a ridiculous rate. Yes, he has a cell phone, but it's a basic handset. He lost the new cell phone I gave him for exceptional marks in grade 7, so I refused to buy him a new phone. He sulked, but I was firm. Eventually he managed to wangle my uncle's old phone when his contract upgraded. Will I buy him a new phone? Maybe... Eventually. Once he has learnt to look after this one.

Personally I can't see how parents can give their children expensive gadgets if they have not yet started paying towards their university / college funds.

Really now, what does your child really need - the latest iPhone or a university education?

But like I said, I don't have children, so my opinion probably isn't worth much.

 

[Jennifer W]

For me it is about what they will use it for.

I do not plan to have video games in our house, the kids will not have TVs in their rooms or computers -- if they want to use the computer it will be out in the open where I can see what they are doing, thank you very much. They do not need a cell phone until they are well into their teens, and then it will not have internet access or texting capabilities.

Call me a luddite but I do not think any of these things beenfit kids. I actually dislike video games and texting/internet phones for adults as well, so why would I want my kids using them?

My aunt and uncle have a 10 and 14 year old and have all the same types of rules I outlined above. The kids moan, but tough crap

I thought I was the only person left who thought like this!

I don't mind gadgets per se, in that I love my laptop and my Kindle and use a cellphone, but video games, games consoles, hand held whatever they ares will enter my house over my rotting corpse, regardless of age.

 

[partgypsy]

My answer is when the a) parent/child can afford them, and b) when the child is mature enough to take care of said purchase.

We are not big tech people in our family (1 old computer, 1 tv(non big screen). No cable (netflix), no gaming systems (but we are getting a Wii). No fancy cell phone plans, Ipads, kindles, etc etc). I am a luddite too, I think too much electronic stimulation and passive information taking-in stunts real human (face to face) relationships and creativity.

But my daughter is turning 8 and we did get her a waterproof/shockproof camera for a combination birthday/Christmas present. She has asked for this 2 years in a row, borrows my digital camera and can use it responsibly (lots of pet pictures!), and so I feel she is ready. I feel this can develop into a good hobby.

My biggest pet peeve is really, when the child feels entitled, whether it is electronics or Uggs. That is really a turn off for me as an auntie. My sibs and sibs in law kids seem to have avoided it so far, but it still can happen.
My nephew (going from high school to college) really wanted an ipad. He thought he could ask for it as a "graduation gift". But my brother is solid working/middle class. So my brother told him he had to save up for it. Other family members and I gave him money for his birthday and Christmas and he also did small jobs until he saved up the money for it.
Part of the issue while my brother doesn't make much, they live in a relatively affluent suburb.
Now his little sister wants a pair of Uggs for Christmas and she is not out of upper El! And yes she has little 10 year old friends that have Uggs boots. Needless to say she isn't going to get them, but I feel bad that this materialistic peer pressure is happening already, and the snobbery that is experienced when she doesn't have the right items to "fit in". when I see some of these kids they seem to be just consumer machines.

Has anyone else experienced your kids having peer pressure for expensive items?

 

[Girlrocks]

My oldest are 10 this year. The only game system we have is Wii. They have MP3 players that cost $20 each from K-Mart. One asked for an Ipod touch, I had to tell her that wasn't happening for quite a few years.

Most of their friends (as young as 2nd grade!) have cell phone. Mine don't. I told them they could have them when they figure out a way to pay the monthly fee. Since they aren't of babysitting age yet, that doesn't look likely for a few years!

We had an issue about 2 years ago where my kids went to spend the night at a family members house, and when they came home the next day they were in tears...apparently this person had some girlfriends over to drink wine all night (while my kids were present) and then decided to leave them home at midnight by themselves to go pick up her son from a dance, leaving at the time 2 eight year olds in charge of their toddler and baby sibling who were all still awake, this family member does not have a landline, so the kids were completely on their own....that's a whole different story, but my husband and I decided then that we would not let our kids go spend the night anywhere without a phone on them.

We have an extra "house" cell phone. My cell is a Blackberry and DH is provided through his job, so I got an extra cheapy basic phone. It stays locked in my file cabinet in my office and is only given out when myself or DH choose to give it to the kids. We put it in their sport bag when we drop them off at sports practice if we aren't staying, they take it when they go take the dog up the street and back, etc. It has basically everything except phone blocked...no text, picture messages, the voicemail message is my name/voice...I don't think they even know the phone number to it.

 

[Berryluv]

My views may be unpopular but here goes:
As a kid, the most expensive gift I think I ever got was a Super Nintendo and I had to share it with my little sister. I think it's actually kind of sad that kids are getting (what would have been to me) crazy expensive gifts. Some people argue that some kids are mature enough for the electronics but the truth is many are not. I hate that our country is so steeped in consumerism and that we are passing it to little kids. We played outside and with others growing up. We weren’t glued to a TV or listening to garbage music on iPods.

I learned saving from my Mother and I have to wonder if kids who get every little gadget, are going to get what it is to save and work. I bought my own cell phone in high school and I paid the bill. I'm not implying that I have better values as I know some great kids. If I got a *big ticket* item for a gift, I knew my parents sacrificed to get it for me because they weren’t superfluous spenders.

I also think that it seems silly that so many are suffering in this economy and we talk about getting kids computers, iPods, cellphones. Little kids shouldn't get these things. Teens, ehhh depends on the kid and family situations.

 

[february2003bride]

DS just turned 7 on Monday and we got him an ipod Nano. It's something he's wanted for a while, he uses mine, DD's and DH's all the time. He loves music and it's something we want to encourage. We put the songs on his ipod so we can control what he listens too.

DD, 14, is getting a netbook for Christmas. She's in middle school and almost all of her classes are computer based. She's constantl yusing my laptop for a school assignment or project. Our highschool is moving textbooks to ereader versions. So we feel it's a necessary.

 

[TravelingGal]

For me it is about what they will use it for.

I do not plan to have video games in our house, the kids will not have TVs in their rooms or computers -- if they want to use the computer it will be out in the open where I can see what they are doing, thank you very much. They do not need a cell phone until they are well into their teens, and then it will not have internet access or texting capabilities.

Call me a luddite but I do not think any of these things beenfit kids. I actually dislike video games and texting/internet phones for adults as well, so why would I want my kids using them?

My aunt and uncle have a 10 and 14 year old and have all the same types of rules I outlined above. The kids moan, but tough crap

I thought I was the only person left who thought like this!

I don't mind gadgets per se, in that I love my laptop and my Kindle and use a cellphone, but video games, games consoles, hand held whatever they ares will enter my house over my rotting corpse, regardless of age.

Nope, add me to your club. TGuy likes video games but he only plays one right now on his computer and he's very balanced about playing time. We agree that there will be no gaming consoles in our house. If Wii golf or tennis or whatever is so fun, I think going outdoors and going the real thing has to be better. I really want to teach Amelia to be active OUTDOORS.

Again, I never say never, but personally I really dislike gaming.

We also agree, only ONE TV in the house...in the family room. No one, not even us, gets a TV in the bedroom. There is one out in the mancave (garage) though...so his buddies can all go hang out there!

 

[Berryluv]

I thought I was the only person left who thought like this!

I don't mind gadgets per se, in that I love my laptop and my Kindle and use a cellphone, but video games, games consoles, hand held whatever they ares will enter my house over my rotting corpse, regardless of age.[/quote]

Nope, add me to your club. TGuy likes video games but he only plays one right now on his computer and he's very balanced about playing time. We agree that there will be no gaming consoles in our house. If Wii golf or tennis or whatever is so fun, I think going outdoors and going the real thing has to be better. I really want to teach Amelia to be active OUTDOORS. ♥'s this!
Again, I never say never, but personally I really dislike gaming.

We also agree, only ONE TV in the house...in the family room. No one, not even us, gets a TV in the bedroom. There is one out in the mancave (garage) though...so his buddies can all go hang out there![/quote]

I like the idea of not many tv's in the house. The monster tv's out now are so hard to decorate around!

 

[Jennifer W]

I only have one tv too. It's in the living room, and it's very small. It's a nice flat screen Sony, with a recordable DVD player, it isn't that we're cheap or anything it's just that I don't want it to dominate the room or our time. Anyway, my neighbours (and we're talking quite some distance away here) have one large enough for us to watch through their window.

 

[TravelingGal]

I only have one tv too. It's in the living room, and it's very small. It's a nice flat screen Sony, with a recordable DVD player, it isn't that we're cheap or anything it's just that I don't want it to dominate the room or our time. Anyway, my neighbours (and we're talking quite some distance away here) have one large enough for us to watch through their window.

We only have a 36" inch HDTV (and it's CRT! But the picture is amazing) in our living room. The old SD TV went out into the garage. 36" is considered tiny these days. I get big discounts in our industry so I even asked TGuy if he wanted another TV that's bigger, and he actually said NO.

The kid has old fashioned parents...poor thing.

 

[Autumnovember]

My friend and I were just talking about this the other day.

It drives me absolutely insane that children these days are getting laptops and other expensive "toys" from their parents. I don't get it, what happened to the good old kids toys? Why do parents feel the need to buy these really expensive gadgets for their kids who are probably too young to even have such a possession.

 

[Autumnovember]

For me it is about what they will use it for.

I do not plan to have video games in our house, the kids will not have TVs in their rooms or computers -- if they want to use the computer it will be out in the open where I can see what they are doing, thank you very much. They do not need a cell phone until they are well into their teens, and then it will not have internet access or texting capabilities.

Call me a luddite but I do not think any of these things beenfit kids. I actually dislike video games and texting/internet phones for adults as well, so why would I want my kids using them?

My aunt and uncle have a 10 and 14 year old and have all the same types of rules I outlined above. The kids moan, but tough crap

I agree x 1000000000000.

 

[Bliss]

Hmmm, good question! We like tech gadgets in our house so I'm not sure what we'll do. I definitely won't enable our kids if they want something out of a sense of entitlement. But I don't think we'll be opposed to exposing them to the latest tech and learning to care for their things responsibly. DH thinks we should get our kid an iPad when she's a toddler. Maybe when she's 5 or so it could be fun - we're not going to spoil her but I think it could be a cool educational toy we could play with together. It has fun drawing features and games that a kid might like and I won't ever let her just zombie out with it alone. I'd always be there teaching her or interacting with her using it. We won't let our kids be glued to them, that's for sure! Outside activity, fresh air and exercise are very important!

Later when they're teens they can learn to earn them with good grades, chores and integrity... ETA: We're not going to run out and get her the latest gadgets just because they're the latest and greatest. But once in a while if there's something cool that she'd get a lot of use out of, it might make a good bday or Christmas gift. Nothing ridiculously pricey just for the sake of having it, that's for sure!

 

[meresal]

To answer a previous question, there are phones that do not have cameras/internet capabilities... My dad works for the government, and he has to have a phone that has no outside communication capabilities, other than talking or texting.

As for kids... luckily DH and I are pretty much on the same page.
Our kids will not have their own cell phones until they can drive. We will have a "family" cell phone that will be given to the child in order to call us to come pick them up. Otherwise, there is absolutely no reason for a kid to need to contact their friends 24/7 or be that attached to an electronic devise. I have a niece who was given one at the age of 11, and on a family vacation she maybe looked up from it for an hour a day. Ridiculous.

As for Ipods. I am fine with a child having one, as long as it is understood, that they are for leisure and exercise. They will not be worn when in the presence of others, at dinner, or at school. Drives me crazy when I see kids listening to their Ipod at the table when eating with their family.

They will not have their own computers. They can use mine or DH's... or heaven forbid, research at the library.

My biggest rule will be no phone conversations in bedrooms. My parents had this rule, and as much as I hated it, it is a good one. No reason for a preteen/teenager to need to be in a private area to have a conversation. Jury is still out on having a "Kids' line". My siblings were all much older than me, so we didn't have the fights over the phone. It may be necessary for multiple kids in the same age range though. I worry that calls that come in on call waiting would be "conveniently" ignored.

DH and I disagree on televisions in bedrooms. I think it pulls a family apart, he thinks it is necessary.

ETA: Just wanted to add that I overheard a young girl reminding her mom that she was promised an Ipod Touch for graduating 6th grade... really? Since when did graduating elementary school become an accomplishment or an act worthy of such an extravagant gift?
My parents rewarded me when I did things worthy or rewarding. *Graduating* a grade less than 12th was not worthy of anything in my house... it was expected.

 

[perry]

Here is the rule I was raised with; and I have passed it on to a few coworkers who says it works wonders:

If a maturing child wants something even moderately pricy: They pay half.

This is how I got my first "new" bicycle. I had brothers who purchased guns, I can't remember what my sisters purchased - but we all used the system.

We all had to earn money and save to get something we wanted. It taught us the value of work and money - and how not to waste it; yet allowed us to get things which were otherwise impossible. We also took care of what we bought this way.

Of course, by the time we were 17 we were buying all of our stuff from our own money anyway (I was buying all of my clothes from about age 14).

Perry

 

[meresal]

Perry, just a question...

I'm not sure what age you are, but I'm not entirely sure that purchasing your own clothes at the age of 14 is even a plausable option anymore. You cannot be employed until you are at least 15 years of age, and even then if you can find a place to hire you, in the state of Texas you can only work 30 hours a week(I think??) for pretty much minimum wage. (Mostly stockers or checkers at grocery stores, from what I remember from friends in high school)

How do you go about earning the money to pay for half of the item?

In my family, it was expected for the children to help out with chores around the house and we did not receive allowance. It was not acceptable to expect or ask for money in return for *work*.
I don't want my kids to think that filling the dishwasher and taking out the trash are worthy of reward,. Some things should be done regardless, not because you are being paid.

I'm not sure how I feel about allowances yet. IMO, children still aren't learning the value of money, because it actually is not really theirs... it is just something they expect and receive.

 

[perry]

Perry, just a question...

I'm not sure what age you are, but I'm not entirely sure that purchasing your own clothes at the age of 14 is even a plausable option anymore. You cannot be employed until you are at least 15 years of age, and even then if you can find a place to hire you, in the state of Texas you can only work 30 hours a week(I think??) for pretty much minimum wage. (Mostly stockers or checkers at grocery stores, from what I remember from friends in high school)

How do you go about earning the money to pay for half of the item?

In my family, it was expected for the children to help out with chores around the house and we did not receive allowance. It was not acceptable to expect or ask for money in return for *work*.
I don't want my kids to think that filling the dishwasher and taking out the trash are worthy of reward,. Some things should be done regardless, not because you are being paid.

I'm not sure how I feel about allowances yet. IMO, children still aren't learning the value of money, because it actually is not really theirs... it is just something they expect and receive.

The age of employment for an "official" job has not changed.

However, there is and never was an age limit on mowing lawns, shoveling snow, lemonade stands, etc. By age 12 I had started my money earning activities for spending money with the above kinds of work. I maintain that I made a lot more money as a teenager than people who worked in hourly paying jobs - and had more free time to boot.

What I do not understand - is why I could not find a teenager to mow my lawn for my house. With my asthma its not healthy and I hire it out (and I pay well). I have a neighbor who does it - but not a willing teenager to be found anywhere. There are at least 3 other people within a block of here who also hire out their lawn mowing - again to aged adults. My neighbor also does most of my snow as well - he knows I will pay him if he beats me too it - and he does. I'll also be looking for a new housecleaner (especially with my back problem) - and again I pay well.

As far as I can see - some teenager could easily be making $20-$30/hr (or more) by doing such jobs - but they don't seem interested (and its something us "adults" in the area talk about as a number of us used to do that kind of work as a teenager.

Perry

 

[meresal]

My apologies Perry, I completely forgot about lawn work. Not to set the womens' rights movement back, but as a girl, it was never my perogative to search for employment doing lawns for neighbors. My dad wouldn't even let me touch our lawnmower.

I think that is a great idea... and to be honest, it is an easy way to start a company. I actually have two friends that turned their high school lawn mowing service into a very lucrative and expanding landscaping company once in college.

IMO, if our kids want to play with the new and shiny gadgets, they can play with ours. However, I don't see any reason for DH and I to spend our earned money on these things. It's all just a status symbol in high school anyway, right? They will never be satisfied and will constantly ask for the newest fad. If they want it, they can buy the whole thing.

Chances are, by the time they can afford it, they will want something else.

I asked for some ridiculously frivilous things when I was younger, and my parents didn't buy them for me. I didn't *need* them, and to be honest, in a week I forgot about wanting it anyway.

Edited for spelling*

 

[perry]

My apologies Perry,

Apologies accepted. I have 4 brothers and 3 sisters. All of us had some kind of jobs for money (I grew up in poverty). The girls in the family did more baby sitting than the boys - but I did my fair share of baby sitting too.

The other thing we did was save our money for our large purchases. When I got that new bike - it was late August after I had been saving for it most of the summer.

To put things into perspective: In the summer between my Junior and Senior year of High School - I earned enough money to have put down about 1/2 on a small new car (a Super Beatle) - and I saved about 2/3 of that. Lawn work, cleaned coal furnaces, painted houses, built fences, and lots of other things. I was big into Boy Scouts and went camping 2 weekends a month - and a week long summer camp too. I also had time for fun as well...

I almost never worked by the hour - and instead worked by the job - and was paid cash.

There is a lot of money out there for someone who is willing to do those kinds of jobs. When I grew up a lot of teenagers did that kind of stuff - now you largely can't find a teenager willing to do it.

I am quite convinced that today a teenager could earn half the cost of a car in a summer by doing similar things.

Have a great day,

Perry

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Easy answer. When they can afford to buy it for themselves. Now, how your child "earns" the money for it is up to the parent and thus the age is subjective, but I think pricey things that kids just HAVE to have are a good opportunity for teaching the value of hard work and money.

 

[Haven]

I love reading that many PSers have one television households! We have one TV in DH's man cave, I mean, in the family room, and that's all we will ever have. (It's a gigantic television, by the way--50" or something.)

DH and I both grew up in homes with TVs in the kitchen, family room, and bedrooms, and I am very much against this. DH has come around to the dark side, and now agrees with me. I've had students who have more televisions than PEOPLE in their homes, it's insane!

We're also against giving children their own bedrooms, but I imagine I won't find much agreement, there. Our kids will share a room, period. If we have an odd number we'll have to figure something out.

ETA:

Re: Working. I started babysitting at age 11, and working retail at age 16. I have to say, once I started earning my own money, I was much choosier about how to spend ANYONE's money, including my parents'. I think part of this is innate, because I've been a cheapskate since childhood and I was raised by frivolous spenders, but I agree that when children earn their own money it really helps them learn the value of a dollar.

 

[TravelingGal]

I love reading that many PSers have one television households! We have one TV in DH's man cave, I mean, in the family room, and that's all we will ever have. (It's a gigantic television, by the way--50" or something.)

DH and I both grew up in homes with TVs in the kitchen, family room, and bedrooms, and I am very much against this. DH has come around to the dark side, and now agrees with me. I've had students who have more televisions than PEOPLE in their homes, it's insane!

We're also against giving children their own bedrooms, but I imagine I won't find much agreement, there. Our kids will share a room, period. If we have an odd number we'll have to figure something out.

Uh, I refuse to have Amelia sleeping with me and I won't have another child just to give her a roommate...

But TGuy and I agreed back when that if we had another, they'd share rooms. Kind of hard not to when we actually don't have the space to give everyone her own room.

I am actually the only person I know with 1 TV in the house. And actually here, I think I'm lying, because TGuy's computer monitor has a TV hooked up to it somehow...but I don't know how to use it and don't consider it a TV!

 

[Haven]

I love reading that many PSers have one television households! We have one TV in DH's man cave, I mean, in the family room, and that's all we will ever have. (It's a gigantic television, by the way--50" or something.)

DH and I both grew up in homes with TVs in the kitchen, family room, and bedrooms, and I am very much against this. DH has come around to the dark side, and now agrees with me. I've had students who have more televisions than PEOPLE in their homes, it's insane!

We're also against giving children their own bedrooms, but I imagine I won't find much agreement, there. Our kids will share a room, period. If we have an odd number we'll have to figure something out.

Uh, I refuse to have Amelia sleeping with me and I won't have another child just to give her a roommate...

But TGuy and I agreed back when that if we had another, they'd share rooms. Kind of hard not to when we actually don't have the space to give everyone her own room.

I am actually the only person I know with 1 TV in the house. And actually here, I think I'm lying, because TGuy's computer monitor has a TV hooked up to it somehow...but I don't know how to use it and don't consider it a TV!

Haha--Yes, I agree with you there. If we end up being a one and done family, the kid will have his own room because *I* am not sharing. It's bad enough that I already share with DH.

 

[random_thought]

Until my kids are old enough to have a job, they have all the fun things they need to play with outside...ya know...in the fresh air lol
If that's not enough, DH and I tend to keep up to date on video game systems, it's our one weakness lol But the children aren't getting their own personal game system or tv, that stays in the living room. We would never have family time if they had their own tvs!

 

[star sparkle]

I don't have kids, and won't have any in the forseeable future, but one of my close friends at work has a little girl who is turning 4 next week. For Christmas, the little girl has asked for, and I quote, "an Iphone. 4G, of course!"

I was floored. Apparently a bunch of her little friends in her pre-Kindergarten class already have them.

I mean, really? These kids are not even in kinder yet and either already have, or aspire to, have the latest and greatest gadget. Talk about feelings of entitlement.

 

[random_thought]

My biggest rule will be no phone conversations in bedrooms. My parents had this rule, and as much as I hated it, it is a good one. No reason for a preteen/teenager to need to be in a private area to have a conversation. Jury is still out on having a "Kids' line". My siblings were all much older than me, so we didn't have the fights over the phone. It may be necessary for multiple kids in the same age range though. I worry that calls that come in on call waiting would be "conveniently" ignored.

I had to comment on this. Once I got to age 13 or 14, I was talking to boys from school on the phone which at that age was embarrassing to say the least in front of my parents...and I think they knew that. I was allowed to talk in my bedroom from that point forward. When I turned 15/16 it wasn't nearly as embarrassing and I would openly talk in front of my parents...

Just another perspective.

 

[meresal]

RT, I should calrify, My parents didn't make us talk on the phone in front of them, we just couldn't do it in our room or behind a closed door. They have a landing at the top of their staircase, which has 3 bedrooms off of it. My sister used to pull the phone all the way to her doorway, and would sit there on the floor of the landing to have phone conversations.

 

[random_thought]

RT, I should calrify, My parents didn't make us talk on the phone in front of them, we just couldn't do it in our room or behind a closed door. They have a landing at the top of their staircase, which has 3 bedrooms off of it. My sister used to pull the phone all the way to her doorway, and would sit there on the floor of the landing to have phone conversations.

Ahhh that's not so bad then! My parents had a phone with a very short cord on it lol Once I turned 13 we got our first cordless phone, it was amazing!!