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10 Reasons We Bought Our Kids an iPod Touch

October 22nd, 2011 - Uncategorized - 36 Comments »

When I tell people we got each of our kids (4 and 2.5 years old) an iPod Touch, I’m often met with disapproving eye rolls and cynical remarks. But here’s why we did it:

1. It’s better than a portable DVD player. Anyone who has gone on a long car ride with a toddler knows the importance of some screen time. We actually pulled over at a Walmart on one road trip and impulsively bought one just so we could maintain our sanity for the remaining four hours. With the iPod, they can control it themselves (it took them about 8 minutes to learn) and you don’t have to worry about lugging DVDs around.

2. They’re affordable. I bought each of theirs used on Craigslist for $100. With the prominence of iPhones, you wouldn’t believe how many people are wanting to get rid of their iPod Touches. People just don’t need both, so use this to your advantage.

3. It’s better than a Nintendo DS. Subjective, I know. But the point is, it’s just a matter of time before you’re going to start considering getting your kid a portable gaming system. Why not start with the Touch?

4. They’re learning how to create. One of the greatest things my parents ever did for me growing up was giving me access to their video camera and letting me create stuff. It cultivated a desire in me to create and entertain, which is what I make my living doing today. The built-in video camera in the 4th generation iPod Touch let’s my kids do the same thing. I can’t wait to see what they create.

5. I can monitor the content. Since it’s linked to my iTunes account, I can regulate what apps they have and what content they are consuming.

6. They’re learning a lot on it. There are some amazing educational apps out there. Both of my sons are learning the alphabet, how to count, colors, shapes, and how to write numbers and letters (among other things) in a very interactive way. It’s not all Angry Birds and Words with Friends. This article – the article that got me considering buying one for my kids in the first place – talks a bit more about how these devices are “sparking an educational revolution”.

7. They’re learning how to use technology. I can’t think how my kids being ahead of the curve in this realm could ever be a bad thing.

8. We don’t want them playing with our iPhones. No, not because we don’t want smudges on our precious screens. We just don’t want to pony up $600 to replace the phone they just dropped. This is a great alternative.

9. They’re becoming fanboys like their dad. Hey, we are what we are.

10. Because we want to. Obviously, this is the main reason. We’re their parents, and as their parents, we get to do what we think is best. And in this case, it’s buying them an iPod Touch.

Thoughts? 

  • chrystalmurphy

    Great points here! I have a 3.5 year old and she loves playing with my iPhone (3GS). I frequently say the greatest use for that thing is letting her watch movies when we go out to eat – she sits quietly and eats her food and the phone is discrete enough that the whole world doesn't also have to watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. My plan is to upgrade my phone in the spring to the iPhone 5 (hoping it really is released in the spring) and keep my 3GS for her – without a phone plan it is essentially an iPod Touch and since it's been dropped in milk at least once I doubt I could really sell it for much. :)

  • http://missionallendale.wordpress.com/ Joey Espinosa

    Great call, and great reasons.

  • James

    I can't wait for your blog post in 3-4 years that talks about the day you made the mistake of buying electronic babysitters for your kids. How it robbed you and your wife of rich communication times and how your kids look for electronic stimulus as part of their daily fix.

    I love what you often write about and your perspective….and I feel like a *big meanie* dropping so hard on your post. My hard words are for more effect than directed at you personally. Keep writing on. Your a good dude!

    • Tyler Stanton

      I hear you man. But that's a pretty harsh accusation that we've replaced all of our "rich communication times" with iPods. I didn't mention the time limits/regulations we put on them – didn't feel like I needed to. I thought quality time with my kids was understood.

      And if you're being honest, I highly doubt that every second with your kids (current or future) is rich in communication. Do they ever watch television? Movies? Play video games?

      • James

        I wasn't trying to imply you didn't have rich times with your kids. Your right…that is a given based on your writings of the past. The time limits I am glad to hear about. I just am not impressed by the evidence of introducing electronic gizmos to the very young. I am a bit bothered you think I was hitting YOU hard. I was just hitting that 1 idea hard. Trust me….I know you are a good dad….on a good parents team.

        My son watches about 45 min. of TV per day. Plays no video games yet. He is 7. He has written about a dozen books by himself and co-written about the same with me. He has a great opinion on subjects usually reserved for high school and college kids. Loves to invent from scratch and it is impressive. I think all of our time is rich in communication. 100%…… no! 97% …I think so.

        I could write for hours on the subject but I will stop here . . . (your blog not mine)

        Your Follower Bryan doesn't seem to have an opinion about the subject. Just a wreckless soul who doesn't give a flip how cheap he can write words. His comment is a perfect example of what is wrong with many people in this world.

        • Tyler Stanton

          That's awesome about your son. Sounds like a great kid.

          As I mentioned in #4, I'm hoping to use it to cultivate a desire in my boys to also "invent from scratch". We'll see…

          • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1410162517 Nancy Lunsford Stanton

            Nice restraint Tyler!

    • Kyle

      I would love to see some of your sons 12 + books. That is very impressive. He must be brilliant. My wife is currently pregnant at the time and I have only planned out my weeks to be able to spend roughly 84% of my day with him. 97% is quite the amazing feat. As for the electronics, I plan on burning whatever uses any kind of electricity. He will only be able to use a number 1 pencil and notepad as well as a compass. I plan on him being an artist so if we could maybe get our children together one day, they might be able to put together a fine and dandy children's book and/or encyclopedia britannica. Cross your fingers!

      Or I'll just get him an iPod touch and he'll be fine and still be loved unconditionally by his parents. One or the other.

      • James

        For the sake of keeping my previous post short I worked at assuming some things are a given. My sons books are not published books if that is what you mean? Every month we pick a character out and (stuffed animal, old pet) and we write all month together on that story with illustrations. We put them together after about 30-40 days and we call it a book. Some are much longer than others. We have 26 between the two of us. But 12 books by my son over several years is pretty killer in my view. My son is allowed to use the laptops and desktop. He loves Stevie Ray Vaughn youtube clips. He plays harmonica, working at guitar, drums, piano…… hums songs through out day. I am a homebuilder so he is involved in helping me rough sketch new homes before being sent to architect. I own Cat excavators and John Deere tractors and he loves to learn the purpose and operation tricks on these things.

        For clarity . . .I think of the time I get to spend with him communicating, playing, working, learning . . .97% of that time is excellent give & take communication. I own a small homebuilding company in Portland. I often have to work long hours as the sole administrator. I no longer have superintendents in this economy….so its a hard fight to be there in the family hours. My son will no doubt have a iPhone one day. He will have it all figured out for his own set of wants and needs. But until then . . . there is so much for kids and young people to experience, and it takes alot of energy and imagination to expose them to as much as you can instead of reaching for a electronic fix. Simply handing over an amazing item like a iPad to young kids (in my opinion) runs a terrible risk of the unknown. The unknown being: You don't know the personal development risks, and the negative outcomes to their natural gifts and talents when you hand over the iPad. Nobody knows yet. We are now seeing results in young men from video game affects. You think Andy Stanley doesn't have a few comments on what that has done to a few generations of guys?

        I have been at Imago Dei Community 10 of the 11 years its been going. Its a very artistic church. The pastor is a close friend of mine. Everybody at Imago works the iPhones/iPads. My son sees that stuff all the time at church and in our home and has opportunity to check that stuff out. He is not marginalized to his own age group so his adult pals show him their capabilities and he has interest at times in its apps.

        Kyle, you do seem intelligent, but to load your comment down with cynicism ….to an audience of unknowns is disappointing. Tyler did a sweet job answering my post that was pretty pointed.
        Bryan's comment . . . calling me a name, is a discredit to his blog. Bryan you are way better than that!

        • Tyler Stanton

          Just to clarify…that wasn't Bryan Allain.

  • john

    my 6 yr old loves his itouch, but i have had to disable the wifi on it because of youtube. A simple tom and jerry cartoon would lead to a tom and jerry cartoon edited and dubbed over by some crass teenager. Watch out for the youtube app.

    PEAPOD LABS has the BEST apps for kids!!

    James- this is the new mad libs, coloring book, and jumble. my kids love these, but they are much easier to keep up with and play on the itouch.

    • Tyler Stanton

      In the restrictions area, you can make it where you have to have a passcode to access youtube. That's what we did.

  • http://sarah.lidbom.com sarah lidbom

    right around the time my husband and i hopped on the iphone bandwagon, he won an ipod touch from one his work vendors. we tried (half-heartedly) to sell it on craigslist, but then decided to keep it for our (then) two and half year old son, for many of the same reasons as you.

    it's a great insurance policy for our phones. it's glorious on car trips. the 99 cent apps are a great incentive for good behavior/chores, not to mention, much cheaper than leapfrog cartridges and nintendo ds games. we loaded it up with pictures of friends and family and fun memories, and he loves looking through them. and, it can grow with him. he's now almost 5 and can play some bigger kid games and we don't have to buy an entirely new gaming system when he grows out of the old one.

    we don't let him play it all the time. it's reserved mostly for car trips and some downtime after lunch. i still read to him and spend plenty of quality time with him. i'm a stay at home mom, so let's be clear, sometime we need a little less time together. :)

    i'm fairly certain he will grow up well adjusted and if not, at least he'll be proficient at slingshotting disgruntled round birds towards little green pigs. at that's all i can hope for as a parent.

  • Marilyn Lunsford

    I just hate to see this generation becoming so dependent on all things electronic. I watch people walking around looking at their phones and not communicating anymore. Of course I am from the old generation and don't depend on all the new stuff the way young people do. Someday people are not even going to talk to each other. it's scary. Oh, and before everyone rags on me, I'm Tyler's aunt.

  • http://www.mandiemariebee.wordpress.com Mandie_Marie

    I think I'm going to start saying "I'm Tyler Stanton's aunt" when I comment on blogs. Because really, that's awesome and no one could prove otherwise.

  • Tyler

    First off, excellent post. Amanda and I have already decided to give our kids a leg up on this technologically advanced race of children.

    To add to number 6, I started using the iPad to teach in my classroom, which is rare at this point in education. My whole geometry class at the ALE use iPod touches to watch video lessons. I figure in about 5 or 6 years every school will be using iPads for every student. They just gotta wait on someone smart to make interactive textbooks with links and videos for every subject. I could go on and on but I feel I may have already lost anyone readng this.

    In summary, you're doing them a favor educationally allowing them to be comfortable/familiar with touch screen devices. Trust me, I'm a limo driver.

  • http://thetop7.net/ thetop7

    We gave our kids a chalk board and an abacus.

    JK. Our kids love their i-touches as well. Thanks for that post Tyler.

  • http://www.ilovemrpibb.blogspot.com Greta

    If you happen upon any more cheap ones on craigslist. send me the link.
    Your kids are extremely intelligent, sweet, well-adjusted, have tons of outside time, and even more outside time.

    If I get iTouches for my kids, will they be as cool as yours? :)

  • http://iamjakz.wordpress.com Jakz

    I've been planning on giving my sons our iPhones to use as an iTouch when we upgrade in a few months(apple has a walk-thru on how to do this). I mean, index cards or interactive touch screens to help kids learn letters, phonics, reading, math skills? (Wonder what they like learning with better?) Peaceful car rides could actually be possible?! My iPhone wont getting dropped by the kids (I drop mine often enough!)…

    Why not let them have iTouches? All of your points are valid, and the fact that you encourage moderation in their use is great.

  • Amanda

    I know how amazing your kids are. They’re above the curve, brilliant and already understand the important things in life. The iPod touch has little influence on their character/behavior. I’ve seen few parents as great as you.

    As for the iPod touch, we were sold when Bay started reading letters to everyone at the mall as he was waiting to see Santa. Wasn’t he only 2? We were sold when he fixed my iPhone. As a teacher, I’m grateful for educational technology and I wish more parents would take advantage of it.

    Maybe if James had it he’d know the difference between “your” and “you’re”.

  • http://www.rickyanderson.net Ricky Anderson

    Well, you sold me. You dirty fanboy.

  • nate

    tyler- you must be big time now. you have your very own comment drama.

    james- you are a douche. but not because you criticized tyler- i'm sure he's fine, but because you called someone a "reckless soul"… in public… for calling you a douche. save those phrases for your hugely successful books.

  • clintm

    Wow – so much drama on here about this. Everyone is entitled to raise their kids how they want to. I don't have kids yet, but probably will soon and I think about this kind of stuff a lot. I'm a little torn on the subject. I think it's great for many of the same reasons listed (I'm not going to act like I'm above letting my kids watch movies on car trips because I know I'll need that quiet time). The concern to me is how much time children use this stuff and how it can impact family dynamics. One example is that I see families out to eat and the kids have headphones on and are watching movies or something the whole time. To me, eating as a family is incredibly important and bonding and I hate to see something like that squandered so they can watch Looney Tunes.

    All things are good in moderation for adults and children alike: iPod touches, Social Networking, Video Games, TV – and I am certainly guilty of spending too much time on all of these.

  • Tyler Stanton

    Let's all just take a deep breath here. For the love of Peter, they're just differing opinions.

    • chrystalmurphy

      "love of Peter"…that made me laugh

    • http://justsayray.com/ russ_ray

      I was a little bit leery to comment myself because of all the crackbacks, but I've been thinking about this a lot lately too.

      Our kids inherited my first-gen as a hand-me-down, which is actually kind of cool because it didn't have a speaker so it's quiet when they play. Both kids play learning games on my wife's iPod, and I think I will end up biting the bullet this year and buying both 2nd or 3rd gens with speakers for Christmas. Your points are all valid, although I do worry about my kids getting too sucked into technology (like the babies you see on YouTube who play on iPads and then can't distinguish between the tech and a magazine).

    • http://justsayray.com/ russ_ray

      I was a little bit leery to comment myself because of all the crackbacks, but I've been thinking about this a lot lately too.

      Our kids inherited my first-gen as a hand-me-down, which is actually kind of cool because it didn't have a speaker so it's quiet when they play. Both kids play learning games on my wife's iPod, and I think I will end up biting the bullet this year and buying both 2nd or 3rd gens with speakers for Christmas. Your points are all valid, although I do worry about my kids getting too sucked into technology (like this baby).

      [youtube aXV-yaFmQNk&feature=youtu.be http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXV-yaFmQNk&feature=youtu.be youtube]

  • http://www.JanetOberholtzer.com JanetOber

    Great post … like your logic.
    My boys are now college-age, but if I had young kids today, I'd have no problem buying them iPods Touches (or other electronics) for many of the reasons you listed. Using electronics is simply the era we live it … it says nothing about what type of parent we are or are not. I know Amish and Mennonite families that have no TV, radio, electronics and they rarely spend time with their kids. (sorry to burst the bubble of anyone who thought Amish/Mennonites all live perfect family-oriented lives)

  • http://twitter.com/torcon @torcon

    Awesome – will you adopt me? I'd prefer the 64GB flavor. Also, do you prefer "pop" or "daddy-o"? Let me know….

  • http://kylesklenar.wordpress.com Kyle

    so when will your kids start blogging? Thats what I'm waiting for. Haha

  • http://www.evanforester.com EvanForester4

    I think it's great as long as the iPods don't consume their lives.

    There are much worse things parents do to their kids that people should be getting worked up about.

    Have you found an app that you can hang above Jude's crib that simulates a mobile yet? (By mobile I don't mean a phone, I mean those spinny things)

  • skottydog

    We allow our son 15 minutes a day with our iPad. If he stays in bed all night. That's the deal. He even sets the timer that says "Ryan iPod use" by himself.

    We are teaching him Financial Peace Jr, and he gets commission for chores around the house (Dave Ramsey's version of allowance), approximately $2 week to give, save, and spend. When he wants to buy a new app (approved by us) he shells out the 99¢ himself.

    He used to use the iPod touch, but once he saw the iPad, he has about as much interest in the iPod as we do in calculators.

    He spends one hour of 'quiet time' a day in his room to read or play, and gets only 1 hour of TV maximum–not including the occasional hockey game.

    We try to be careful with the use of electronics, but so far we think it's a good balance. I should mention that he's only 8 months old. He's really, really advanced, though!

    Just kidding. He's 4.

    But we do blast the stereo and flash disco lights and play violent video games in the same room during his 15 minutes of iPad use, so hopefully that will have no affect on his attention span in preschool. :^}

  • TimothySnyder

    Your arguments are sound. Makes me want to buy my children an Ipod Touch. Sadly I don't have any children. Actually, I don't have an Ipod Touch either. Well, this is just depressing….

  • kartastrophe

    My daughter uses my ipad more than me, and she is 3. There are so many educational games on there and I dont have to pick up pieces of memory cards from all over her room.

    I agree with all of Tylers points.

  • Tiff-Tiff

     imma show this to my parents so i can get an itouch!

    • IpodTouch.

      L00L Same here