should children under 10 be allowed an ipod?

[secondshuffle]

What do you think, i dont think they appreciate it properly, and some of the wont look after it

[meaghanchan]

If you earn the money for it yourself doing chores or saving up your allowance, why not? Yeah, it might break or get stolen, but that's life. Buying a kid an iPod, on the other hand... No way.

I've never known a kid younger than 10 to be really into music, though that might just be me. I didn't start getting into music until I was 12 or 13.

[pmad]

It depends on the kid. If the parent thinks the kid can handle it and enjoys music then the parent can choose.

I wouldn't do it. But if you think your kid could do it, go for it.

[Matt Pike]

Of course they should be allowed. The last thing people need to do is start limiting purchases based upon whether or not they think that a person is responsible enough to have an item. These kinds of restrictions should only be in place in the case of dangerous items like weapons, drugs, alcohol, etc.
I don't think that it's any of our business what someone does with an iPod, so whether or not they are responsible with it is no concern.

[Sadako]

Definetly. I got my first walkman when I was really really young. Greatest feeling in the world.

[klang]

Yeah, why not? Some 10 year olds have mobile phones, so why shouldn't they be allowed iPods?

I've had different types of "personal stereo equiptment" all my life and I think that my parents are gratefull for that :-)

[chef8489]

It all comes down to how mature they are and how thier parents feel.If a child listens to enough music and is mature for thier age and thier parents feel that they are responsible enough to handle it I say go for it. If they are 10 and under I would suggest a shuffle to start with and if they handle that well upgrade in a year or so.If the child is not mature and does not understand the value of money yet then there is no reason for that child to have an ipod.My daughter is 6 years old and if she listened to music enough I would allow supervised time with my ipod and when she got older I would purchase one for her. My daughter is already has a computer that we allow her to play on supervised. We allow her to play games that promote education and she is quite good at them, however she is not allowed on it without us sitting there or close by.

[Menko]

If a parent feels that they can justify buying a 10 year old an iPod then fair enough.

If the child has very little music/more interest in other areas/is likely to lose or break it/won't apreciate it then you really can't justify buying an iPod at £200, and a cheaper DAP/CD/cassette player would be better suited.

[alienmeatsack]

IMHO... depends on their maturity level as said above, and how the parent controls the content on the ipod and the time they are allowed to use it. PLus I'd say only allow them a shuffle, not a full ipod. Dont allow them to take it to school, keep an eye on them when using it, etc. You know how kids are, they barely pay attention as it is... last thing a parent needs is his or her kid walking in front of traffic or avoiding listening to the parent.

Kids these days are already given way too many things that extract them socially, between satellite tv with multiple all day cartoon channels, to ipods, to cell phones.

I just worry that the kids today are going to be really horrible people when they grow up thanks to the level of spoils they have at their disposal now. And the fact that they can pretty much never leave the house and make online friends etc.

[QWER]

i agree with chef. if a six year old is mature enough to handle an ipod, i'd buy it for him. i would definetly start him off with a shuffle, though. they are pretty durable, cheap, and easy to use. if i was the parent, i would organize his music on itunes for him and let him auto-load it with my supervision. any younger than 6 and i'd load the music on for him and let him use it with supervition. that or i'd just let him use mine, with supervision

[chef8489]

wow that is a lot of posts. you must have had problems. You should really deleate a few of those double posts.

[Sadako]

got Qwer?

[ham_man]

Good Lord mate...that is like a hextupal post...

I would say that a kid should be given an iPod at the parents discretion...

[iSoldier17]

haha 11 in a row, it's because sometimes the server is really slow and puts up your post but for you it's still loading.

I think that they should be able to have one if they are mature enough and if they earn it. But for a child, even $100 is a lot of money.

[smartalic34]

haha 11 in a row, then a double... but yea I mean if the parents are willing to buy the ipod, or the child can afford it (birthday $ or something), then they deserve it... a parent should observe and take care to watch what music is being put on it, but I would leave it to the kid to be responsible with an expensive mp3 player