Appropriate age to introduce electronics

[AM to PM]

What do you think an appropriate age would be for introducing electronics to children? It seems to be getting younger and younger every year. My little cousin who is 8, is already asking for a cell phone!

 

[venomeye]

Haha I have had the exact same arguement with my 9 year, I don't think a phone for an eight year old is a good idea I mean who on earth are they going to call,although they probably want it for the games.
The thing is kids want tech earlier and earlier, our 3 year old plays a phonics game on the ipad so I thinnk its just the way of the world now a days.

 

[ozadin]

Just give them what they want when they ask for it. Once they learn, they'll keep asking.

 

[NickJ]

I know people who are introducing their children to PC's, smart phones, iPhones, etc as young as 2 and 3! Games are a bit more complicated though. Some are violent, controversial, and graphic. Introducing them to gaming as they start off young and age upwards, is all about what kind of material you believe them to be ready for at that age. Do it the right way, and everything will turn out fine.

 

[cmilliken]

I honestly do not believe kids should be exposed to electronics at a young age. Many kids I see nowadays are so technology-dependent, it seems, and it annoys me. Kids should go and play outside rather than play games on tablets indoors. And, as previously stated, an eight year old with a phone is ridiculous. I say wait until your kid is at least thirteen years old until they receive a cell phone, so they are used to life without one by the time they are granted the privilege.

 

[branwen]

I guess you can balanced the electronics and outdoor games. My niece is 5 and she already plays Barbie on the laptop. But she still plays outside most of the time because my sister encourages it. She plays dolls with her other cousins and she rides her bike every morning. She also plays by herself and makes ridiculously imaginative games.

 

[carclain]

My first console I got was when I was 8. An xbox, never played xbox live, just campaign Halo/Halo 2. Then I got a ps3 when I was 10. It made me happier than anything else, I wasn't violent, not like what people make out video-games to be when it comes to their effect on children. Kind of helped me make more friends as well, weird, huh?

 

[NickJ]

I honestly do not believe kids should be exposed to electronics at a young age. Many kids I see nowadays are so technology-dependent, it seems, and it annoys me. Kids should go and play outside rather than play games on tablets indoors. And, as previously stated, an eight year old with a phone is ridiculous. I say wait until your kid is at least thirteen years old until they receive a cell phone, so they are used to life without one by the time they are granted the privilege.

But in today's society with all the creeps and weirdos? For example, the man in Ohio, Castro? Who had those girls hostage for 10 years living in squalor and filth? Maybe young kids should at least have a phone. That way they can call for help if some sicko tries to snatch them up on the way to or from school, home, or wherever.

 

[ozadin]

But in today's society with all the creeps and weirdos? For example, the man in Ohio, Castro? Who had those girls hostage for 10 years living in squalor and filth? Maybe young kids should at least have a phone. That way they can call for help if some sicko tries to snatch them up on the way to or from school, home, or wherever.

Well do you think they could have just pulled the phone out and dial 911? They most likely had phones, they just couldn't use them. I don't think the man who held them hostage would be dumb enough for them to let them use their phones.

 

[NickJ]

Well they didn't have the chance. One of the girls, I believe last name Knight? Said she was hit over the head by this sicko when she was taken. So She didn't have an opportunity to call anyone for help. Sadly.

 

[dannyboy]

I would say 7 or 8 years old. Let them get a taste of that experience! They are still little kids at that time and little kids want to have fun. Technology is fun! Video games especially. Just make sure you monitor them.

 

[NickJ]

I would say 7 or 8 years old. Let them get a taste of that experience! They are still little kids at that time and little kids want to have fun. Technology is fun! Video games especially. Just make sure you monitor them.

I think when it comes to games you have to monitor boys more than girls. Girls don't game hard at an early age, and even then games don't affect them the same way they do boys. Boys seem to be more easily drawn into that world for hours on end.

 

[asianboi2252]

I don't see a problem with introducing kids to technology at any age. It's just that if you try limiting their privileges when they are used to it, that will become a problem. I don't see how spoiling a little bit will be a problem as long as they do anything you say.

 

[Joel]

Electronics being introduced to a youngin isn't so much about the age but about the restrictions on it. I have a niece who can operate an iPad like none other and she's only 2...nevermind 3 her birthday was yesterday. Anyway, she shouldn't be playing violent games or anything. She knows how to count thanks to the iPad and that's pretty cool. I don't think that kids should have computers or things like that in their room because I had to buy my own and scrape and scrounge for everything I got. Giving them something like that, makes them feel entitled in my opinion to it.

 

[Tregs]

I honestly do not believe kids should be exposed to electronics at a young age. Many kids I see nowadays are so technology-dependent, it seems, and it annoys me. Kids should go and play outside rather than play games on tablets indoors. And, as previously stated, an eight year old with a phone is ridiculous. I say wait until your kid is at least thirteen years old until they receive a cell phone, so they are used to life without one by the time they are granted the privilege.

It's ironic you posted this on a forum for fans of video games.

However, you are right to an extent, I'm kind of jealous that some kids get to grow up now with minecraft which is a much better version of Lego. Seriously though kids should not be allowed to be utterly consumed with technology or they will grow up lacking up basic social skills, I think you can see it in a lot of our generation. Not that games should be completely banned from children.

 

[mjervey]

I work in children's retail and most of the young children I see already know how to play a few games on their parents phones by the time they're three. I see nothing wrong with introducing children to technology at a young age so it becomes second nature to them as they grow up. It does, however, need to be kept at a minimum. O was using a computer by the time I was six or seven, but my parents still made sure I went outside every afternoon to play street hockey with the other kids in the neighborhood. I don't see any need for a kid to have a cell phone until they're thirteen or fourteen. I don't know of any school that wouldn't let a kid use the school phone if they missed the bus or something like that. I could potentially understand getting one of those phones that you can only preprogram a few numbers into for kids to have in case of emergencies so that they could call their parents, but no child needs a smartphone.

 

[amazingone]

Honestly, I would not even introduce them until the kids were in high school. If i had kids I would not bother owning a TV and I would only have a laptop for personal use that I would keep in my room with a password protection. I think we all spent way too much time staring at screens in our youth. We should have spent a big chunk of that time developing ourselves: hobbies, friends, sports, volunteering in the community.

So, I would wait until they need a computer to do homework which is probably around the late middle school years to the high school years. Hell, I'd go as far as sending my kids to an alternative learning school where computers were not allowed.

 

[BerlingerTG]

I would say Cell phone is NOT eight. More like Jr High, at the very earliest for that or using computers on their own. Video games, though ,I would say probably 8-10 would be a good for using it on their own.

 

[Igor]

The best is earlier as possible,but make influence to dont use it for social networks.Its best to introduce child with electronics on positive way to learn new things and now waste time on the internet.Child should have fun using pc,or something else , but too much time is bad in many ways!

 

[Mistified]

Maybe at age 6 or at age of 7.It depends how much child is advance!