I'm 16 and I felt as though I needed a cell phone when I was like 12, but I will admit, now that im 16 and I do have one, I see it was pointless. I would say the age of 13-14 would be time for a cell phone, because it has actually come in handy. If my parents ask me something, I can just find out what the answer is for them. I can keep in touch with them if I decide to go out or anything and it is very convenient for my mom when she wants to know where I am when I am out.

I think this whole system craze is a freaking joke. The newest console I own is a Super Nintendo. I did have a PS2, but my cousin got mad at GTA 3 and kicked it. He was 10 and his mom thought it was my fault that he got upset cause he died. Why oh why did I let him die she said. Well after it got broken about 2 years ago, I really had no reason for getting a new one, or even a 360 or any of those $23985723985923846789 consoles. I don't play many video games besides computer games, and even then I don't play a lot. Super Mario is what I rep and what I will rep for several more years until my nintendo breaks.

As for MP3 players, well use my iPod a lot. It helps me relax when I am coding or in school and it makes the bus ride home a little more enjoyable when i have a headache, it mellows me out.I paid for my first MP3 player when i was about 12 and it served me loyally for 4 years. I would still be using it, but the internal battery kicked the bucket and ipod minis have their tps glued on so there is no way of replacement. I use my iPod everyday and I bought mine used for $200. Its and iPod video and seeing as it has been good for 2 years already and came with a replacement battery, I plan on using it for 3-4 more. It has definitely paid for itself by now though.

My girls are 4 and 6. While my 4 year old is oblivious to most things electronic, my 6 year old is not. They have their own computer (my old junkie one and they have to share it). They have a lot of games for it - mostly education stuff like Leap Frog Preschool Basics, JumpStart Second Grade, etc. They are also on the web via a wireless connection, but everything is firewalled except Webkinz, Nick Jr and Disney.com.

Last Christmas, my 6 year old asked for a Nintendo DS and an iPod. What I did - since I do not believe she is old enough to be responsible for such expensive toys - is bought an old Game Boy Color from Amazon and 3 games. Then I found a USB MP3 Player (also through Amazon - I LOVE Amazon!). It's basically a 512MB flash stick with music player controls on the front. It was $17, so if it gets lost or broken, it's no great loss.

When she received them, we had a discussion about responsibility and that if she hoped to one day get a REAL DS and a REAL iPod, she had to prove she was responsible enough to take care of the cheaper alternatives. So far, she's done rather well.

As far as a cell phone is concerned, I think I'll wait till she starts driving and get her one of those little Firefly jobbies - that can only call 4 preprogrammed numbers - just to mess with her

This post has been edited by BenignDesign: 3 May, 2008 - 12:18 PM

I'm 24 now.
I did not own a cell phone until I was 18.
Well I ownd one, but did not use it, LOL...

some of my brothers friends have children,
they would want a cell phone and all sorth of nasty stuff...
But guess what, they won't get it for a long time.
The reason is, most of those things just separate kids from other kids.
It is NOT healthy to do so.

Maybe they have a bad time since they don't own any of those,
but most of them are actually owning computers, and are free to surf the net, with out restrictions.

other things.. Those boys/girls CAN actually repari quite a lot kind of problems withthe computers, as I have been teaching them.

I think cell phone is not for children, mp3 players only if maximum volume is not too loud..

consoles.. well... some might be good, but You can't realy learn from consoles, they won't make your brain work. Just pop in the disc and play.
Wich i think is not soo good.

So if You ask Me, a personal computer as soon as kids are able to read, and have some patiense, is a good thing. While console, and cell phone is NOT.

Surfing the net withoput restrictions may be a bad idea, but those kids are able to handle the problems with internet.

They all know that no easter rabbit exsists, and so on, allso realise that these are just tales, and allso know why they exsist. And don't forget, we are talking about 6-7 years old kids.

Intresting, but they do like reading wikipedia stuff, and are learning quite a lot of things.

From cache files and such I do happen to know they did bump into adult material, but allso noticed that after bumping in them they mostly ignore it. the pages was opened only once, and not more than that. Some kind of popup stuff or other not so good thing I guess..

Fact is, they are allready able to behave with responce, and while console games usualy do not require reading, the internet does.
Wich is a prety importent thing.

Internet offers a lot of tutorials on mny things, and kids usualy digg them up. And read them. is nice.

So I think if I ever happen to have children I will folow this too.
Cellphone and consoles are out of question, but pc and internet is a musthave.