Help with kids electronics...

[wazu]

I have two sons, 7 and 9. Every year at the top of their Christmas list are "iPod Touch" and/or "DS". All of their friends appear to have these. We always just have said "no way" and assured them that we let Santa know those are not allowed.

This year we are finally going to get one electronic item of this type for each kid. Leaning iPod Touch for 9 year old so he can text family and friends when at home. Thinking DS for 7 year old. Any thoughts on these or other similar systems? They both want for games primarily. Oldest would get use out of other aspects of an iPod, though. DS looks crappy to me but kids seem to think its good. I mainly like that it is half the price of the iPod.

[Dayze]

I remember back when Reebok pumps were the craze; all the kids had them. I was begging for them, saying everyone else had them, and I'll never forget: my dad, Driving his '77 cutlass, calmly looked over at me and just said "Tough Shit".....then continued driving.
lol

I can see though, as a parent it would be tough to deal with it etc. Good luck dude.

[patteeu]

Originally Posted by Dayze

I remember back when Reebok pumps were the craze; all the kids had them. I was begging for them, saying everyone else had them, and I'll never forget: my dad, Driving his '77 cutlass, calmly looked over at me and just said "Tough Shit".....then continued driving.
lol

I can see though, as a parent it would be tough to deal with it etc. Good luck dude.

The phone thing is a little different in the sense that the phone becomes the social connection between kids (primarily through texting). If your kid doesn't have one and all the other kids do, your kid can easily end up completely out of the social loop. I guess facebook and twitter from a computer at the home, wi-fi texting from a Touch, or a kid with a really proactive social personality can make up for it to some extent, but the phone is pretty key.