Too young to have all these items?

[Andeeh]

that seems mad, im 18 and only got first laptop for christmas last year, never had a decent phone either £15 one atm, I have a mate who was always getting spoilt as a kid and it makes them ungrateful as well as really bad mannered.

[e5]

Kids having phones at that age is stupid. I can't remember when I had a phone, but my mum used to send me out with the ****test phone going, just so she could ring me when it was tea time or getting late, I don't think I ever got credit as she relied on her ringing me and I'd answer. Having a blackberry with all that capability is pointless. I used to contact all my friends at school and on the street or organise for them to come round for tea at my house or theirs at school. None of this Facebook stuff. Having a tablet also seems pointless!

Thats just how it is now though...

[Shar]

This is the digital age, it is to be expected. Most of us grew up even before the arrival of flatscreen computers/tv's. As technology develops kids will want more but it's all they know.

[GoldenMerc]

i remember when i had a phone at 11... didn't have anyone to text yet a really expensive phone...

[Jurv]

i can't see what's wrong with having a phone, it's not like she can do anything wrong with it. well, apart from break it but that would be her own fault if that happened. the same goes for an xbox. you can buy quite a few games which children can play at the moment, especially with the new kinect.

[Inseriousity.]

It's rather sad that kids are being introduced to technology so young and parents need to set some boundaries to allow them to enjoy some childhood. I had a PS1 at an early age and we played the classics like spyro and crash bandicoot and croc and I don't remember any boundaries yet somehow we knew we couldn't spend all our days indoors. We went outside, we had adventures in the woods and did all the usual kids stuff so it's sad when I see 6-7 year olds glued to their phones and ipads. Then again, I also think this "KIDS ARE STUCK INDOORS, GLUED TO THEIR CONSOLES" is a huge generalisation as I often see kids doing exactly what I said I did when I was that age so I think it's possibly old people worrying too much as well.

It seems you've got a spoilt brat on your hands. I remember being selfish and a brat at that age so she'll either grow out of it (like me, yes honest I did!) or get even worse.

[Shar]

It's rather sad that kids are being introduced to technology so young and parents need to set some boundaries to allow them to enjoy some childhood. I had a PS1 at an early age and we played the classics like spyro and crash bandicoot and croc and I don't remember any boundaries yet somehow we knew we couldn't spend all our days indoors. We went outside, we had adventures in the woods and did all the usual kids stuff so it's sad when I see 6-7 year olds glued to their phones and ipads. Then again, I also think this "KIDS ARE STUCK INDOORS, GLUED TO THEIR CONSOLES" is a huge generalisation as I often see kids doing exactly what I said I did when I was that age so I think it's possibly old people worrying too much as well.

It seems you've got a spoilt brat on your hands. I remember being selfish and a brat at that age so she'll either grow out of it (like me, yes honest I did!) or get even worse.

I find that conclusion a tad bit unfair. I understand why you say it but I don't know many kids that don't want what she wants from a young age. I bet the generation before ours feels the same about us haha

[AsFastAsYou]

My mums also like this, my sister who's not long turned 7 got an iPhone. For my birthdays I get an lg cookie (lol that was last phone she brought me) I think it is ridiculous that young girls are getting such good things at a young age, no wonder they are all smoking and stuff by the age of 13.

[Inseriousity.]

It wasn't intended as a 'back in my day' point. More that young children are often incredibly self-motivated and selfish, thinking about what they want, how they are going to get it and how to twist the adults in their lives round their little fingers to do so. Perhaps not the cute, innocent stereotype of young children we normally get and perhaps it may just be because of my own experience as the above (crying to get my own way was my forte) rather than a valid interpretation of childhood psychology. It's not to say that I think they're wrong. On the contrary, I agree that it is perfectly natural and also natural that they will grow up and be socialised into, at the very least, being modest about wanting all the time (even if they are lying to be considered socially acceptable and fit in).

[Recursion]

The main issue here is that a lot of parents aren't up to determining what certain bits of technology do or how they work, whereas the current and future generations do. I think as we (the more tech savvy generations) get older, we'll see more of this type of thing, but with more boundaries and controls established.

I don't see why an 11 year old needs a tablet or a mobile phone, a netbook or something? maybe.