Apple Unveils the iToddler [Wishful Thinking]
An Open Letter to Steve Jobs…..
Dear Mr Jobs,
I appreciate that you are a very busy man, what with running Apple an’ all but I feel that you are missing out on a global opportunity and I am happy to bring this to your attention.
The iPhone is great, infact it has enhanced my life in many ways for the better. There is however, one way, that has been rather unexpected and is rapidly going from a ‘positive’ to a ‘negative’ impact.
I’m talking about apps – and specifically apps for toddlers & young children!
To your left, you will note a screen capture of my iPhone and as you can see, I have rather a lot of apps for kids (I have 3).
My youngest is three years old and finds herself quite at home with my toy phone. There have been ‘scenes’ when I actually need to take it from her and use it myself.
So I find myself in a bit of a dilemma, on the one hand I do appreciate the hour of peace to get on with some work and the apps themselves are incredibly educational (hats of to the global app developers on that one) on the other hand
I WANT MY PHONE BACK
….and I’m full-on concerned that it’s demise could be on the cards from overuse or worse!
So – here’s my plan; I’m aware of the iTouch but it’s too expensive for a young child (not as expensive as my bloomin’ phone tho) to have as a toy – so there needs to be a hand-held device for kids.
Yes we have things like the Nintendo ds etc but I am talking about apps. In addition to a ton of fun, my girl has learned a ton of stuff through some of the educational apps – they really are quite amazing, many developed by primary school teachers.
If kids want an iPhone like mummy – let them have one. Cut out all the fancy pants stuff – they don’t need all the gear the iPhone or iTouch comes with – let’s just give them a device that ‘looks’ the same as the parental version and let us (the parents) fill it with apps – nothing else – just apps.
Price it up reasonably and I guarantee you that parents will buy. We will buy so that we can finally get our own phones back, we will buy because we don’t have to be on tenterhooks wondering if we will be fishing our iPhone out of the toilet, we will buy it because the apps are educational (not all – but plenty) so we know we are not ‘bad parents’.
The beauty of the app store is that it is ever updating, there is always something fresh and new and that is what kids want – so I am willing to take a small bonus (call me) for coming up with such a fantabulous idea and I look forward to hearing when this is going into production,
Yours Sincerely
(Slightly worried) iPhone Mum,
Nikki Backshall
PS May I suggest a waterproof exterior?
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About Nikki Backshall
A single mum to three great girls, Nikki runs three online businesses and is a recognised Social Media Expert and Search Engine Optimisation trainer within the Mumpreneur community.
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My husband and I had thought of exactly the same thing, we both have iPhones and our 2 year old is a dab hand at swishing through the apps to find her favourite one, browsing through Mummy’s photos and catching an episode or two of Handy Manny!!
Get a petition started and I will sign, please please please Mr Jobs, make the iToddler become a reality (and just think of all those young children who will get hooked on Apple and will in future be sure to buy iMacs, iPods and whatever the next idevice is!)
Thank you
Thanks for your comment Angela – glad it’s not just me. I don’t see how My Jobs can refuse now, we are no longer 1…. however, we might need an extra one or two votes for him to take it really seriously!! Come on iPhone owners – you know you want your phone back!!
I laughed when I read this, Nikki as I too have the same problem with my 2 (altough they are a little older at 7 and 9).
However, I did want to raise quite a serious point though – internet access for children. I see several of my 9YO friends with i-touches and their parents haven’t given any thought about the fact that the device connects to the internet wirelessly. It was as if they had totally forgotten that , although a music device, that yup – their kids could be surfing the web upstairs in their bedroom and they had no idea or control on what it was they were looking at.
So, just in case Mr Jobs does read this letter :O) – do make sure it is a device that you have parental controls over … and not open access to the world wide web where they could end up anywhere!
Very valid point Karen! And I wholeheartedly agree with what you say about the Internet. The gizmo that me and Steve are working on would only have direct links to the app store as it will be purely for that purpose & of course it would need a password for each download!
[steve: I hope you are taking notes accordingly]
Yes Mr Jobs, I’ll take one of those, have tried palming off little man with an old mobile, it doesnt work, he knows it doesnt work and after his 20 seconds of trying to make it work threw it to one side and came after my phone…again!!
Should you take Nikki’s fantabulous idea and develop this (which I’m sure you will), I will make the switch from Blackberry to Iphone, hell I’ll even switch to a mac for access to my own phone for more than 30 seconds a day!!!
Regards
Daddy to a phone addict
I’m glad I’m not the only one. It seemed like such a good idea to download flash cards, phonics, counting and the like for my then 3 year old. Until he was using the damn thing more than I was.
iToddler has my vote.
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Am so LOL! I really hope you get in touch with Steve and no one steals your idea!
Loved the humorous approach!
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