Santa might as well make his elves redundant: kids would rather Steve Jobs fill their stockings with expensive Apple gear.
The iPhone 4, iPod touch and iPad were the three most wanted gifts among children aged 5 to 16, according to the Duracell Toy Report, the Telegraph reports. Nearly four in ten children questioned wanted something from the Apple cave of wonders this year.
The report surveyed 2,138 children and parents. Boys and girls both
wanted high-tech presents, showing the love of gadgets was definitely
not a male preserve, especially among the young.
As children get older, Apple stuff becomes more attractive, with 17 per cent of 5- to 8-year-olds, 50 per cent of 9- to 12-year-olds and 66 per cent of 13- to 16-year-olds putting Cupertino's baubles at the top of their Santa wishlists.
In fact, technology-related items were eight of the top 10 toys for Christmas. Kinect for Xbox took fourth place and the Flip Video Camera took sixth, with the PlayStation Move, Lego Harry Potter video game and Barbie Video Girl taking eighth, ninth and tenth place respectively. Zhu Zhu Pet Hamsters and the evergreen Buzz Lightyear filled out the list at fifth and seventh.
Apple's popularity, it seems, is nearly universal. The gear is accessible to virtually anybody who has fingers, and its app store offers a never-ending supply of entertainment for both boys and girls -- as long as they have access to Mum or Dad's credit card.
But is anyone really going to give their 5-year-old an iPad for Christmas? Or are tech-savvy kids just asking for the most expensive thing they can think of to push their luck? That certainly seems the case -- the average spent by parents on Christmas presents was £153 for boys and £145 for girls, which won't go far in the Apple Store. The cheapest iPod touch is £189.
Let us know what you're buying your children -- maybe anonymously, in case rooting around for presents has got to the point where they Google for it.
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Comments 29
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Anonymous 25 October, 2010 10:49
£145 for girls, I wish!!
My 5 year old is getting a PS3 along with a list of toys as long as your arm!
No need for apple kit! she already has iPhone 4 and iPAD.
and if any one tells me I am mad, think again! The learning she does on these devices are worth there wait in gold! Maths, Spelling and logic games are fantastic, and she is top of class at school! enough said!!!
Anonymous 25 October, 2010 11:06
@anonymous
Your more than mad, a five year old with an Ipad? Spoilt brat comes to mind, how could your child appreciate anything! your a bad parent
Anonymous 25 October, 2010 11:07
@anonymous, quit bragging about your money. A 5 year old with an iPhone 4, iPad and PS3 - top of the class at what? The spoiled brats list?
Anonymous 25 October, 2010 11:09
When I was growing up, something of the value of an iPad or PS3 would have been Christmas and birthday combined for years to follow!
Anonymous 25 October, 2010 11:10
"worth there wait in gold". Perhaps you should use your kids iPad and learn how to spell properly as well.
Anonymous 25 October, 2010 11:12
A pity they weren't available for your schooling. Your spelling and grammar sucks.
Anonymous 25 October, 2010 11:15
She might be top of the class, but that doesn't mean it's because of the apple stuff. I'm guessing you wouldn't be too pleased if the teachers in her school were replaced with app developers.
jonhc 25 October, 2010 11:24
@anonymous. It's a fact, you are mad, and clearly have money to burn. Why on earth does your 5 year old need an iPhone 4 when an iPod touch would have been just as good for her at half the cost and why does she need both an iPhone AND an iPad? Granted, I have an iPhone 4 and my 3 year old plays the games I've downloaded for him to play when I'm at home but I'd never buy him his own iPhone even when he's 5! He has a Vtech Mobigo which cost £50 and is a much more sensible investment for a child of that age and does the same job in teaching. And as for a PS3 for a 5 year old.... well.... it beggars belief! I guess you're the type of parent who would rather stick their kids in front of a TV and let them get on with it than actually spend some time interacting with them and teaching them yourself, but hey, it's your money.
anonymous 25 October, 2010 11:47
lol, when I was 5 I was more interested in playing outside
Rich Trenholm 25 October, 2010 12:04
When I was 5 I had an action man with one leg and no hands and I thought myself lucky. It were all fields round here an' all
Anonymous 25 October, 2010 12:08
my sisters only 11 already she has an iphone 3g, ipod touch and shes now asking for a blackberry..
i remember when i was that age id be happy with a power ranger toy and some playstation games..!!
Anonymous 25 October, 2010 12:25
I smell a Troll.. No-one seriously would first of all consider giving thier child a iPhone, seriously?
Why would you put your childs safety at risk? First of all they would be easy prey for mugging. At the best of times, I have to be very careful not to draw attention to myself when using my own.
A £400 device is far too much, and they may be assisted by quality apps but you're missing a very important lesson that only you as a parent MUST teach and pass on - The value of things and the fact that 'you can't always get what you want'.
When I was a kid, all my consoles were hand-me-downs. Don't get me wrong, I got new stuff as well, but I appreciated it all the same.
If that doesnt convince you, here's the kicker. You child will learn faster and more effectively from face-to-face contact rather from the screen. I'm not supernanny, but it doesnt take an idiot to figure out that you shouldnt leave your child alone for long periods on these things. To be effective you still have to be there.
Why? A child will learn more effectively from contact and approval from thier parents. A child will always want to please thier parents with thier achievements, and gain approval - there isnt an app for that.
New parents should be mindful of one thing.... not giving a child what they want, isnt loving them any less - infact. It seems that many new parents may, not always, but may run the risk of 'needing' to feel loved by thier kids? or prerhaps it's a need to feel like they are loving thier kids for fear of 'neglecting' them?
Mark Anderson 25 October, 2010 13:34
@Rich
An action man with one leg?
Luxury. We had to make to do with clothes pegs and string.
Anonymous 25 October, 2010 14:19
A 5 year old with an ipad, iphone, ps3, plus loads more toys?!
My guess... you're harbouring wayne rooney's love child?
@Rich how did you get an action man with one leg? those things were tough! You must have been the cr*p out of it! (but obviously not with an ipad.)
Anonymous 25 October, 2010 16:06
Hideously overrated products, but I guess this shows that people will buy anything as long as it has an apple logo on it. On the issue of buying it for young kids no wonder the average child is a spoilt, annoying idiot.
Anonymous 25 October, 2010 18:02
A 5 year old shouldn't have a phone at all! I can understand if you allow your child to use your iPhone or iPad occasionally (under your supervision), but they don't need their own. And how the average parent can afford it (these are EXPENSIVE things!) I can't imagine. What about when it gets stolen, broken or lost? Plus the kid's friends will think that they should have this stuff too.
Anonymous 25 October, 2010 21:25
"for girls, I wish!!
My 5 year old is getting a PS3 along with a list of toys as long as your arm!
No need for apple kit! she already has iPhone 4 and iPAD.
and if any one tells me I am mad, think again! The learning she does on these devices are worth there wait in gold! Maths, Spelling and logic games are fantastic, and she is top of class at school! enough said!!!"
I almost thought you were an apple Representative until i realized you cant spell or use punctuation and are clearly insane giving a 5 year old an iPhone and iPad. Who does your child really need to be talking to?
Anonymous 26 October, 2010 06:58
I would buy an apple with a banana logo on it, but I wouldn't buy a banana with an apple logo on it.
Anonymous 26 October, 2010 07:46
Gawd. The first poster was obviously trying to be a smart@rse. Granted he/she can't string a sentence together or spell to save his/her life. Cop on people!
Sent from my iPhone 4.
Jono70 26 October, 2010 11:22
Atari VCS for Xmas when I was ten but that was the WHOLE FAMILY'S present!
Anonymous 26 October, 2010 12:53
Seriously? 5 YEAARS OLD?yes, giving him expensice crap he barely knows how to how is a great way to teach him money management. Does he use the ipad to slide down the stars? Or does he use it as a plate?
Anonymous 26 October, 2010 16:59
stairs does your browser not have spell check
Anonymous 26 October, 2010 20:58
The first post is Bollocks. The main point is kids are no longer using their imagination, they are letting video games and mobile gadgets do that for them. They are not watching cartoons any more they are watching reality shows, that has everyone using these gadgets, so it makes them want to use said gadgets as well.
Anonymous 28 October, 2010 02:31
danq quit braqqinq about that you know you don't have all tha money your and daughter...........is a spoil skanky as brat
otempest 2 November, 2010 22:35
Everyone saying all this mean stuff. Stop trolling. Seriously. All of you were kids once as well, times are changing, stop calling them 'spoilt annoying brats' as I think I saw someone putting it. Loosen up a bit.
Anonymous 5 November, 2010 22:46
My goodness,what in the world made you decide to give your 5 year old an iphone4 and an ipad, don't get me wrong i have an ipod touch which my kids from age 2 to 7 can play with as ive downloaded kids apps on it but that is only when they have finished doing their school works, i have an iphone4 but they don't get to use it, they have supervised weekend computer access as well, they are only allowed to go on kids games and kids sites and are only allowed 4 hours on it, plus they each have their own nintendo dsi which i cannot complain about, and they don't get what they want they know that the expensive things are only for special occassions and depending on mummy and daddy's approval.
Anonymous 29 November, 2010 19:42
Spoiling your children is the worst thing ever, but you are off your head to be buying a 5 year old all that. What would amaze me is if you spend over £1,000 and she is able to operate both of them
ronnysrnka 6 December, 2010 17:11
That is a lot of £££!
Anonymous 1 March, 2011 21:03
I hate when i see a kid with an iphone.And you...you are giving an iphone,an ipad and a ps3??!HE IS 5!!!!!WTF!!I worked a lot for my iphone and was my present for 2 years!!(Christmass+Birthday).You are so stupid,so stupid and your kid will be more stupid.Sorry if my english is bad,it's not my natal language.