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Teens
are into all things electronic.
Boys love video games and consoles,
computer games, mp3 players and just
about any gadget they can lay their
hands on. Girls in this age group
are tough to shop for, however they
love the favorites like phones,
cameras and any electronic
accessories that go along with
them. Even the Consumer Electronics
Association (CEA) has found that
households with teens own a total of
35 consumer electronics products as
compared to only 24 in non-teen
households!
Here
are the hottest electronics for
today’s youth:
-
Cell Phones: Teens are not
only using their phones for
talking and sending text
messages to their friends any
longer. They are downloading
video clips and ringtones or
sending opinions to websites who
ask for them. Be sure the phone
you purchase for your child can
keep up with its intended use.
-
Video Games and Consoles:
Portable gaming devices are
becoming more popular with teens
as they can be used while on the
run. Game consoles at home are
used by a greater percentage of
12 – 14 year olds than older
teens, ages 15 – 17, likely
because the older teens may not
have the free time for extra
hours of gaming. Video games
are given ratings by the
Entertainment Software Rating
Board (ESRB); however, research
suggests that T-rated (Teen)
video games expose players to a
wide range of unexpected content
(violence, profanity, gambling,
etc) therefore, it is important
as a parent to take an active
role in selecting the games and
discussing the content with your
teens.
-
MP3 Players: There are many
features to review when deciding
which MP3 player to purchase for
your teen:
-
Price: Before buying
an MP3 player, consider the
price – the younger your
child is, the less you will
likely want to spend as your
younger child is more likely
to break or lose the
player.
-
Ease of Use:
Consider how easy the MP3
player is to use by
determining if the screens
allow for more functionality
than just shuffling through
the entire library. In most
cases, teens will be able to
download music and videos on
their own, but be sure to
warn them about the
legalities of downloading.
-
Video: Many of
today’s MP3 players also
play video – these players
have larger memory and hard
drive capacity.
-
Memory: There is a
wide range on the amount of
memory players have –
ranging from 128 MB up to 60
GB. Some players also have
expandable memory which
allows extra music and
videos to be stored on other
cards if needed.
-
Extras: Check to see
if the unit offers anything
unique that might not be
available on any other
player.
Although there are many items to
consider – all should be considered
simultaneously to find the perfect
player for your teen.
-
Cameras: Be sure to please
your picky teen by taking into
consideration options
available. See below for some
tips to help please your teen:
-
Size: Think small –
your teen will likely prefer
a small, compact camera even
if it means giving up a few
features. Select one that
can easily slide into a
pocket, purse or backpack.
-
Coolness Factor:
Many times, more significant
than the actual usefulness
of a digital camera, teens
want to look cool. Cameras
come in flashy color and can
be cute, high-tech looking
or just funky.
-
Features: Zoom range
and recycling time are
generally of less interest
to a teen – more
importantly, look for
cameras that also have the
ability to shoot video or
connect directly to the
computer. Think about
picking out a camera that
can also be used as his or
her cell phone – your teen
can shoot pictures on the
fly, and then email them
immediately to friends!
-
Extras: An
additional memory card as
well as any other
accessories available may be
a worthwhile investment.
Of course,
keep
your teen’s interests in perspective
– if he or she is concerned with
picture quality and overall
performance of the camera, be sure
to research all the features of the
camera more thoroughly.
New electronic products are being
introduced to the market rapidly.
The above items will provide you
with some of the top teen
electronics – but as the market
changes, keep an eye out for any new
and exciting toys! |
