Nickelodeon's new study on the role iPhones and iPod touches play in people's lives revealed parents think Apple devices are appropriate for children.

The new study looked to get behind the hype and truly understand how parents think their kids use iPhones and iPod touches and how children actually use the product. At least 50 percent of parents said they would begin to consider the device appropriate to use by children 12 years old and up.

Nickelodeon is a kids and family cable network owned by MTV Networks, a division of Viacom.

"The iPhone and iTouch are ?do touch' instead of ?do not touch' devices in parent's minds," said Alison Bryant, senior director of research of MTV Networks, New York. "They think that they are appropriate for their kids and are willing to purchase content for them."

According to the study, iPhone and iPod touches are used mostly for distraction purposes, citing the entertainment and education benefits. Parents surveyed said videos, music, photos and the Internet are the most commonly used functions by children 12 and older.

Of all the applications and functions available on these devices, music, photos, games and phone -- only on the iPhone -- are considered most appropriate for children.

The study compared the two devices and found the iPod touch is considered more kid-friendly with 98 percent of parents saying it's appropriate for children under 18. Eighty-four percent of parents consider the iPhone appropriate for children under 18.

Although some concerns like children viewing inappropriate or unsafe content, most parents are game for Apple device usage by their children. Children are also ready to embrace the technology.

The study found kids like to hear many sounds, including encouragement to obtain an objective. Back and forth interaction with a game is also a coveted factor for younger children.

Kids of all ages prefer games that have objectives -- scores and timers are viewed as important and add excitement. Children 12-17 are using applications, like Facebook and Tetris on their parents' Apple products while kids 11 and under are using Kid Art and Bubbles most frequently.

The willingness of parents to open their homes to iPhones and iPod touches has a great affect on mobile marketers.

"IPhones and the iTouch are not just cool for 20 and 30-somethings, parents are just as likely to buy them and use them," Ms. Bryant said. "Also, you are getting more than one set of eyeballs on iPhones/iTouches that are in family households, in the same way that you get multiple eyeballs in prime-time TV."