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January 2011 Moms
honey740
member
NBR: Cell phones for kids?
honey740
member
I was watching GMA this morning and 31% of 8-10 year olds have cell phones. I just don't see why a child that young needs a cell phone.
I personally know that I wish I was less connected and I don't need my kid tethered to a phone. I know things are changing and are different from when we were growing up (I didn't have a cell till college) I can't see giving my child a cell phone until high school. Maybe one for emergencies in middle school but that's about it.
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Re: NBR: Cell phones for kids?
Exactly what I was thinking.
This! I was watching that segment on kids and cell phones, too. As a high school teacher they are a major pain in my rear. Sadly, there are so many educational things we could do with them, but if we allow them in class kids are just texting constantly! They did make phones years ago where you could only program in 3 or 4 numbers and they had a little carabiner to attach hook the phone to your child's coat. I hope they still offer things like that!
Uhh... let me play devil's advocate on this one.
My stepkids got phones at ages 9 and 11, which I originally was completely against. However, they were given the phones because they both were in sports every season and needed to be picked up at odd times 5+ times a week. They were able to text or call us to let us know practice was running late, ending an hour early, etc. without having to harass the coach or ask a teacher to use a phone. (And by the way, most schools do not let kids use the phone to call parents for a ride anymore... the phones are only for emergency use)
My husband leaves the house at 5:45 every morning and does not get home until 6:30 at night. The only way he can say good morning to the kids is through text messaging. Also, we're a blended family... there are four adults that are raising the kids, so that's 10 different phone numbers to remember between cell, work, and home phone numbers... there is no way I could remember all of those numbers even now. When I was a kid I had to look for a pay phone if I needed to call my mom to pick me up from the movies or the mall... when was the last time any of us have actually seen a pay phone?
Yes, I do agree that the texting/facebook/internet addiction for kids that age is generally ridiculous, but I feel that's a reflection on parenting skills. I don't mind the kids texting or calling a friend on their cell phones, as long as they are still getting together with their friends in person. I don't necessarily think that anyone can say they would never do this or can't understand that until you actually have a child that age and understand all of the things that go along with it.
My brother was given a cell phone at 11 or 12 b/c of sports, and there were no pay phones at school. When I was that age I would call collect from school and my folks just didn't accept the charges and knew I needed to get picked up.
He got a phone with a gps my mom could check if anything happened to him or more likely that he lost it. He only had 60 mins a month or something on it.
Family friends of ours gave their kids phones at that age and younger, but its because their mother (parents divorced, father has custody) has severe mental problems and have done things like, left the children home alone all day, etc. That is about the only case, or similar cases, I can see it. Or like pp said, when schools don't have phones for kids to use and they are very involved.
My BIL has had a pay-as-you-go phone that he was responsible for putting money on. I don't feel like that is a terrible idea, but he didn't get it until he was like 13 either.
I agree, I was also in sports and many after school activities, nothing is different now except the availability of technology. My mom never had an issue picking me up at a pre-arranged time. Like you said if there was an in school emergency, the school would know how to get a hold of me. There are plenty of people in this world that don't have cell phones and they function just fine. I am actually pretty envious of these people.
My SD is 9 years old and she has a cell phone. Her phone is programmed to only call 911, her mom, step dad, her grandparents, me or my husband. At first we were leery about getting her a phone, but it has proved to be the best decision we could have ever made. Because we have joint custody of her, she goes every 2 weeks without seeing her other parent. We live in two different area codes, so calling her mom from our house (or vice versa) is considered long distance. She is able to call her mom and/or her siblings whenever she is missing them on her phone. She can also send text messages to us whenever she wants, even if its just to say good morning. My husband and her mom does not get alone (thus the reason they are not together). Of course they put on a good face in front of SD and our other children, but it takes a lot of stress off both families if those two only had to interact on important issues involving DD.
I had a cell phone at 14. There were 4 payphones at our school but at least one was always broken and they were always nasty (gum on receiver, ect). We were never allowed to use the office phone unless we had an emergency (need to be picked up from the nurse's office or in big trouble-suspended). Plus with the payphones if your parents didn't pick up the phone they couldn't call you back and you had to waste more money to keep trying to call them. I would just call and leave a message which friend's house I was going to if I had homework to work on and I needed a ride later or if I was going straight home.
My parents would rather I go to a friend's house since most days I would be home alone but at their house their mom was usually there and we had a snack/lunch and help with homework (yes even in high school it was nice!). Plus if we wanted to change plans we just called and updated. "Mom, we finished our homework so we're leaving Nichole's and going to MegAnn's to watch a movie for a while then MegAnn's mom is taking us to the mall for pizza and I'll call you when we get back is that okay?" "Dad we need to go get supplies for our project then can I just eat dinner here so we can finish it? Kate's dad said he can bring me home." Sure some of these could be made from the friend's house but if I forgot to call they could reach me or if they had to stay late at work I knew to stay with a friend for a few hours, and like pp said each parent had about 4 possible places they might be at.
I wouldn't give a kid a phone unless they need it and are responsible enough to not leave it on the bus or something, but there are cases where it's necessary, certainly not all, but there are some.
My sister just got a cell phone at 11. I actually argued with my mother over this. I think she's far too young and there is nothing she needs to talk to her little friends about so badly that she can't wait until school the next morning.
She's now almost 12 and will be staying home alone for a few hours after getting off the school bus in the evening. I suggested one of those phones that can only call mom, dad, and police or whatever, but I was overruled.
~EDD Nov 18, 2017 with my IUI success story~
[spoiler]
I wish I would have had one growing up. My mom is such an airhead and was always forgetting to pick me up on time! I would be sitting at the school forever becuase she forgot to pick me up or didn't remember what time my practice was over. Pretty sad eh? Not much has changed either.