Kids and Phones

[Mottola-Buffett]

Depends how responsible your child is. My 8 year old is already begging for one, but, in my opinion, if she's not even old enough to stay home by herself, or not responsible enough to clean her room and get herself out the door to the bus on time, then she's clearly not capable of handling her own cell phone.

I've always thought High School (14) is a good age (spoken by someone who didn't get a cell phone til 6 years ago), but I'm sure I'll reconsider once middle school comes around.

[dawgfan]

My daughter has had one since she was 9, and she knows what it is supposed to be used for and we have never had any problems.

[pbans]

I see nothing wrong with an 11-year old child having a cell phone at school if they know how to use it. They're great for unforseen emergencies.

HOWEVER, I do think all young girls between the ages of 16 and 30 should be given a CHOICE between a cell phone and a driver's license.

And you people thought I could never be pro-choice.

PLEASE....teen age boys are just as bad.....the majority of the text messages my kids gets or sends are to boys!

[Moonie]

My daughter has had one since she was 9, and she knows what it is supposed to be used for and we have never had any problems.

exactly, and that's why my g'son got one when school started this year. He'll be 8 the end of Sept.

[Soraya]

How young is too young for a cell phone?

My kiddo is 11 and a middle schooler (and at a MUCH bigger school than she's used to). There's a lot more flexibility in her day than there ever was before. I think it would be nice for her to keep in touch, or at least be able to, if needed. I figure a basic phone with uberrestrictions on it to start wouldn't be a bad idea, especially to teach responsible phone usage.

Part of me still thinks (and hubby definitely thinks) 11 is still too young. But I think even more than she wants a phone, I want her to have one.

Since we have to switch phones and plans in the next few months anyway, it would be a good time to add her on to the plan as well.

Anyway, how young is too young? (I basically think in this situation that I get to pull the "Mom Trump Card" and get my way)

My daughter has had a phone since age 10 / 5th grade. It just made sense with all her activities and things. We laid down the ground rules and she's never broken them. We got rid of our landline so our cells are the only things we have.

I can't imagine a middle schooler that is involved in anything after school not having one. Most areas don't have payphones, students are seldom allowed to us the office phone. and getting your own cell is a great way for parents to each responsibility and phone etiquette early.

However, you did mention that you are looking for a phone with 'uber-restrictions'....hum....if you don't trust her to follow your rules, then maybe she is not ready.

[buffettbride]

However, you did mention that you are looking for a phone with 'uber-restrictions'....hum....if you don't trust her to follow your rules, then maybe she is not ready.

I'm not the one who needs the uberrestrictions, however, hubby is not a fan of giving up control.

I know for almost fact that if she broke the rules and would subsequently get her phone taken away, that it would be a lesson that would only need to be learned once.

My hubby is weird.

[Soraya]

I see nothing wrong with an 11-year old child having a cell phone at school if they know how to use it. They're great for unforseen emergencies.

HOWEVER, I do think all young girls between the ages of 16 and 30 should be given a CHOICE between a cell phone and a driver's license.

And you people thought I could never be pro-choice.

Just girls and women? How...lovely of you.

[Soraya]

However, you did mention that you are looking for a phone with 'uber-restrictions'....hum....if you don't trust her to follow your rules, then maybe she is not ready.

I'm not the one who needs the uberrestrictions, however, hubby is not a fan of giving up control.

I know for almost fact that if she broke the rules and would subsequently get her phone taken away, that it would be a lesson that would only need to be learned once.

My hubby is weird.

Well...giving up control, little bits here and there, in safe appropirate ways is how you teach kids to be responsible and actually behave when the parents are not around.

If you don't think she's ready for it...then...well....she's doing to break some rule and be punished for it....so she's being set up for failure. Wait until she can handle the responsiblity.

[Coconuts]

overwhelmingly the people in this thread with kids, close or near to my daughter's age are pro-phone.

those without kids are pretty much, "you got along fine without one. kids today don't need that crap."



i'm mostly just wondering now exactly how much sex i have to have with hubby to get my way.

I'm pro-phone- nothing like sitting outside after play practice waiting on Mom only to realize she forgot you had practice, the school is locked up tighter than a bank vault, the closest pay phone is a quarter mile away (and your backpack weighs half of your body weight), and the hike means it may not be obvious where you are should Mom realize that you're not home when she gets there. Sure, I survived- but a cell phone and one quick call would make it completely unnecessary.

And my guess on the persuasion part is a) not much and b) would you really care if the answer was lots?

[popcornjack]

overwhelmingly the people in this thread with kids, close or near to my daughter's age are pro-phone.

those without kids are pretty much, "you got along fine without one. kids today don't need that crap."



i'm mostly just wondering now exactly how much sex i have to have with hubby to get my way.

I'm pro-phone- nothing like sitting outside after play practice waiting on Mom only to realize she forgot you had practice, the school is locked up tighter than a bank vault, the closest pay phone is a quarter mile away (and your backpack weighs half of your body weight), and the hike means it may not be obvious where you are should Mom realize that you're not home when she gets there. Sure, I survived- but a cell phone and one quick call would make it completely unnecessary.

And my guess on the persuasion part is a) not much and b) would you really care if the answer was lots?

once again, no kids, but I think that says a ton more than if the kid has practice or not. Not that I think moms aren't busy, but if it's a scheduled event. I'd like to think (hope?) at least one parent knows about it.

[pbans]

overwhelmingly the people in this thread with kids, close or near to my daughter's age are pro-phone.

those without kids are pretty much, "you got along fine without one. kids today don't need that crap."



i'm mostly just wondering now exactly how much sex i have to have with hubby to get my way.

I'm pro-phone- nothing like sitting outside after play practice waiting on Mom only to realize she forgot you had practice, the school is locked up tighter than a bank vault, the closest pay phone is a quarter mile away (and your backpack weighs half of your body weight), and the hike means it may not be obvious where you are should Mom realize that you're not home when she gets there. Sure, I survived- but a cell phone and one quick call would make it completely unnecessary.

And my guess on the persuasion part is a) not much and b) would you really care if the answer was lots?

once again, no kids, but I think that says a ton more than if the kid has practice or not. Not that I think moms aren't busy, but if it's a scheduled event. I'd like to think (hope?) at least one parent knows about it.

It's not that we don't know....but really, it happens.
Hand me the Mom of the Year award, but I've forgotten.....on occasion....that I was supposed to pick up one of my kids somewhere.
Actually.....there's a pretty long list of things like that I've done. Sometimes I think my kids turn out well in spite of me, not because of me.

[APLATillman]

i was looking for pants for my son the other day and one pair had a cell phone pocket built in them...they were a size 4T!!!

[Moonie]

overwhelmingly the people in this thread with kids, close or near to my daughter's age are pro-phone.

those without kids are pretty much, "you got along fine without one. kids today don't need that crap."



i'm mostly just wondering now exactly how much sex i have to have with hubby to get my way.

I'm pro-phone- nothing like sitting outside after play practice waiting on Mom only to realize she forgot you had practice, the school is locked up tighter than a bank vault, the closest pay phone is a quarter mile away (and your backpack weighs half of your body weight), and the hike means it may not be obvious where you are should Mom realize that you're not home when she gets there. Sure, I survived- but a cell phone and one quick call would make it completely unnecessary.

And my guess on the persuasion part is a) not much and b) would you really care if the answer was lots?

once again, no kids, but I think that says a ton more than if the kid has practice or not. Not that I think moms aren't busy, but if it's a scheduled event. I'd like to think (hope?) at least one parent knows about it.

or you are unable to get there on time due to several circumstances, as a train or several, where I lived there were numerous trains and it did happen that I was late getting there because of that, a cell phone would have been comforting...

however, we did survive without it. my daughter had one when she was almost 16, just prior to her getting her driver's license.

[SuperTrooper]

However, you did mention that you are looking for a phone with 'uber-restrictions'....hum....if you don't trust her to follow your rules, then maybe she is not ready.

I'm not the one who needs the uberrestrictions, however, hubby is not a fan of giving up control.

I know for almost fact that if she broke the rules and would subsequently get her phone taken away, that it would be a lesson that would only need to be learned once.

My hubby is weird.

Have you looked at the useage controls Verizon offers?

https://wbillpay.verizonwireless.com/vz ... c_home.jsp

[ragtopW]

My niece is 13 and has a cell phone and a few girls from school are using it to "cyberbully" her.

Buy her a baseball bat and teach her how to "real life bully" them. Technology is great, but some things are still best done the old fashioned way.

Matt is also helping Victoria in that department.

Last pic I saw of "little" brother she may have some help there

[Wino you know]

I see nothing wrong with an 11-year old child having a cell phone at school if they know how to use it. They're great for unforseen emergencies.

HOWEVER, I do think all young girls between the ages of 16 and 30 should be given a CHOICE between a cell phone and a driver's license.

And you people thought I could never be pro-choice.

PLEASE....teen age boys are just as bad.....the majority of the text messages my kids gets or sends are to boys!

Agreed-boys use it just as much, if not more, than girls.
However, I meant while driving. I wish I had a dime for every young girl I've seen yacking away on the cell phone while driving.

[Wino you know]

HOWEVER, I do think all young girls between the ages of 16 and 30 should be given a CHOICE between a cell phone and a driver's license.

And you people thought I could never be pro-choice.

Just girls and women? How...lovely of you.

Thanks.
I love you too.

[The Lost Manatee]

My daughter has had a cell phone since the start of 7th grade since that's when she started walking to and from school with her friends, having after school activities such as dance classes, etc. and serious issues of migraines and food allergies. As a single parent, it is really helpful that she is able to contact me immediately if there is an issue or if something comes up that needs to be handled quickly.

She has a phone that doesn't have a camera and her account doesn't permit her to access the web or to display photos. It is a very "Uncool" phone but I felt it was the means to insure that the phone wasn't used for anything other than the outlined purposes.

The older she gets the more important I think it is for her to have a phone with her everywhere she goes, just in case.

[buffettbride]

My niece is 13 and has a cell phone and a few girls from school are using it to "cyberbully" her.

Buy her a baseball bat and teach her how to "real life bully" them. Technology is great, but some things are still best done the old fashioned way.

Matt is also helping Victoria in that department.

Last pic I saw of "little" brother she may have some help there

He's over half her height and weight. He's 4 1/2. She's 11.

[buffettbride]

overwhelmingly the people in this thread with kids, close or near to my daughter's age are pro-phone.

those without kids are pretty much, "you got along fine without one. kids today don't need that crap."



i'm mostly just wondering now exactly how much sex i have to have with hubby to get my way.

I'm pro-phone- nothing like sitting outside after play practice waiting on Mom only to realize she forgot you had practice, the school is locked up tighter than a bank vault, the closest pay phone is a quarter mile away (and your backpack weighs half of your body weight), and the hike means it may not be obvious where you are should Mom realize that you're not home when she gets there. Sure, I survived- but a cell phone and one quick call would make it completely unnecessary.

And my guess on the persuasion part is a) not much and b) would you really care if the answer was lots?

once again, no kids, but I think that says a ton more than if the kid has practice or not. Not that I think moms aren't busy, but if it's a scheduled event. I'd like to think (hope?) at least one parent knows about it.

It's not that we don't know....but really, it happens.
Hand me the Mom of the Year award, but I've forgotten.....on occasion....that I was supposed to pick up one of my kids somewhere.
Actually.....there's a pretty long list of things like that I've done. Sometimes I think my kids turn out well in spite of me, not because of me.

We've had our share of "Oh Crap!" moments for sure. I'm sure we haven't had our last.