So this is one question that I kind of have mixed feelings about. I think cell phones are a great way to keep in contact with your child throughout the day. My children and I all have busy schedules with them at school and football and me at school or work. Some days I am happy if we cross paths at least twice. : / Last year we decided to get the older boys, then 10 and 11 cell phones. It started out ok. They call me when they are out of school; I call them when I’m going to be late. Great. It gradually started to get worse. First it stated with the phone constantly ring. Then the messaging back and forth. I mean their pone buzzed and rang more than mine.
This year with my son in 7th grade, the girls calling started. OMG, all times of day. He has gotten his phone taken away in school more than once already. My younger son always complains about his friends giving away his number to girls that he doesn’t like. : } I mean how rude is that. So I’m thinking, maybe they are too young and not ready for the responsibility that comes with a phone. I just don't know. So my question to you guys is, how young is too young for a cell phone?
You've got a great blog going here! And great questions, too. Not sure my answer is valid because my daughter is not the real social type, so she's got a cell phone and it really works out well. But maybe the answer is that it depends on the child. Very studious, quiet types feel much more secure having a phone and knowing how to get in touch with their parents. More social types are less likely to be worried about how to get in touch with their parents because they've usually got lots of people around them and they won't mind asking someone to use a phone if they do need to call their parents.
ReplyDeleteThanks Paminbz. Yeah I guess that's true but my boys use to be the quiet ones. LOL, but yeah I guess it all depends on their personalities. At this point they have the phones and we just have to work on what to do and not do with them.
ReplyDeleteI struggle with that also! My daughter wants one so bad! She will be 10 in January so I have been thinking about getting her one. The guy at the AT&T store told me I can set it to only have certain numbers programmed in and I can limit other things on her phone also. She is becoming more involved in activities, such as soccer and cheer. If they get done early she has to use someone else's phone to call me. I also have a problem with her friends calling my phone when I am at work. We do have a home phone but they are at school until I pick them up. It is a question I have on my mind also!
ReplyDeleteWhen my son was 10 or 11 years old cell-phones wasn't necessary at that time as a form of communication with regards to extra curricular activities at school. Students were allowed to call their parents from school if they needed to come home early or stay late, and vice versa, parent's could leave messages for their children if they encountered a problem. Therefore, my son didn't have a cell-phone until he was about maybe 15 or 16 years old. I know you guys are probably thinking....OMG! But, we all survived until that time without any problems. One of our rules what that he needed to show-us that he was responsible enough to earn the privilege of having a cell-phone, for example: He had to at least get a part-time job (not as a requirement to pay for the cell-phone)
ReplyDeleteThis generation of young people has put us all on the fast track of technology where we have become extremely dependent on them. We as parent's shouldn't allow technology to dictate what rules we are going to give our children when it comes to when we think its an appropriate time for them to have cell-phones. Once the rules are in place everyone has to do their part to obey and implement the rules. We give our children so....much even when they don't deserve it out of convenience, that philosophy doesn't teach them the value of earning what they are given. I think if children learn that small lesson, then perhaps the misuse of the cell-phone would be to a minimum. Great question!!
Well, I might have a bit of an insight on this one. I didn't receive a cell phone until I was in high school because circumstances before never warranted me needing one. My parents put me through a 'trial period' where I had to prove to the my first year of high school I was responsible enough to have a phone. I was also not a very sociable type and I am really into computers so I usually didn't have a problem with my cell phone or minutes because I would just go on the computer and chat with my friends or use my house phone.
ReplyDeleteMy sister, however, is a very social person and was given a phone early because she began to ride the bus last year and we didn't want her to forget her key and not have any way to get in contact with us if we weren't home. Well, she ended up abusing the privilege so badly my parents got her a 'kids phone' which only allows her to call certain numbers that are specially programmed into the phone with a lock and the phone will also only receive calls form those numbers.
This is actually working out well now becasue she is learning why we gave her the phone and that its not a joke and she needs to be responsible with it.
The biggest thing I have to say about call phones in general is something Diane touched on. Today's generation's in the United States have become so dependent on technology they can't see straight and our children are quickly picking up that habit. We should not, however, give into their 'wants' for a cell phone just like when asked for a video game becasue they are first and foremost no where near similar in the amount of responsibility required from the child. You should only give your child a phone when you feel they are ready to handle the responsibility of the device or becasue they truly need it (and if your worried just get them the child's phone that locks to be sure). Spoiling kids rotten is definitely the prerogative of the parent, but its also their responsibility to hold back and say 'no'. when their child isn't ready.