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by meanyman from Cleveland

Last Post 499 days, 5 hours Ago


Monday Unplugged---Kids/Cell Phones
Apr 16, 2007 | 8:37 AM
Category: News
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A study says 50% of children ages 6-18 have cell phones, and 13% of those are between 6-9 years old.

I'm sure it depends on the family, but I can't imagine my 6 year old having a cell phone.  First, he doesn't really do anything that he would need to be alone for.  I mean he starts guitar lessons tomorrow. I might leave the music store, but I'm not going to leave the parking lot.  He plays baseball, but my wife or I would be there.  In the worst case, I'd make sure his grandma, grandpa, aunt, uncle....Somebody would be there.

I'm not knocking parents who give kids cell phones early.  There was one person who called to say...... "My 6 year old is with his grandparents several times a week, and the grandparents don't have a cell phone. So, if something happens, I want him to be able to get a hold of us."  Ok, point taken.  It's a special circumstance. 

I think we know which kids we're talking about that are too young to have cell phones. The ones just hanging out talking in public, not paying attention to what's happening around them. 

If you think your child needs a cell phone, a couple of good ideas from the viewers.

1) They have two-way radios (basically walkie talkies) that are good up to 10 miles.  That's usually far enough for an elementary school student.  They can radio you if they need help.  All it costs you are batteries.

2) Give them your cell phone if they're staying over someone's house, or would be in a place that they need to call you. 

3) Use a prepaid phone, and make them pay for it.  If they're too young for a job, make them pay you out of their allowance (if they get one).  The act of paying for it, may help them become more responsible.

Feel free to add your ideas,

   Todd

 

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Member Comments Total Comments: 6
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gamer173 read my blog view my photos
Apr 16, 2007 | 11:00 AM

My 12 year old daughter has a firefly. This phone allows the adult to program the phone numbers that the phone can dial. Easy way to control use of there phone.
klh1886 read my blog view my photos
Apr 16, 2007 | 11:02 AM

My children never had cell phones until they were driving. And yes they had to get there own prepaid phones. That way they learned in a hurry what it meant to have a phone.
TIGGERTOES read my blog
Apr 16, 2007 | 2:01 PM

HI TODD,
KIDS SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE A CELL PHONE TO CALL THEIR PARENTS OR THE POLICE WHEN THEY NEED TO. THERE ARE TOO MANY SICK AND WEIRD PEOPLE OUT THERE WHOM COULD HARM OR ENDANGER ONE'S CHILDREN. IT IS ON YOUR NEWS SHOWS EVERY DAY!
girlscout read my blog view my photos
Apr 16, 2007 | 5:45 PM

When my children were teenagers they had pagers (this was before cell phones were so popular). They bought and paid for them themselves. When my youngest daughter was a senior in high school she got a cell phone, also paid for by herself. Don't think I would give a child under 12 a cell phone. I know technology marches on and there are lots of wierdos out there, but I would like to think I always knew where my kids were and whom they were with. There's pros and cons to both sides. As a side note: My husband and I to this day do not own cell phones - I consider them an intrusion. We just have a disposable phone that we buy a card for when we go on a road trip. Otherwise it collects dust in my cabinet! There's nothing so important that it can't wait till I get home to call someone! I think it's ridiculous that I have to go the medical clinic, theater, grocery store, etc. and have to listen to people's stupid conversations, like, what kind of canned vegetables do you want me to pick up!?
KLYNN read my blog view my photos
Apr 18, 2007 | 11:28 AM

We had the 2 way radios until someone was picking up our frequency and I over heard a man trying to talk to my daughter and get her name and where she was at, out of her. We changed the channels and everything and he would still be on. Very creepy.

I posted on Believeland's blog about why I bought my daughter a cell phone. Here was my response to that (it's long):

I just bought my daughter a cell phone for her 13th birthday. It's all she really wanted. I bought it for safety and so I can get a hold of her. Most of the kids at her school who are way younger than her have one already and I told her she couldn't have one until I felt she was responsible enough. She has to pay me the $10 monthly charge for her line out of her allowance. She can only call her friends that are in our network. I also had her texting shut off so she can't rack up those charges like her friends do.

I work 40 minutes from home and if something happens while she is walking to or from school, she can call me. A couple months ago, she was walking home from school and teenage boy was fighting with his girlfriend and was going to jump off a bridge to kill himself and my daughter was walking home past this and was terrified. She had no way to call the police. She ran all the way home to call me and that took 15 minutes.
KLYNN read my blog view my photos
Apr 18, 2007 | 11:29 AM

Things are way different for kids now than when I was her age. There are so many more dangers out there. I am greatful for today's technology and how it allows me to check on my child whenever I want. I love that her phone has chaperone assist on it and I can locate her myself if needed. She is at the age now where I let her have more freedom but I have more peace of mind, too. Before, I would never let her walk upto the local coffee shop without an adult. Now she can and she's learning about responsibility too. Screw up, the phone goes in my purse for a while. She will also get her texting turned on when I feel she has shown responsibility with just the phone part. And even then, the $5 monthly charge for her texting comes out of her pocket, too.

It's a great way for her to learn to be responsible and the consequences if she's not. I am glad I waited until she was 13 because she wasn't ready for it until now.
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meanyman

No, I don't drink coffee, even though I get up at 2:30AM every morning. Todd Meany here, if you didn't guess. I do love working in the mornings though. The crew is great, and it's nice to be home in the afternoon so I can hang out with my 3 boys.

Member Since: 9/6/2006


 

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