Parenting

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  Posted by Mimi-pz Fri Aug 1, 2008 2:45pm PDT

  This is too funny! Josh, my oldest and only 7, just asked me the other day when he could have his own cell phone.

  First of all, I think cell phones are way over used and people don't NEED to be on them nearly as much as they are. It's not a necessity.

  However, I certainly see the pros -- my sister has a medically fragile child that lives in a care facility. If something happens to my niece, the care facility needs to get in tough with her ASAP... So sis can never really be "out of touch."

  And, I know a few parents have phones for their kids that are for emergencies and to keep in touch when the kids are out. I get the safety/security thing. I really do. And perhaps that is where the Firefly phones come into play -- I don't know...

  But, I certainly don't think phones belong in school -- at any age.

  I don't know the answer to "when" Josh or Sam will get their own phones. I really don't. I think it's just a bridge we'll have to cross eventually... but not in the immediate future anyway.

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  Posted by fine.whatever.. Fri Aug 1, 2008 2:49pm PDT

  i think it depends on the child and what thier life is like...i plan to get my oldest a simple cell when he graduates goes to middle school for times when he is on his own with friends or at activities and may need to call me. there are no pay phones around here and so if something comes up he can reach me easier..it will not have text and will only be for emergencies and kept home most of the time till he can afford to get his own...

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  Posted by Lady_Breeze23 Fri Aug 1, 2008 4:53pm PDT

  I think a kid as young as 11 shold have one, but the kid kind. They have phones designed for young kids. In these times of terror, i think its a must have.

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  Posted by bubateddybear Fri Aug 1, 2008 7:16pm PDT

  Both my kids now have cell phones there ages are ll and 12. I got them pay as you go phones. They are for emergencies only. There are certain times that they are allowed to turn them on, meaning after school. They are not allowed to give there friends there phone number. The main reason for getting them phones was because they are in middle school and because there is a stalking order against there father do to mental illness. In grade school they had lack key out of the school so I was able to drop them off before school and after school and knowing they were in good hands. Now they are more on there own and it scares me. This way I know if they are staying after school or if they attend dances I know that they are still at the dance if they take to long coming out after the dance, they also have to carry it when they go to the park, which is 2 blocks away. I watch there minutes closely So far 600 minutes have lasted them six months. So it shows me there are falling the rules and understand what the cell phone is for.

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  Posted by JOSE L. G Fri Aug 1, 2008 7:50pm PDT

  My daughter is asking for a cell phone. We have been putting it off because we cant afford it yet. She insists that we get her a cell phone. We have trust that she would know how to handle it. But we are still not sure this is the right moment. My dauther is only a 13 year old and she eventually will have her own cell phone as she grows along.

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  Posted by Mrs. FriDaddy Fri Aug 1, 2008 8:19pm PDT

  I don't think kids need cell phones. I never had one when I was a kid. My kids want one, but there's no way. I say when they can pay for it, they can have it.

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  Posted by abbysan Fri Aug 1, 2008 10:17pm PDT

  Safety of the children is what we should be concerned about.

  I have experienced a terrible situation in which my children were in lockdown at their school and all I could think about was if they were ok. A gunman was still on the loose after shooting toward the school. After sevral attemps to get a hold of my child they finally crouched down and quietly told me that they were ok.

  When you are faced with a situation as this, you may think otherwise to allow your children approx. middle/high school age to carry a "cheaper" brand cell phone with them. As long as they obey they school rules, I do not see any harm with it. It keeps you as close as you can get with your child when you can not be right there with them.

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  Posted by angelsing45 Fri Aug 1, 2008 11:58pm PDT

  I've always thought it best to wait until a child starts driving before he/she had access to a cell phone and even then there should be limits set.

  Having heard about the risk of cancer, I am conscientious regarding the usage of my cell phone and am glad my kids are not interested in them other than playing games.

  But I do understand as a parent how a cell phone would be useful in an emergency so I guess if it eases the parents minds and it helps the children feel safer than go for it

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  Posted by fue_marquita Sat Aug 2, 2008 1:40am PDT

  I believe a kid needs one bc their parents may want to check up on their children to make sure that they are okay.

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  Posted by homecook Sat Aug 2, 2008 2:08am PDT

  I have 4 kids aged between 5 and 13. The older ones know that I consider a cell phone a non-necessity for many if not most people. I myself do not use one regularly. I actually only got one a week ago as an emergency tool and only my kids and husband have my number, to call me when I am away from them if an emergency arises. I think parents should know where their kids are, and most times (at least for under 16s), should be able to contact them on a landline. The safety issue is grossly overplayed, in my opinion, as most kids I know who have them use them to text and call friends. This has its own pitfalls and is not something I want to encourage my kids to do. My boys know that when they see the need for a relatively expensive 'toy' or 'social tool' in their lives, they can get a job to afford one!

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