This is modern technology age. Students as young as two years old should have access to these equipment. They can communicate with us at that age. In case of emergencies they will have the know how to assist someone in need. They should be supervised at all times as they grow up. These machines exist for a very special reason to assist us with our daily needs. We should not deprive the youngest, it is their world. We had ours. Now we should sit back, relax and enjoy the changes that are surrounding us with, yes, our supervision that helps to control and assist them as they grow older. TIMES HAVE ADVANCE! Let us accept the changes and grow with it.

My 12 yr. old daughter is one of the few kids in her class at school that DOES NOT own a cell phone. Funny thing, she doesnt care about having one. At least not now. She does have a FB account, but it set to PRIVATE. and i check it constantly.

I didn't have a computer in my house until I was 12, a cell phone until I was almost 15 (and I only got one because I started walking home from school by myself, and when I did get one, I had a job and paid for it myself), and a facebook account until I was 18. I'm 19 now and still surviving. Younger kids today need to realize that having a cell phone, facebook, computer, whatever, isn't a big deal. They should cherish the moments before they're lives get completely consumed by technology.

ooohh the phone, i remember when I had to use the payphone to call and check in with my parents (every hour) well, I turned out fine.

I thought you all should know that MOM stands for Mean Old Mother, at least that is what I use to always tell my mom back when I was in my teens. That was many (almost 30) years ago. Just as the personal computers were starting and no internet even in schools. I may not have children but I am going to be old fashion because if I turned out ok being raised with rules and no social network sites as a teen then my child if I ever am lucky enough to have on can also.

My children got cell phones this past fall, at 9 & 10. However, my son has diabetes and we wanted to be able to allow him to have more playdates and parties where my husband and I don't cower in the corner until it's time to eat, as we've done for 6 years. Now he can call or text his blood glucose and what he wants to eat. We find a lot of parents are uncomfortable with the responsibility and ultimately HE is the one living with the disease, so he needs to learn to be more autonomous. We will really be testing out the system next weekend, as he has a sleepover at a friend's house.
Beyond that, my kids don't USE the phones for calling, per se. They do get a kick out of texting each other, though. But I'm constantly being asked by my daughter for a Facebook account (I have to point out that she has NO friends on there and she's not going to friend strangers, so what's the point?!), YouTube account (she wants to comment on videos), or iTunes or Amazon account (she gets gift cards, but I pointed out she needs an account w/ a credit card associated with it and that ain't happening on her own!). They love to complain about time limits on Club Penguin and restrictions I set up blocking items w/ bad language. Videos on YouTube get blocked if someone swears in the comments. They insist they don't read the comments...even though my daughter wants to MAKE comments! It's a constant battle, isn't it?!

I have a hard time remembering to carry my cell. I have a minute phone ($20 month). I converted my habits about 4 years ago to using a cell phone for what it was meant for. I also do not facebook every single thing that I do. Crazy behavior I think. All of the above to say, our children copy what they see.
If I see a behavior that I do not like in my children. I look to me then around the house first. Let's allow everything to take place in its season. Take time out for our children and we will not need techno babysitters. How about meeting and playing with friends face to face and a good old letter or land line.

Well, the reason the president's daughters can't have a facebook account is because they're THE PRESIDENT'S DAUGHTERS.

Seline, I agree we don't need to keep kids locked up in the basement. We also don't want to have spoiled self entitled brats either. Good for you that you're doing so well. Kudos to your parents and to you as well!

Personally, I don't think that it's the Mean Mom Club...it's simply good parenting - not being your child'd friend or BFF, it's being a parent and setting guidlines and structure for your child. If this is a club..we certainly could use more members!

My oldest got a cell phone for her 17th birthday. yup, way mean!

My daughters have facebook, however, it's under one of my e-mail accounts. so all incoming messages/posts go through my e-mail account. Mind you, I don't read every single one of them, but i is obvious when something is wrong and there is 5 million messages.

my husband also got fed up and wrote a code and all their facebook IMs are now logged on our server.
yay. they've yet to figure out how "I know all that stuff" sneak, i know. but it's there in case something is going wrong, i need to know what, why and who.

well ladies, I totally applaud and support you. You have a God-Given right to protect your children. If that means no facebook, cell phone, computer and the like then good for you. They won't die from it, in fact I believe that's what's wrong with children nowadays (and I'm only 30) too much information too soon is detrimental. I'm proud to say that I'm a product of a "Mean Momma". I didn't get to date or wear make-up until I was 16, I only had 2 piercings (in my ears), I had to do chores FOR FREE and not bringing home a good report card and being disciplined surely didn't "Harm my self-esteem". I'm a 3 degree holding, God-Fearing, Respectful to my Elders, have integrity, hard working, productive and voting member of society. Thank God for you ladies. You're children will one day appreciate it and I know if I'm half the "Mean Momma" that my own momma was then I'll feel like I was doing a good job.

The internet is a great way to research and learn about various subjects. If you communicate with your child and have a reinforced structure for time on the computer they could benefit greatly. I did not get a cell phone until I was fourteen and had joined marching band. My mother wanted to keep in touch with me during away games. I did not have a social networking profile until thirteen, but by then I thought the amount of information my peers were putting online was too much. As it turns out, if you raise your child with structure and communicate with them, cell phones and the internet can be a constructive learning tool. I learned, from a young age no less, that the internet was a tool to provide information about news and events. It is faster than looking a book up in a library or a newspaper (although knowing how to cite those sources are useful). Facebook, by the way, can be a utilized as a lesson on what to publish to the world wide web.

Here's to the mama's in the mean mom club! Praises to each of you who will not cave to the pressures of society. I am 42 and hate being so connected- would love to ditch my cell phone- which is only really convienient to call for directions if I am lost or check in with my hubby if I make it to market with out a shopping list- and either way- I would survive without it JUST FINE! We wonder why we are all so ADD, I fully believe it's too much connection, too much to keep track of, etc. FB has been fun to be able to catch up with old Kindergarten friends I thought I would never see again, but still. I have to monitor my nephew- who's parent did NOT allow for FB or even have a computer in the home- but when going to siblings houses or friends- he has somehow obtained a profile, and he's 11- which in and of itself is teaching our kids to be dishonest since you have to be 18 to be on FB I believe.

As a grandmother I don't agree with cellphones or facebook for children before they are in their teens. But there is a happy medium....my grandkids (ages 8 & 10) begged me to get Skype so we can talk/see each other anytime we want. We are two states apart and only visit 2 or 3 times a year so Skype is perfect for us. Their mom is present when we do, is her laptop computor--they have an old one to share for computor games--that too is supervised use only. The 8 yr. old has been logging on and off the computor and doing games since he was 3...the girl since she was 5.
Both excel in school classes, both are extremely athletic and socialized, and they show no negative signs of sideeffects! So, what's to complain about? We cheer them on, and show we are proud of them for their consciencousness.

Why do all these young kids want cell phones anyways? Just tell them that if you get them a phone, then they have no reason not to pick up your calls and follow directions and such.

One of my friends got a phone at 13, and she was the only one? What did happened? Every our group hung out around the neighborhood and she didn't pick up, her parents came looking for us in the car and she used to get grounded for not answering her parents calls. As I result, I never asked for a phone, I just got in high school because since I'd started driving, my parents wanted to be able to get in touch with me.

.....i have an email, no facebook or phone.....these are the same reasons as my mom.....i guess my mom counts as a "mean mom" even thought she's one of the nicest people on the planet.

We should be Christians enough in all our dealings with our kids cos that GOD that gave them to us expects us to always teach them what they will leave on tomorrow. We should know that all that glitters are not gold. Always teach them the ways of GOD and I think most of these problems will be on its own. thanks so much.

I am not a parent but I hope to be in a few years. My husband and I have talked about this before and we both agree that when we have kids one day they will not have a cell phone until they are of driving age. There is no need for a kid to have a cell phone unless there is a chance that they will need one because they need help such as breaking down in their car or getting stranded somewhere. These kids that are 6 years old with cell phones is ridiculous!!! Why would a child that young need a cell phone?

I'm a young mother to be. 22 to be exact. So I'm up-to-date on the latest smart phones, social networking crap, and anything else these "young kids" want. I'm 35 weeks pregnant, and am constantly confirming rules with my husband. "No cell phones until they have a car or a job to afford their own, right?" "Right!" "No facebook, twitter, myspace, blah blah, until they're in high school, and they HAVE TO have us added, right?" "Right!". "No boyfriends until she's 50, right?" "Right!"

I dont see a problem with keeping these things from your child until a certain age, but eventually their going to go behind your back with it, and it will be cause for an even bigger disappointment. I didnt have a cell phone until I was 18. 4 years ago!! My 10 year old little cousin has had one since she was 6. And when I'm around her, she can't look away from the stupid thing!
Rules are rules. Doesnt make you an "evil mother" for enforcing them more than other parents. Its life. They'll get over it eventually! I know I did. And now I can proudly give my mother the "yea yea you were right" speech. Because really, she was!