I don't understand this and it just blows my mind when I see kids (I'm talking like 9-14) walking around the mall with no adults around and they're on their cell phones.
I didn't get a cell phone until I was 18 and old enough to pay for it by myself and it didn't kill me not to have one when I was a *child*. If I wanted to go somewhere, I asked my parents, they told me yes or no, and gave me a time I had to be back.
The reason I'm asking this is my husband works for a cell phone company and parents come in almost every day complaining that their bill was run up to $400. And like every kid I meet anymore seems so spoiled. They are never going to learn the value of a hard earned dollar if their parents buy them everything they want.
Do the parents use this as a spying tactic? Do they not care that their kids are failing their classes because they're texting the whole time? Do they work too much to be home for their kids? What drives people to this insanity. Kids aren't adults.
luvmy4boyz2008-03-10T13:28:31Z
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I absolutely agree with you. I have 4 boys age 13, 13 (twins), 10, and 8 and n cell phones.
My sister gave both her girls 11 and 13 cell phones and when they were away visiting their father for a month during the summer they ran the bill up over $3,000 (you read it right, I didn't add an extra zero by mistake...it was over $3,000). Yo would think she took them away after that right? Nope, they still have them. She called the company and got them to reduce the bill and they weren't even punished. She said they didn't understand about roaming and so that is why she didn't punish them.
If a parent really feels the need to keep in touch with their kids then they should go with something like a migo or firefly that only have a few programable buttons. This allows them to contact only their parents and emergency numbers and they cannot call out from it. It's only $10.00 a month on your plan and it's all they need. We have one and it sits in the kitchen drawer unless we need it like if they have baseball practice we'll have them take it or if they go bike riding.
EDIT: everyone talks about todays world and kids needing them and all that but let's be honest here...most kids want and get them for entertainment purposes, to talk it up with their friends, not because they want to feel safe and constant contact with their parents. They want them because everyone else has one.
My 11 year old got a cell phone for Christmas this past year. It wasn't so much of a 'need', although I do like being able to get in touch with her when she's at a friends house easier, or when she's at her dad's.
Part of the reason I got it for her was to teach her responsibility, budgeting and time management. She's got t-mobile Kid Connect - she gets 100 minutes a month, and that's it. When she's done, she's done - except that she can always call me and I can always call her. I have unlimited connection to her - but she has 100 minutes to 'manage' through the month. She also pays half the monthly bill (which is $20 a month) from her allowance.
When she wants to ride her bike or go somewhere, I ask her - do you have your cell phone, and is it charged? If she doesn't - she doesn't go. It's teaching her that there are consequences. It only took a few months for her to manage to keep the minutes most of the month, learn to keep it charged, and know exactly where it is. Seems to me a pretty good way to teach those lessons - and I get the benefit of being in contact with her.
She's also not allowed to take it to school. I have promised, however, that if she gets straight A's for the rest of the year, I'll chip in for the 4.99 text package. Not a bad deal!
I know not everyone has the same story - but some do - not all kids are spoiled brats!
As a single parent of athletic twins, I got them pre-paid cell phones so I would know when they reached the school after away games. They're in different sports at different locations (the boy at the high school, the girl at one of the middle schools) with games on the same night. I would often get a call from one while picking up the other. Our carrier only requires a $20 committment every 90 days, so after the season ends, they know they have to make that money last.
I have two kids and they both have cell phones and I don't think it is so much their need as it is mine I work over an hour away from my house and my daughter who is 12 walks ten blocks from school in the afternoon and even tho she walks with a group of kids I still like to have the peace of mind that she is safe. As for cost if a parent doesn't or isn't smart enough to set guidelines then its thier own fault I have 4 phone and my bill is only around 175.00 a month and I make my 17 year old chip in for his share which is around 45.00 .
When my son gets older, he will have a cellphone, but it will be prepaid and he will only be able to use it during an emergency. Parents don't use it as a spying tactic. They are of course worried about their kids. Look at what kinda world we live in today with all the kidnappings, rapes, and murders going on. It's pretty sad and very scary. Look at things like school shootings. I'd rather have my son take a prepaid phone to school with him that way if something does break out in school, he has a phone that he can call 911 with. If his grades ever do slip bc I find he's using the phone to text his friends and so on instead of paying attention in class, then I will make it clear that he needs to focus on his grades more than his friends bc out of education comes a career. Idk maybe I'm wrong.