my kid has a cell phone
Rejistania
13-03-2007, 01:43
Unneeded, potential trouble source and your child already learns the curse of being available all the time :(
Oh, I wouldn't assume you won't be paying the bill.
And even if you aren't paying a monetary bill...
Smunkeeville
13-03-2007, 01:44
grr.....I just got a message on my answering machine
"hello, this is <my kid's first and last name> and I am leaving a message for mom, if you get this call me back on my new phone, the number is <cell phone number>"
:headbang:
my freaking mother in law bought my kid a cell phone.........she's freaking 5 years old! what does she need with a cell phone? she only knows 3 freaking phone numbers........
so, anyway, I called her back, apparently it's one of these (http://www.mytictalk.com/LeapFrog/). I guess as long as I don't have to pay the bill then it's not a problem right? *shirks responsiblity*
so, what do you guys think about all these digital goodies made for little kids? I mean my kid has a camera (http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=2620&e=cameralanding), and now a cell phone......my younger child has an MP3 player.....do you think it's making them grow up too fast? do you think it spoils them? do you think it's good for them to learn how to work all these things?
Fassigen
13-03-2007, 01:46
so, anyway, I called her back, apparently it's one of these (http://www.mytictalk.com/LeapFrog/).
*gasp* It's like the phone a fascist would give to his/her child. Horrendously ugly and suffocatingly controlling!
You should have called this thread "My kid has the cell phone". Because really, a five year-old with a cell phone is about as bad as "Iran has the bomb".
I don't see why she shouldn't have one, though your mother-in-law deserves a stern yelling at for not consulting you first.
Call to power
13-03-2007, 01:47
I hate mobile phones myself so I thought destroy the thing and refuse to pay any of the ball and chain contracts involved…
…But then I realised what if this is like alcohol in that if she gets it now she will hate it and avoid doing till she’s much to old to call you for money :)
*gasp* It's like the phone a fascist would give to his/her child. Horrendously ugly and suffocatingly controlling!
I have a friend who got annoyed when his parents got him a cell phone. He just said it was another way to track him.
Fassigen
13-03-2007, 01:48
I know......but the control freak in me kinda likes it.
*slaps you*
grr.....I just got a message on my answering machine
"hello, this is <my kid's first and last name> and I am leaving a message for mom, if you get this call me back on my new phone, the number is <cell phone number>"
:headbang:
my freaking mother in law bought my kid a cell phone.........she's freaking 5 years old! what does she need with a cell phone? she only knows 3 freaking phone numbers........
so, anyway, I called her back, apparently it's one of these (http://www.mytictalk.com/LeapFrog/). I guess as long as I don't have to pay the bill then it's not a problem right? *shirks responsiblity*
so, what do you guys think about all these digital goodies made for little kids? I mean my kid has a camera (http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=2620&e=cameralanding), and now a cell phone......my younger child has an MP3 player.....do you think it's making them grow up too fast? do you think it spoils them? do you think it's good for them to learn how to work all these things?cell phones are nice for children to have. there are ones that are programmable and thus they cannot just call anyone.
the pros for a child to have a phone...
1) if an emergency comes up, you can be reached.
2) if an emergency comes up, they can be reached.
that alone is worth it.
as for the other stuff... that's up to you. but from what you tell us about your 5 yr old... I don't think she'll abuse it.
Imperial isa
13-03-2007, 01:49
a camera and a MP3 player i'm ok with but a cell thats one thing i'm not ok with
*looks at cell link*
oh on you can get them here too
but, when would she ever need to phone home? I mean she is either with me, or with another adult that I find responsible enough for her to go with, it's not like she drives or goes out alone.
Consider it covering the bases.
Smunkeeville
13-03-2007, 01:51
*gasp* It's like the phone a fascist would give to his/her child. Horrendously ugly and suffocatingly controlling!
I know......but the control freak in me kinda likes it.
but, when would she ever need to phone home? I mean she is either with me, or with another adult that I find responsible enough for her to go with, it's not like she drives or goes out alone.
and that's why a cell phone is important. just because you can't picture her alone or needing one, doesn't mean she won't be in a situation where she needs one... :fluffle:
Infinite Revolution
13-03-2007, 01:52
grr.....I just got a message on my answering machine
"hello, this is <my kid's first and last name> and I am leaving a message for mom, if you get this call me back on my new phone, the number is <cell phone number>"
:headbang:
my freaking mother in law bought my kid a cell phone.........she's freaking 5 years old! what does she need with a cell phone? she only knows 3 freaking phone numbers........
so, anyway, I called her back, apparently it's one of these (http://www.mytictalk.com/LeapFrog/). I guess as long as I don't have to pay the bill then it's not a problem right? *shirks responsiblity*
so, what do you guys think about all these digital goodies made for little kids? I mean my kid has a camera (http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=2620&e=cameralanding), and now a cell phone......my younger child has an MP3 player.....do you think it's making them grow up too fast? do you think it spoils them? do you think it's good for them to learn how to work all these things?
i'd say it's spoiling them a bit. but then i didn't have access to even a tv til i was 8, and even then it only had one channel and i was only allowed certain programmes. actually i tell a lie, i had a fisher-price cassette player when i was about 4 or 5, i guess the mp3 player is just the next generation's version of that. and a camera is a cool toy and good for stimulating interest in their surroundings. in fact, screw what i said before i'm just jealous, besides the phone which is rather pointless, i'd say those digital goodies are great. they just seem excessive because of what to us seems ligh hi-technology, to kids it's normal stuff.
Smunkeeville
13-03-2007, 01:52
I don't see why she shouldn't have one, though your mother-in-law deserves a stern yelling at for not consulting you first.
Though it does seem to be a pretty good choice in phones for a kid. She can phone home and all that good stuff but that's it.
but, when would she ever need to phone home? I mean she is either with me, or with another adult that I find responsible enough for her to go with, it's not like she drives or goes out alone.
SimNewtonia
13-03-2007, 01:53
Hmm, camera and MP3 Player to me are understandable.
The Phone, however... :rolleyes:
My 4 year old has an iPod. That's it.
Compulsive Depression
13-03-2007, 01:54
When I were a lad we had, if we were lucky, a couple of walkie-talkies that took AA batteries and maybe had the range of the back garden. None of this mobile 'phone rubbish. MP3 players? I had a dodgy walkman with a radio built in, and perhaps two cassettes to play on it! My sister's didn't have a radio!
And cameras? I got my first camera when I was twelve, I think - and it was second hand. From my grandfather.
What happened to Lego, Transformers and building improvised ballistic weaponry using wood, clothes pegs, tape and those extra-strong elastic bands for powering model aircraft?
Kids these days... It'd be slightly less daft if I were even thirty yet >_<.
Smunkeeville
13-03-2007, 01:57
Hmm, camera and MP3 Player to me are understandable.
The Phone, however... :rolleyes:
that's what I said.
Katganistan
13-03-2007, 03:16
but, when would she ever need to phone home? I mean she is either with me, or with another adult that I find responsible enough for her to go with, it's not like she drives or goes out alone.
I suppose if you got separated in public....
or maybe it's your mother in law's way of making sure her angel can call her at any time? ;)
and that's why a cell phone is important. just because you can't picture her alone or needing one, doesn't mean she won't be in a situation where she needs one... :fluffle:
Do you realize how creepy it is to follow that sentence with a fluffle?
Deus Malum
13-03-2007, 03:45
grr.....I just got a message on my answering machine
"hello, this is <my kid's first and last name> and I am leaving a message for mom, if you get this call me back on my new phone, the number is <cell phone number>"
:headbang:
my freaking mother in law bought my kid a cell phone.........she's freaking 5 years old! what does she need with a cell phone? she only knows 3 freaking phone numbers........
so, anyway, I called her back, apparently it's one of these (http://www.mytictalk.com/LeapFrog/). I guess as long as I don't have to pay the bill then it's not a problem right? *shirks responsiblity*
so, what do you guys think about all these digital goodies made for little kids? I mean my kid has a camera (http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=2620&e=cameralanding), and now a cell phone......my younger child has an MP3 player.....do you think it's making them grow up too fast? do you think it spoils them? do you think it's good for them to learn how to work all these things?
I got my own computer when I was 6. And I don't mean I got access to the family computer, I mean I had MY own computer and it was exclusively MINE and no one else could touch MY computer (I was a bit possessive at the time, I guess. Though I here most kids are.) Keep in mind that that was 15 years ago. Technology's just getting more sophisticated, but that doesn't mean you necessarily need to limit the access to technology your kids have. I got on the internet for the first time when I was 8 or 9. Which is now standard, but back then was like "Woah, the interwebness."
Sel Appa
13-03-2007, 03:50
VERY BAD. Say it's not allowed and cut off relations with your mother-in-law. Five-year olds have absolutely no need for a cell phone.
Proggresica
13-03-2007, 03:52
How is this not good? If your kid ever gets lost or something else happens it is an extremely useful tool.
Deus Malum
13-03-2007, 03:53
VERY BAD. Say it's not allowed and cut off relations with your mother-in-law. Five-year olds have absolutely no need for a cell phone.
Waaaaiiiit just a g damn minute. This is the same racist, sexist mother in law, isn't it? Yeah, methinks the cell phone should have an unfortunate swimming accident.
SimNewtonia
13-03-2007, 04:04
that's what I said.
I personally didn't get a phone until I was 13 or so. I figure that's about the right age, given that from then on they're out and about a bit more.
At that point it should be prepaid ONLY. No plan phones. My first phone was a prepaid Sagem that broke the third time I dropped it. Cheap pile of dung.
From then on I had plan phones, I'm pretty sure, but I'm not the kind who makes a zillion calls. Even to this day, I don't use up the $30 my plan allows before they start charging extra.
The contract on my current one expires in May and I'm going back to prepaid as soon as funds allow (this partly has to do with the fact that it's a CDMA phone and the technology won't be around for much longer).
I've had a computer for most of my life, probably about at 6. That would've been early 90's,waaayy back when Sega and Nintendo were all the rage (we had a NES and my aunt had a MegaDrive which was kept at our place. Now those were the days!). I'm pretty sure my first computer was an Amiga, too. Then a 386, then a Cyrix Pentium equivalent, then a PIII, a PIV, and now a Pentium D (soon to be upgraded to Core 2 Duo). I still have the P4 (it just needs a new Power supply) and I'm going to use it as a Linux box.
Deus Malum
13-03-2007, 04:08
I personally didn't get a phone until I was 13 or so. I figure that's about the right age, given that from then on they're out and about a bit more.
At that point it should be prepaid ONLY. No plan phones. My first phone was a prepaid Sagem that broke the third time I dropped it. Cheap pile of dung.
From then on I had plan phones, I'm pretty sure, but I'm not the kind who makes a zillion calls. Even to this day, I don't use up the $30 my plan allows before they start charging extra.
The contract on my current one expires in May and I'm going back to prepaid as soon as funds allow (this partly has to do with the fact that it's a CDMA phone and the technology won't be around for much longer).
I've had a computer for most of my life, probably about at 6. That would've been early 90's,waaayy back when Sega and Nintendo were all the rage (we had a NES and my aunt had a MegaDrive which was kept at our place. Now those were the days!). I'm pretty sure my first computer was an Amiga, too. Then a 386, then a Cyrix Pentium equivalent, then a PIII, a PIV, and now a Pentium D (soon to be upgraded to Core 2 Duo). I still have the P4 (it just needs a new Power supply) and I'm going to use it as a Linux box.
Cool beans. I still have the casing for my old 386 on my desk. Use it as a monitor stand.
Mikesburg
13-03-2007, 04:08
I despise this era where you are supposed to be reachable 24 hours a day. I used to carry a cell phone as part of work and it rang non-fucking-stop. I am now blessedly free of a cell phone.
Now that I've ranted about that, I think it's okay for teenaged children to have cell-phones; if they're footing the bill for it.
There is zero reason in my mind, for a five year old to have a cell phone. Gah!!
Wilgrove
13-03-2007, 04:15
What possible reason would a five year old have for owning a cell phone? I didn't get my first cell phone until I started driving, and that was only so that I can call home in case I have an emergency.
Personally, I hate it. Parents can choose what they think is best in that case but in my case my children would not have such things until they have their own job to pay for one if they'd like. I didn't grow up with a bunch of technology or even indoor plumbing for that matter and I'm only the better because of it. Some people tend to rely on technology too much and I would prefer my kids to learn what can be done with just basic things. If they choose to have a bunch of devices when they are adults then fine but not until they are taught what creativity and hard work can get them. Instead of playing on a game system, the computer, or watching tv they can create things or god forbid even use their imagination. :eek:
Katganistan
13-03-2007, 04:31
What possible reason would a five year old have for owning a cell phone? I didn't get my first cell phone until I started driving, and that was only so that I can call home in case I have an emergency.
Ditto. I had a beeper for a short time because of a wedding I was involved in (oy!) and dumped that as fast as possible. People continually pissed me off by calling me and DEMANDING to know why I hadn't called them back because they BEEPED me.
Um, I didn't get it? I was busy? I didn't freaking feel like dropping what I was doing in order to see what His/Her Majesty required?
People still occasionally mention to me that they tried to get me on my cell and failed -- and I patiently tell them that unless *I* am calling out OR we have prearranged that I should have it on so that you can call me (we're meeting, etc.) the cell stays off.
The Psyker
13-03-2007, 04:33
I personally didn't get a phone until I was 13 or so. I figure that's about the right age, given that from then on they're out and about a bit more.
At that point it should be prepaid ONLY. No plan phones. My first phone was a prepaid Sagem that broke the third time I dropped it. Cheap pile of dung.
Heh, I remember my first cell phone was a prepaid plan I got when I left for college, I wound up joining a family plan with the rest of my family, since my parets who wer epaying for it decided it was rediculous to pay for as many miniutes I had whent the most minutes I ever used in a month was some somewhere around 16.
Dobbsworld
13-03-2007, 04:37
I bought my first cel phone when I was 33. Four years ago. I bought it in order to help me in my jobsearch. And because virtually all of the pay phones have vanished from my city.
Smunkeeville
13-03-2007, 04:42
I suppose if you got separated in public....
or maybe it's your mother in law's way of making sure her angel can call her at any time? ;)
apparently I can program who she can call and who can call her, so I am going to make it to where she can call us (hubby and myself) and we can call her... and that's about it, according to the website I can even choose when the phone can be used, so I guess if she is away from home she can call us, but other than that, it's going to be useless for her.
it's prepaid, so I guess it's not too bad. I still wouldn't have bought one for her, but now that she has it, I guess she can keep it for a while (at least until her current minutes are gone)
Iztatepopotla
13-03-2007, 04:51
When I were a lad we had, if we were lucky, a couple of walkie-talkies that took AA batteries and maybe had the range of the back garden.
You must have been millionaires, all we had was a couple of plastic cups and no string. "Do you think money grows on trees?" my dad used to say, "I already got you some sand this morning, get your own damn string!"
Ashmoria
13-03-2007, 17:00
its a cute little phone with family friendly features but you really should think this through. your mother in law buying one is not a reason to have it.
a 5 year old with a cell phone is like a 5 year old with lip gloss. it sends her down a certain road. maybe that road is FINE, i dont have a 5 year old anymore so im not going to bother with running the implications through my own head, but maybe it had downsides that bother you.
you are the parent (with your husband). these "big girl" items are up to YOU not your mother in law. (my neice was livid when her girls, 7 and 4 years old, came home from her inlaws with 2 piece swim suits) there will be many more of these issues coming up. its best to have a stand on them before they do.
Smunkeeville
13-03-2007, 17:07
its a cute little phone with family friendly features but you really should think this through. your mother in law buying one is not a reason to have it.
a 5 year old with a cell phone is like a 5 year old with lip gloss. it sends her down a certain road. maybe that road is FINE, i dont have a 5 year old anymore so im not going to bother with running the implications through my own head, but maybe it had downsides that bother you.
you are the parent (with your husband). these "big girl" items are up to YOU not your mother in law. (my neice was livid when her girls, 7 and 4 years old, came home from her inlaws with 2 piece swim suits) there will be many more of these issues coming up. its best to have a stand on them before they do.
yeah, I know, my mother in law seems to be clueless about what kinds of things are okay for my kids and what kinds of things aren't. I have made her take back clothes that were inappropriate, dolls I didn't like, etc. I am still on the fence with the cell phone though......
I'd kick my mothers or my mother-in-law's ass if they bought my kids a cellphone, even the leap-frog variety.
Frankly, that's a decision I believe that should be made by the parents.
Ashmoria
13-03-2007, 17:21
yeah, I know, my mother in law seems to be clueless about what kinds of things are okay for my kids and what kinds of things aren't. I have made her take back clothes that were inappropriate, dolls I didn't like, etc. I am still on the fence with the cell phone though......
what does your husband think about it?
no 5 year old needs a cell phone. cell phones are for kids big enough to be out of the house on their own for long periods of time. like 11 year olds who are left at the mall at opening time on saturday and picked up at closing time.
No paradise
13-03-2007, 17:22
From previous threads I seem to remember that relations between you and your in-laws arn't perfect; maybe they did this to annoy you, I'd be angry if they did something like that without permision.
Farnhamia
13-03-2007, 17:29
yeah, I know, my mother in law seems to be clueless about what kinds of things are okay for my kids and what kinds of things aren't. I have made her take back clothes that were inappropriate, dolls I didn't like, etc. I am still on the fence with the cell phone though......
I agree with Ashmoria about the real issue being your MIL not asking you before buying your daughter the phone. From the cursory glance I gave the link in your OP, it does seem pretty innocuous, indeed, family-friendly.
It is a digital world and while kids can get way too digitized, some things, like being able to stay in touch, are not bad. This is not so much of an issue now, when she's five, but we'll check back in eight or nine years, shall we? If you get her in the habit of letting you know where she's going and who's with now, you might survive her teen-age years with a scrap or two of sanity. Not that I really think the Children of Smunkeeville will be hooligans, of course.
Ashmoria
13-03-2007, 17:37
I agree with Ashmoria about the real issue being your MIL not asking you before buying your daughter the phone. From the cursory glance I gave the link in your OP, it does seem pretty innocuous, indeed, family-friendly.
It is a digital world and while kids can get way too digitized, some things, like being able to stay in touch, are not bad. This is not so much of an issue now, when she's five, but we'll check back in eight or nine years, shall we? If you get her in the habit of letting you know where she's going and who's with now, you might survive her teen-age years with a scrap or two of sanity. Not that I really think the Children of Smunkeeville will be hooligans, of course.
now THATS a good point! if you wait until they are 15 years old and then expect that they will stay in touch you are in for many worrisome hours. if you train them now it will seem not so controlling to call home a few times a night.
German Nightmare
13-03-2007, 17:37
Gravity is your friend: Drop it till it breaks!!!
Deus Malum
13-03-2007, 17:40
Gravity is your friend: Drop it till it breaks!!!
Drop it into the sink. You only need to do it once.
German Nightmare
13-03-2007, 17:46
Drop it into the sink. You only need to do it once.
But it doesn't break that way... ;)
Ashmoria
13-03-2007, 17:51
But it doesn't break that way... ;)
it will if the sink is empty
if it has water in it, once is enough.
why would a 5 year old ever need a cellphone?:rolleyes:
i only have one because my friends gave it to me. it is quite handy i must admit, but only to make plans to meet my friends, not really something a five years old should do i guess.
i think all these sort of gadgets are useless (for kids). maybe if they asked for it for like a year and saved their pocket money for a long time and maybe did some work in the house for extra money it would be fine because it taught them a lesson about saving and working and stuff, but just giving them (as i assume your mother in law did) is a little to much spoiling.
imo they are at the age where they should be playing with dolls or in the mud and making ugly pieces of 'art' you then have to display in your house, not downloading the newest 50 cent to their ipod or text messaging to their friends.
but that's just my opinion, i hate fun and progress.
Do you realize how creepy it is to follow that sentence with a fluffle?
they didn't have any reassuring huggies...
:(
it will if the sink is empty
if it has water in it, once is enough. most cell phone are water resistant...
now if it drops into the disposal... and it's turned on...
;)
Greyenivol Colony
13-03-2007, 18:43
I don't see what all the fuss is about. Its just a simple little thing, it can't even do anything unless you specifically program it to.
I don't see how it can be the first step in some kind of slippery slope..? Hell, if we're going to go down that route you might as well ban baby dolls, as all they do is convince little girls that it'd be fun to get knocked up.
Lerkistan
13-03-2007, 19:02
I would advise against a cell phone. It might be better for her to not be able to call whenever a problem arises. Sure, 5 years is a bit too early to learn this kind of responsibility, but what when you decide she should learn to solve her problems on her own when was, say, 10? You can't just take it away then... Or, conversely, at around that age she'll probably want to be unreachable at times. Which you probably won't like, but it essential for a kid to escape control once in a while... do you want her to 'forget' it someplace whenever she needs this time-out?
Peepelonia
13-03-2007, 19:03
I don't see what all the fuss is about. Its just a simple little thing, it can't even do anything unless you specifically program it to.
I don't see how it can be the first step in some kind of slippery slope..? Hell, if we're going to go down that route you might as well ban baby dolls, as all they do is convince little girls that it'd be fun to get knocked up.
Heheh future shock?
Some folx are scared at the rapid pace of development, for children though, our children this is all quite normal, and when they have kids they'll reminices about 'remember when mobiles where as big as your hand, before they got implanted just behind the ear?'
Then their kids will look at them, call them old fogies(or whatever the slang of the time will be) and in turn take for granted the technoloical advantages of their age.
And so on and on it goes, and the world keeps going, heh cept perhaps by then it will be more than one world?
Let it go mothers and fathers, it is all good!
NovaCarpeDiem
13-03-2007, 19:47
I still don't have a cell phone. I didn't have an MP3 player until a few months ago, and I only got my own laptop when we moved and didn't have the money for a mainframe.
By contrast, my younger siblings and cousins appear to be demanding such gadgets from the tender ages of three or four upwards. And parents buy them, too. I simply don't see the point.
-Envoy of the Nova.
I still don't have a cell phone. I didn't have an MP3 player until a few months ago, and I only got my own laptop when we moved and didn't have the money for a mainframe.
-Envoy of the Nova.
A MAINFRAME?!? :eek:
I wish I could have a mainframe... instead of a desktop. :(
Lerkistan
13-03-2007, 20:01
now THATS a good point! if you wait until they are 15 years old and then expect that they will stay in touch you are in for many worrisome hours. if you train them now it will seem not so controlling to call home a few times a night.
And controlling teenagers is a good thing? Also, if a teenager has a cell phone and does not call you when she's late, you'll be way more worried than if you know she can't reach you because she doesn't own a cell phone (Mind you, she'll probably not be happy to be called by her mother when she's out with friends).
A MAINFRAME?!? :eek:
I wish I could have a mainframe... instead of a desktop. :(
But if you had no desktop, you'd have nothing to place the terminal to your mainframe on.
But if you had no desktop, you'd have nothing to place the terminal to your mainframe on.
mainframes can have a terminal built into them. ;)
The blessed Chris
13-03-2007, 20:10
Personally, I'd rather let my child be a child, as it were, and retain a little innocence for a while. Equally, whilst Mobile's have a use, I doubt they are of any use below secondary school age.
Lerkistan
13-03-2007, 20:12
mainframes can have a terminal built into them. ;)
True. But where to place pizza and coke?
Smunkeeville
13-03-2007, 20:27
Personally, I'd rather let my child be a child, as it were, and retain a little innocence for a while. Equally, whilst Mobile's have a use, I doubt they are of any use below secondary school age.
my child isn't typical, I am not entirely sure how much "innocence" she has left... as far as knowing about "real life".
however, the decision has come down from dad that she can have it when we are out together in case she gets separated from us, and only until the date when the minutes expire. He has called and explained to my MIL that anything costing more than $10 needs approval by me and him before she purchases it for our kids, lest we make her return it.
True. But where to place pizza and coke?
not my problem. I have a desktop. but NovaCarpeDiem was upset they couldn't afford a Mainframe... :p
IL Ruffino
13-03-2007, 21:13
Your kid has a childs phone, and while I still think that's just stupid, you should see the phones some of the kids at my school's elementary kids have..
They're atleast $200..!
What the fuck does a 7 year old need a cameraphone for?
Your kid has a childs phone, and while I still think that's just stupid, you should see the phones some of the kids at my school's elementary kids have..
They're atleast $200..!
What the fuck does a 7 year old need a cameraphone for?Well, they don't *need* a camera phone. I guess it's just "cool" to have one, and to take random pictures of friends. I have a camera phone, and it comes in handy sometimes. :D Like when there's those random adverts on the side of the road, instead of taking the time to write it down (if it's important/interesting to you), snap a pic, drive off.
I dunno, I think it's kinda silly for kids as young as Smunkee's to have phones... when would they ever be wandering around on their own and need to call someone? I would assume they'd pretty much always be either with family or trusted adults. I can see those phones being useful for children a bit older though.
Well, they don't *need* a camera phone. I guess it's just "cool" to have one, and to take random pictures of friends. I have a camera phone, and it comes in handy sometimes. :D Like when there's those random adverts on the side of the road, instead of taking the time to write it down (if it's important/interesting to you), snap a pic, drive off.
For some reason, that gave me a really bizarre mental image of someone taking a pic of a particular billboard with their camera phone. It's not there anymore, but the billboard I have in mind used to be on the side of I80 west on the drive down from Lake Tahoe, and was a giant advert for breast implants. It said "breast implants" in giant block letters, and underneath (in much smaller letters) there was the name of a doctor and a phone number.
Your kid has a childs phone, and while I still think that's just stupid, you should see the phones some of the kids at my school's elementary kids have..
They're atleast $200..!
What the fuck does a 7 year old need a cameraphone for?
Wow. There's just so many jokes to choose from. It boggles the mind.
For some reason, that gave me a really bizarre mental image of someone taking a pic of a particular billboard with their camera phone. It's not there anymore, but the billboard I have in mind used to be on the side of I80 west on the drive down from Lake Tahoe, and was a giant advert for breast implants. It said "breast implants" in giant block letters, and underneath (in much smaller letters) there was the name of a doctor and a phone number.ROFL. :D
Ashmoria
13-03-2007, 22:52
And controlling teenagers is a good thing? Also, if a teenager has a cell phone and does not call you when she's late, you'll be way more worried than if you know she can't reach you because she doesn't own a cell phone (Mind you, she'll probably not be happy to be called by her mother when she's out with friends).
controlling teens is a slow process of losing. however if you dont keep them in line to some extent they end up in jail and/or giving you grandchildren before they get out of highschool.
Ashmoria
13-03-2007, 22:53
my child isn't typical, I am not entirely sure how much "innocence" she has left... as far as knowing about "real life".
however, the decision has come down from dad that she can have it when we are out together in case she gets separated from us, and only until the date when the minutes expire. He has called and explained to my MIL that anything costing more than $10 needs approval by me and him before she purchases it for our kids, lest we make her return it.
thats a good decision. that makes it more like a toy that has a scheduled break date.