I have a 13 yo son (our oldest) who currently does not have a phone of his own, nor any other electronic devices which have internet capability. We do have several computers, a family playstation, family ipad, and a number of family ipods which we allow our children to use in the home. They are only allowed to use anything that is connected to the internet when they are in common areas of the house, and during the week (M-Th) the only electronics they are allowed to use are the computer (if needed for homework) and ipods (for listening to music). To date, we don’t believe he has needed a phone because he is never in a situation where there is no adult supervision (and, hence, an adult with a phone he can use if need be) except occasionally at home, where he can use our land line. We talk about after-school practices, who will pick him up and when, etc. so that he does not need to call us for rides.
My 13 yo’s school classmates all (literally-all of them) have phones, most of them smartphones, and many of them have other personal electronic devices at their disposal or in their rooms as well. The primary means of communication between these teens is texting- something my kid is feeling left out of because he doesn’t have a phone. I think it’s stupid that these kids don’t seem to be able to pick up a phone and use it to actually TALK to each other, but that apparently is not the way most kids communicate these days. I know that at some point, when he starts driving if not before, he will need access to a cell phone. I don’t want to be a prude, and I am not opposed to texting per se, what I am worried about is the constant need for access to each other that I see developing in these kids.
So my question is: when did you allow your child to have a phone and/or other internet-enabled device and what restrictions do you put on it?
