The use of cell phones

[mrsfrazier]

I was skimming over this thread and the first thing that popped into my head was “prepaid minutes”. Buy enough minutes to use on a month to month basis and turn off unnecessary features on the phone, like text messaging, internet, etc. I understand the comfort of having a child carry a phone so that you can stay in touch with them and so that they can call if there is a problem and/or emergency.

This is a good idea, but the companies that offer coverage in my rural area are actually more expensive to do prepay then a monthly plan, and you aren’t likely to have service. But thankfully most people have this option

 

[mrsfrazier]

Anyway, how do you expect kids (or anyone else, for that matter) to handle a car breakdown “on their own”? Fix the car with their own bare hands?

well, I had to learn how to change a flat tire, had to keep a safety kit in my car with a flare, and to check fluids and such so that this wouldn’t happen. A couple times I had to walk several miles to the nearest farm to get the farmer to pull me out with his tractor. And I never travelled alone, hardly ever. I was always carpooling with friends, it helped me afford the gas for the car and also in case of emergency. I am not against emergency cell phones, and when you can afford it, great (And Karin, definitely in your situation with the train ride I would get my kid a prepay phone–but in my situation it just didn’t make sense to have one). I was just pointing out that many cannot afford a cell phone, many people live and travel in areas where cell phone service is not available (so a cell phone wouldn’t even help), and they have to find alternate means. I was telling my story of what I did instead of a cell phone.

Incidentally, I don’t want people to think I was just randomly knocking on stranger’s doors, or that my parents encouraged that. But, from the time I could drive (16) to the end of high school (18), I had situations where I needed to use a phone after my car breaking down. What would you have done in that situation? I got my courage up, walked to a house or neighborhood where there were kids playing or someone gardening or shovelling snow, or even to a gas station, and asked to please use their phone. And I didn’t go inside their house. It just makes me so sad that people have to be so careful in the rest of the country, really in my area people are going to help you even if they don’t know you…It makes me realize how blessed I was to grow up in an area where it was safe for me to get help

 

[sanctareparata]

Children under fourteen years old having cell phones only proves that most people have more money than they can sensibly manage and they waste it on giving a child something that really is unnecessary… I think it’s unfortunate that parents give their children cell phones simply to keep their children on trend…Parents are way too eager to spend money trying to keep their children happy vis a vis their peers.

Ummmm, aren’t you reading anyone’s posts? Yeah, perhaps the world is like that - giving kids phones and cars and designer clothes to keep up with the latest trends, but no one *here *is saying that. We give/would give our kids phones to protect them and give us peace of mind and a sense of security in this sin-ridden world. Most parents here would only advocate a pre-paid phone or a pre-programmed phone which would ONLY be used to call mom, dad, granny, grandpa, 911. And in today’s world, those are considered totally lame by most teens. Even pre-paid is “hokey”. So giving a kid one of those phones certainly isn’t going to give them an edge on the trends.

 

[ack]

Hmmm, checking fluids and knowing how to replace a tire isn’t going to prevent all breakdowns…but if you live in an area where cell service is unavailable, then the area is probably safe enough to walk around and find a phone. I used to live in the country and there was no danger in doing this, but now I live in a large city and I would be terrified at the thought of a 16-year-old girl walking around at night looking for help. I agree that, in general, kids who don’t drive don’t really need cell phones…but if a family can’t afford a simple prepaid cell phone, then how is it that the family can afford auto insurance for the kid, which is much more expensive?

It’s worth noting that ANY cell phone can call 911, even if the cell phone does not have a service plan. If you know someone who is getting a new cell phone, you can take the old one and give it to your kid. Then, the kid can call 911 (and only 911) and it costs you nothing.

well, I had to learn how to change a flat tire, had to keep a safety kit in my car with a flare, and to check fluids and such so that this wouldn’t happen. A couple times I had to walk several miles to the nearest farm to get the farmer to pull me out with his tractor. And I never travelled alone, hardly ever. I was always carpooling with friends, it helped me afford the gas for the car and also in case of emergency. I am not against emergency cell phones, and when you can afford it, great (And Karin, definitely in your situation with the train ride I would get my kid a prepay phone–but in my situation it just didn’t make sense to have one). I was just pointing out that many cannot afford a cell phone, many people live and travel in areas where cell phone service is not available (so a cell phone wouldn’t even help), and they have to find alternate means. I was telling my story of what I did instead of a cell phone.

Incidentally, I don’t want people to think I was just randomly knocking on stranger’s doors, or that my parents encouraged that. But, from the time I could drive (16) to the end of high school (18), I had situations where I needed to use a phone after my car breaking down. What would you have done in that situation? I got my courage up, walked to a house or neighborhood where there were kids playing or someone gardening or shovelling snow, or even to a gas station, and asked to please use their phone. And I didn’t go inside their house. It just makes me so sad that people have to be so careful in the rest of the country, really in my area people are going to help you even if they don’t know you…It makes me realize how blessed I was to grow up in an area where it was safe for me to get help

 

[Maureen_Fiore]

My two children ages 14 and 16 both have cell phones. The reason why they have it was because they both take the school bus and I am not available to meet them at the bus stop. So, they call me as soon as they are off the bus and I talk to them until they get home safely. They also play sports and I would like to know when they will arrive back at the school so I can go and pick them up on late afternoons. But, I do know that they can abuse this PRIVILEDGE. A few months ago my husband receives a notice on the phone that our new balance was $800.00. Well, my husband blew a gasket and we looked into this and found out that my two darling girls were texting and went over their amount. I told them that they would have to pay their share of this abuse and we check into getting them unlimited texting. Now, my bill is normal and they are more observant of this and don’t abuse this priviledge anymore.

 

[CatholicSam]

Dr. Ray Guarendi had this to say about kids and cell phones:

www.drray.com/radio/m3u/phone.m3u

My husband and I personally hate cell phones and think they are much too intrusive. We both carry tracfones for emergencies, but that’s all. I really like the idea of having a couple of communal phones for older kids to borrow when they’re out doing activities or driving

 

[mrsfrazier]

It’s worth noting that ANY cell phone can call 911, even if the cell phone does not have a service plan. If you know someone who is getting a new cell phone, you can take the old one and give it to your kid. Then, the kid can call 911 (and only 911) and it costs you nothing.

This is great, a lot of people don’t now this I have to give this as a disclosure everytime a customer signs a new contract, but I don’t think people ever listen to the disclosures…

 

[prv]

I’ll have to post my own reply on this. I’m a 23 year old student living away from home, and I have been assigned my own phone. I don’t use it to gabber-gabber to my friends (I don’t have any I can call), I leave it turned on outside of class and even at night for emergencies, since I don’t have a landline phone. I would have to say that there are even some adults who shouldn’t have them, namely those who like to gibber-gabber during TRAFFIC.

 

[auppie]

Children under fourteen years old having cell phones only proves that most people have more money than they can sensibly manage and they waste it on giving a child something that really is unnecessary. Geeze Louise, children didn’t have cell phones until just a few years ago when the cost went down and made them appear affordable. Before that time, children had the same number of activities in the same sorts of locations at the same times during the day and took buses and trains. Somehow, we all survived that with a little planning beforehand. I think it’s unfortunate that parents give their children cell phones simply to keep their children on trend. The would be far better off putting that money in their child’s college savings account. Or in their own retirement fund. Parents are way too eager to spend money trying to keep their children happy vis a vis their peers.

My 11 yr. old daughter has a cell phone, and it certainly is NOT because there is extra cash to toss around, to keep her on trend, or to keep her happy vis a vis her peers! For her, it is an issue of safety due to an incident at the apartment complex where we live, and a way to keep in contact with me or her father throughout the day.

After these recent attacks on schools, I’m very glad she has one. We just experienced our second attack in Colorado where there was loss of life. Before the girl died, she was able to communicate with her parents through text messaging.

It is unfortunate that we live in a world like this, but the world has changed since we were all kids and didn’t have such a need. Our schools and activities were all centered around our schools or near our schools. This is not the case for today. Soon my daughter’s involvement in orchestra will take her to other schools for an area practice as one teacher is allotted so many schools, and come performance time, all will practice together in the same place–chances are that it will not be held at her school. Since practice will not be until after school, there are very few or no phones available at the practice location(s).