Posted on 01/01/2007 1:45:53 PM PST by Coleus
Joe Skarimbas was just learning to read when he decided he was ready to join the digital age. "When he went to first grade he said, 'When am I going to get a cell phone?'" said Joe's mother, Tara Skarimbas.
The Leonia family decided to hold off on getting young Joe a phone until he turns 10 and starts walking home from school alone. But his mother understands the temptation to get her son, who turns 8 this month, a cell phone as soon as possible.
"Just for safety purposes," she said, glancing toward the new Disney Mobile kiosk during a shopping trip to the Paramus Park mall last week.
As the adult and teenage cell phone market becomes saturated, cell phone companies are targeting younger and younger users. This holiday season several companies -- including Disney, Verizon, TicTalk and Firefly -- are pushing brightly colored cell phones specially designed for children as young as kindergartners.
(Excerpt) Read more at nj.com ...
no child uner 18 needs a cell phone. we all grew up and survived without them.
We all grew up without them in a much different world.
Good advice Diana.
I hope all is well in Wisconsin. I went to Marquette University, but do not miss the cold weathers now that I'm in Los Angeles. I do miss the people, however.
I was hoping I could die of old age without ever having dealt with cell phones, but it's not possible. Three or four years ago I was getting into too much trouble from not being able to find pay phones any more, they no longer exist. When I was a child I was never more than a hundred yards from a pay phone even out in the forest...
If they are so worried about saftely, sew a GPS tracker in their clothing. Then you will know exactly where they are, without a huge phone bill.
My sons, ages 12 and 9, don't have cell phones. Or Gameboys. Or IPods. Or Nintendo, Playstation, Wii, or any sort of video game. Or cable TV. Or TVs in their rooms. We have one TV in the family room. Sometimes, we watch it. Mostly, we listen to classical music on the stereo. They don't like it much when Mom or Dad play old rock 'n roll stuff.
They do, however, have great bicycles, a football, a basketball, a basketball hoop, a bunch of bats, baseballs, and baseball gloves, and a large yard in which to play. When it's too dark, rainy, or cold, they have a nice piano, and know what to do with it. They have lots of board games, including everyday chess sets and special chess sets, and lots of books, lots of magazines, and a nice set of classic films on videotape and DVD.
They tell me that they don't have any sense of being deprived.
But a non-driving teenager? I question the need and especially for an elementary student!
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I agree whole heartedly. You can save your money for a phone, but I won't and you won't save our money for a PS3, Xbox or WII. Sorry, kid.
How did we survive before cell phones? Have they made us more productive? Other things like microwave ovens, permanent press clothes, food processors and such have made our lives easier but a cell phone just complicates things more.
:)
(You know I'm kidding right?) Hey, have your kids ever told you to turn the music down because it's too loud? I heard that yesterday when I was playing some good ol' Elvis and both of my girls yelled down to turn that music down because they couldn't read with it in the background. Elvis! how can you play Elvis quietly?
On 9/11 cell phones were the primary source of communication. Kids as young as 9 or 10 are flying around the city on subways and buses everyday by themselves or in small packs.
"Switch your plan to pre-paid."
That's great but there still a bill whether you keep the current service or not. Something about a penalty for ending the contract early.
Since we homeschool my kids aren't in a large school setting or a big group of people everyday, but I do give them my own cell phone if they are at a public event, shopping, out with friends, etc, and they may to need to reach their dad or me.
As each one of our children got a driver's license, they also got their own phone. That is just plain common sense nowdays.
Too many things can happen out and I want my kids to be able to contact me in case they need to.
But, I do tire of cell phones....kind of a love-hate thing with those darn things :)
Tell the little slackers that you're withholding their allowances and they can pick up after-school jobs until the bill is paid.
Parents Unite! :)
They don't NEED cell phones but it makes life a little less worrisome knowing they have one. I just called my youngest son and told him to get his 2 kids the ones that they can only call 4 numbers and have GPS so he will know where they are. My other 2 grandchildren have phones, we all have extremely busy lives and they can call us or either of their parents when plans change or they need to be picked up or any of a number of things. Cell phones have saved us lots of gas, I can locate my husband anytime I need to and I don't have to get in my vehicle and drive all over the county trying to find him when I need to give him an important message.
Those were my exact thoughts - my sister gave in to it, mostly because she has spoiled her children & they know if they whine long enough - they will get it.
I can see why in these times, kids need a cell phone - for safety reasons & to communicate with their parents. When I was a kid, times were different.
But, when I was a kid & we were visiting at relative's houses - we were expected to converse & use manners - to ACT like we wanted to be there, even if we would rather be at home with our friends. (I do remember discovering my aunt's "True Confessions" magazines in her closet - I spent many entertaining hours reading those things when I got the chance!)
Kids having them for after-school activities/parent pick-up is one thing. Just to say they have one is another. My grandchildren are 10 to 15 - none have them yet. They talk about them, but understand the cost involved.
"no child uner 18 needs a cell phone."
Sure they do. How else are they going to learn to become self-absorbed a-holes?
Otherwise, they might go into a business establishment NOT on the phone, NOT making sure everyone in ear-shot can hear their "private" conversations. Heck, they may even look at the clerk or *gasp* speak to the clerk. I wish I had a nickel for every vulgarity that's been loudly spoken into a cell phone by someone standing right next to me in public.
So, by all means, let's have more of it.
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