Official Off Topic Discussion Thread #1

[jaws7777]

This is so ridiculous.
My daughter just got her first cellphone and she knows I get the phone at 7 each night. If she doesn’t do chores or obey house rules I take the phone away. Or any other electronic I see fit to take. Sometimes I take them all.
If your parents are paying for it, I’m sorry but it’s not really yours till you move out/take over payments.

Heck, my mom took my phone away once when I was 19 and still living at home. I was even paying my own bill since I first got a phone, plus bought all my own phones too. That didn’t stop her from taking it and there is no way I ever would have called the cops on her for it. It made me mad, but seriously, who calls the cops over that?

What do you think the appropriate age is to give them cell phones ?

 

[MrsE88]

What do you think the appropriate age is to give them cell phones ?

I don’t think I’m really the person to ask. Ideally I’d say once they get their first job, because that’s when I got mine. So 15-16.

Now my daughter is only 9 and just got hers before Christmas. But that is because we don’t have a house phone and I wanted a way to get a hold of her no matter where she is. She has strict rules to follow and I have parental locks on it as well as tracking.

I think each parent needs to decide what is appropriate for their specific child. Not all kids are ready for the same responsibilities at the same ages.

 

[kno4te]

I don’t think I’m really the person to ask. Ideally I’d say once they get their first job, because that’s when I got mine. So 15-16.

Now my daughter is only 9 and just got hers before Christmas. But that is because we don’t have a house phone and I wanted a way to get a hold of her no matter where she is. She has strict rules to follow and I have parental locks on it as well as tracking.

I think each parent needs to decide what is appropriate for their specific child. Not all kids are ready for the same responsibilities at the same ages.

Both my sons want a cell phone. They are 7 and 5 but it gonna happen. 9 isn’t a bad age to get a cell if responsible enough.

 

[MrsE88]

Both my sons want a cell phone. They are 7 and 5 but it gonna happen. 9 isn’t a bad age to get a cell if responsible enough.

I have a 7yr old son too. He is no where near ready for a phone either. Lol not even a tablet.
My daughter is a lot more responsible then my son is. Not perfect, but she takes good care of her electronics. She’s had an old school big screen iPad for a couple years now and hasn’t broke the screen. My 15yr old sil had gone through I think 3 cell phones already from smashing the screens. Pretty sad. Lol

 

[jaws7777]

My son is 8 and not asking for one. Not that he would get it. I do like the fact of being able to track them and also being in constant contact if need be. Both kids have ipads and even though its a chore to make sure they dont over do it i can see the benefits of a cell phone at the right age

I don’t think I’m really the person to ask. Ideally I’d say once they get their first job, because that’s when I got mine. So 15-16.

Now my daughter is only 9 and just got hers before Christmas. But that is because we don’t have a house phone and I wanted a way to get a hold of her no matter where she is. She has strict rules to follow and I have parental locks on it as well as tracking.

I think each parent needs to decide what is appropriate for their specific child. Not all kids are ready for the same responsibilities at the same ages.

 

[MrsE88]

My son is 8 and not asking for one. Not that he would get it. I do like the fact of being able to track them and also being in constant contact if need be. Both kids have ipads and even though its a chore to make sure they dont over do it i can see the benefits of a cell phone at the right age

That’s one thing I like about her phone, the tracking. I can set a limit for her screen time and set bedtime hours, I just rather physically have the phone. I can also see exactly what apps she’s using and for how long she’s on each one. I have an app on my phone that tracks all her activity. I’m sure if I looked into it there is something like that for her iPad, but not sure.

The original plan was to start her with a watch phone for kids. But since she was texting from my cell I figured that was a “fun” way to get her to practice spelling more. So we went with a phone over a watch.

I still think it’s crazy how much tech kids these days have at their fingertips.

 

[Warborg]

My 9 year old has one but we take it away from her on school days unless homework is done. Her school gives her homework on monday that's due friday.

 

[PYRU]

Not sure at the moment. My oldest got one when she was 10, but that's c because my ex just got her one.

If it was strictly regulated then I guess around 8-12 depending on if you trust them to keep up with it.

 

[jaws7777]

My 9 year old has one but we take it away from her on school days unless homework is done. Her school gives her homework on monday that's due friday.

My kids school does the same thing...i dont like it

 

[jaws7777]

That’s one thing I like about her phone, the tracking. I can set a limit for her screen time and set bedtime hours, I just rather physically have the phone. I can also see exactly what apps she’s using and for how long she’s on each one. I have an app on my phone that tracks all her activity. I’m sure if I looked into it there is something like that for her iPad, but not sure.

The original plan was to start her with a watch phone for kids. But since she was texting from my cell I figured that was a “fun” way to get her to practice spelling more. So we went with a phone over a watch.

I still think it’s crazy how much tech kids these days have at their fingertips.

So do you think there is a big difference between phones and ipads. I mean besides the obvious technical differences ?

Im asking because both my kids have had ipads since they were young. You know how it goes, starts out with all the educational stuff then comes the youtube addiction lol my son is good with it but my 6 yr old was out of control we took her tablet away 6 months ago amd only recently gave it back to her. So far soo good but my lord youtube is like crack