Kids and Cell Phones

[Sigarms]

I had one "Big Deal" rule with my 4 kids, Don't Ever Lie to me ,we had a couple of tests over time but, all in all, it worked and they all turned out great. More importantly, their kids have all turned out great.

My first work flip phone was in 1999 that the company picked up the tab for.

The reality, time and technology is moving so fast over the last 20 years that it's kind of crazy IMO to compare phones with kids even in the last 10 years and what's going on with them.

 

[Bikewanderer]

Well it痴 definitely time to talk to the coach. Practice is supposed to go until six every night. They got done at 5 o団lock today. No idea until 5pm when she called. I was in Chicago on business and my wife gets off work at 5 o団lock and has a decent commute. Apparently they waited for 40 minutes until a teacher offered to give her a ride home rather than wait longer.

 

[MossRoad]

Well it痴 definitely time to talk to the coach. Practice is supposed to go until six every night. They got done at 5 o団lock today. No idea until 5pm when she called. I was in Chicago on business and my wife gets off work at 5 o団lock and has a decent commute. Apparently they waited for 40 minutes until a teacher offered to give her a ride home rather than wait longer.

I'm surprised in this day and age that a teacher would put themselves at risk of transporting a child and/or the possibility of being alone with a child in just about any situation unless they had a prior agreement with the student's parents, kid in the same class, or some sort of student transportation agreement with the school, etc... glad she got a ride.

When I coached girls' 7-8 grade softball, I had a married coupe that assisted me. The 3 of us held a parents/players meeting first of every season. One year we had 19 girls on the team, ages 12-15. We told the parents start and stop practice times. And that they were not to drop the kids off early unless two coaches were there, and if they were late at pickup, they were holding up two coaches. Also, if our assistant female coach could not attend practice (job/family reasons), we'd request that a female parent would volunteer to stay for the entire practice. If one could not, we would cancel practice for that day. Some parents got kinda miffed at that. So we explained... 1st, we didn't want to be put in a potentially compromising situation with your daughter. 2nd, we didn't want your daughter being put into an uncomfortable situation with us. Some parents required yet further explanation... OK... your 12-15 year old might start her adult female bodily reproductive functions for the first time while in our care. Do you want me (points finer at self) helping her through that the first time, or one of her friend's moms helping her through that??? 'Wide-eyed' looks from many... then a collective head nod of understanding. Complete agreement and many volunteers over the years. Just bring a lawn chair and a book. :thumbsup:

I did give a few rides to a few players over the years, but only with my daughter in the car with us and only with a phone call to the parents with approval before leaving. Sounds creepy, but no way was I gonna put myself or one of my coaches in that situation. That's just the way it is now.

 

[Cat_Driver]

I did just the opposite and am glad I did.
I gave my daughter her first cell phone when she was five years old for security reasons it could speed dial 911 or me.

She experienced not of the bad effects of cell phone usage but did secure stronger friendships for the long term. As kids moved on she was able to keep in touch and now has friends all ove the world that were in her classes and move to other locations.

Next she used her phone as a portable library at her finger tips. Her young mind was like a sponge. I believe the phone helped he take all advance placement classes in school. Those classes were actual college courses being taught in high school and she got college credit wheh sh went to college.

Then there was the security issues. If she needed to be picked up early, she called. If she was late at scholl because of work, she called, if she went somewhere she called when she arrived, She called when sh was leaving, etc etc etc. Each and every call she made made me feel better and more relaxed.

Think about it. Once they leave the door and they don't have a phone you as a parent gets to worry yourself sick till they arrive home. For me, I got updates. Now even as n adult when she goes out with the office for a celebration and had a beer or two - I get the call and am her "designad driver" rather than he driving "tipsy"

I would't give up everything I have enjoyed for all the things anyone can come up with against phones. Phones are a MUST for children.

Her knowledge continued to grow, with high SAT scores she was offered scholoaships all ove the country - full ride.

She now is a NBC news producer and got the job because she was literate high tech in a large part because of the phone. If she needed an answer she researched it and got the knolege she needed.

Keeping a phone from a child is a waste of time in my opinion. A phone will not cause nor will it stop any of the things you fear. What you are doing is allowing other kids to make fun of your kids and you are also making your kids inferior to their peers.

No child wants to tell their peers "I can't have a phone because my dad won't let me" That's when the teasing starts.

 

[Sigarms]

I'm surprised in this day and age that a teacher would put themselves at risk of transporting a child and/or the possibility of being alone with a child in just about any situation unless they had a prior agreement with the student's parents, kid in the same class, or some sort of student transportation agreement with the school, etc... glad she got a ride.

ALWAYS two adults with one child if neither adult is a parent of that child.

Honestly, guess I should consider ourselves lucky. The only real reason why we need to have the kids have a phone is because of the activity bus and there is a game / meet away. Genearlly the bus may stop and get some food on the way back, and the timing can vary by up to an hour, which I really can't blame them for.

 

[outinthetalgrass]

I see it as a societal change brought because of cell phones. When there was no way to call and tell people when you豎*e done you had to make plans ahead of time and just stick to them. This is definitely not the kids fault but my choice not to let them have cell phones is causing them some real difficulties.

I am a retired 登ld Fart but back in my day, we had a way of contacting parents when a ride was needed if it wasn稚 a set time. They knew where we were, and we went to the pay phone, called collect(didn稚 need money for that) mom or dad would refuse the charges and then just come pick us up.