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I don't understand why parents feel the need to pay for these expensive smartphones and data plans and such for their kids. You're just inviting all kinds of heartaches, issues, and problems into your home and lives. Not to mention the expense of it!
Our kids have had cellphones since 1st grade, but we've never provided them with a data plan. Text and talk is all they need.
Our oldest son finally got a smartphone recently, but even he doesn't have the full-fledged data plan - he can only email, text, and talk. That's all he needs. He can take photos and videos, but he cannot send or receive them. And he cannot download apps or browse the internet or anything like that.
He recently bought himself an itouch, but we do not allow him to access the home wi-fi with it. In the past, he repeatedly abused his home internet privileges (porn) so he lost them. He can use the wi-fi other places but not at home. Those are the rules. He's cool with it, because he knows why it needs to be that way. If he's going to look for porn, it's not going to be on our account.
Kids expect to be given too much these days. You do not need a smartphone to be a healthy, happy, successful kid. That's ridiculous.
I don't understand why parents feel the need to pay for these expensive smartphones and data plans and such for their kids. You're just inviting all kinds of heartaches, issues, and problems into your home and lives. Not to mention the expense of it!
Our kids have had cellphones since 1st grade, but we've never provided them with a data plan. Text and talk is all they need.
Our oldest son finally got a smartphone recently, but even he doesn't have the full-fledged data plan - he can only email, text, and talk. That's all he needs. He can take photos and videos, but he cannot send or receive them. And he cannot download apps or browse the internet or anything like that.
He recently bought himself an itouch, but we do not allow him to access the home wi-fi with it. In the past, he repeatedly abused his home internet privileges (porn) so he lost them. He can use the wi-fi other places but not at home. Those are the rules. He's cool with it, because he knows why it needs to be that way. If he's going to look for porn, it's not going to be on our account.
Kids expect to be given too much these days. You do not need a smartphone to be a healthy, happy, successful kid. That's ridiculous.
You don't need a computer to be a health,happy,successful kid.
You don't need a tv in your room to be a healthy,happy,successful kid.
You don't need a phone in your room to be a healthy,happy,successful kid.
See where i am going with all of this? Life is full of things people don't really need but have anyway to enjoy. There is nothing wrong with a child pitching in to pay for a smart phone if that's what they want to. You can also get around the data plan by sucking off of wifi which outside of the house a lot of places offer for free. Plus there are simple apps to freely text with as well.
Are you kidding me? The average age a child is exposed to hardcore pornography is between age 8-11 now. It's not just naked photos as in playboy in the 50s. It's hardcore, explicit sex acts. There is also research to support that early and frequent exposure to this sort of pornography affects brain function and really causes psychological damage. Protect your sons and daughters from learning that women are disposable sex specimens. Don't let them become jaded adults that can't achieve relationships with actual women because their bodies aren't perfect and don't perform the way porn stars do. Pornography is harmful and if you feel your 12 year old MUST have a smartphone or Internet device then protect it somehow
I don't understand why parents feel the need to pay for these expensive smartphones and data plans and such for their kids. You're just inviting all kinds of heartaches, issues, and problems into your home and lives. Not to mention the expense of it!
Our kids have had cellphones since 1st grade, but we've never provided them with a data plan. Text and talk is all they need.
Our oldest son finally got a smartphone recently, but even he doesn't have the full-fledged data plan - he can only email, text, and talk. That's all he needs. He can take photos and videos, but he cannot send or receive them. And he cannot download apps or browse the internet or anything like that.
He recently bought himself an itouch, but we do not allow him to access the home wi-fi with it. In the past, he repeatedly abused his home internet privileges (porn) so he lost them. He can use the wi-fi other places but not at home. Those are the rules. He's cool with it, because he knows why it needs to be that way. If he's going to look for porn, it's not going to be on our account.
Kids expect to be given too much these days. You do not need a smartphone to be a healthy, happy, successful kid. That's ridiculous.
I love this post becasue you criticize other people and the technology on the one hand while simultaneously showing that you aren't above any of it.
"I don't understand why parents do this! Sure, I do it too, BUT....". HAHA.
I don't understand why parents feel the need to pay for these expensive smartphones and data plans and such for their kids. You're just inviting all kinds of heartaches, issues, and problems into your home and lives. Not to mention the expense of it!
Our kids have had cellphones since 1st grade, but we've never provided them with a data plan. Text and talk is all they need.
One thought I had was the use of the contact list, calendar and task list. Managing home work assignments, etc.. I was actually thinking of it next year when my son goes to middle school. But he will be receiving an iPad from school so does not need one.
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Our oldest son finally got a smartphone recently, but even he doesn't have the full-fledged data plan - he can only email, text, and talk. That's all he needs. He can take photos and videos, but he cannot send or receive them. And he cannot download apps or browse the internet or anything like that.
He recently bought himself an itouch, but we do not allow him to access the home wi-fi with it. In the past, he repeatedly abused his home internet privileges (porn) so he lost them. He can use the wi-fi other places but not at home. Those are the rules.
Those are good rules! If you cannot use the tool appropriately, you cannot use the tool, the tool in this case being connectivity.
Quote:
He's cool with it, because he knows why it needs to be that way. If he's going to look for porn, it's not going to be on our account.
Kids expect to be given too much these days. You do not need a smartphone to be a healthy, happy, successful kid. That's ridiculous.
Yah they don't *need* it. But it is a tool. If it is a tool that will help them organize themselves, I would consider it. I know I don't ever want to go back to a paper Day Runner!
You don't need a computer to be a health,happy,successful kid.
You don't need a tv in your room to be a healthy,happy,successful kid.
I am adamant on this one. No way will the kids have a tv in their room. I used to know why I felt that way. Now I cannot remember. Why is it important for a kid to have a tv in their room? What little tv we watch, we tend to watch together.
One thought I had was the use of the contact list, calendar and task list. Managing home work assignments, etc.. I was actually thinking of it next year when my son goes to middle school. But he will be receiving an iPad from school so does not need one.
Those are good rules! If you cannot use the tool appropriately, you cannot use the tool, the tool in this case being connectivity.
Yah they don't *need* it. But it is a tool. If it is a tool that will help them organize themselves, I would consider it. I know I don't ever want to go back to a paper Day Runner!
I am adamant on this one. No way will the kids have a tv in their room. I used to know why I felt that way. Now I cannot remember. Why is it important for a kid to have a tv in their room? What little tv we watch, we tend to watch together.
Oh there is nothing wrong with that, i was just using it as an example of pointless crap parents allow kids to do that serves nothing is all. We never did growing up because our parents attributed it to kids wanting to spend every ounce of the day in their room doing nothing. Which is probably why till this day i watch barely any tv at all.
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