Kids and Cell Phones

[NotUrsula]

We are lucky enough to have both a landline and a mobile (but DD would have no idea how to use my mobile) and the emergency number is 999 but, as I say, not everyone has a landline.

I am *constantly* harping on the importance of teaching children how to make an emergency call on any phone that they have access to. Your children should be taught to call 911 (or 999, etc.) from your land line, your wireless phones (Mom's, Dad's, Grandma's, ...), and a public telephone, even from office telephones if your child often visits your office. I don't think that a child needs his/her OWN wireless phone to be able to use one to call for help in an emergency. As a backup, I also have the voice-dialing feature on our wireless phones programmed for 911 for DS' voice -- all he has to do is press the green button and say "Help!". I grew up in hurricane country, and we live in Tornado Alley now, so he also has been taught that if something bad happens to one of us when we are alone, and he cannot get the phone to work, he is to go to knock on neighbors' doors to get help, or go to the fire station at the end of the street.

Some local emergency dispatch offices have a practice setup where you can take children to a specified location and let them practice on phones that are programmed to actually call a different number when you dial 911; one that reaches a computer-generated Q&A that asks the child important questions, just as the emergency operator would. Many children's museums also have this kind of setup; I know that the Chicago Children's Museum at Navy Pier has it in their fire safety exhibit. My child has done it several times, with me and in Scouts, and our EMS service has taken a mobile practice kit to school, too.

 

[alisonbestford]

Some local emergency dispatch offices have a practice setup where you can take children to a specified location and let them practice on phones that are programmed to actually call a different number when you dial 911; one that reaches a computer-generated Q&A that asks the child important questions, just as the emergency operator would. Many children's museums also have this kind of setup; I know that the Chicago Children's Museum at Navy Pier has it in their fire safety exhibit. My child has done it several times, with me and in Scouts, and our EMS service has taken a mobile practice kit to school, too.

Wow, that sounds great
I'm not sure whether we have anything like that here, in the UK, but I'm going to have a look around - internet here I come

 

[mainewmn]

After many pleas and lots of begging from DS(15) he finally got his own cell phone for his birthday. We added him to our plan for only $10 a month and he shares our minutes. He wanted it mostly for convince and DH and I finally thought he was old enough to have one. SO far so good, he has been responsible with it and kept the use in check, the couple of times he did go over he made up by paying DH and I the "extra" charges he occurred on his phone. Of course as soon as DS(15) got his phone DS(13) wanted one too, he has been asking for one for many, many years and we always told him he was too young. DH had lots of discussions about if DS (13) really needed a phone and unlike his older brother we do NOT see a reason for him to have his own phone. He is allowed to bring our cell phones when he needs to and we always know where he is, also the times when he is not home or does not have one of our cell phones he is at location where I can call him or others call me. However do to his pleads we compromised on this by purchasing him a Tracfone for Christmas, which to me is nothing like a real cell phone. We made a deal with DS(13), use it for one year, be responsible with it, pay for your own minutes, don't loose it, etc, basically show me you can handle the responsibility and if you really need the cell phone and next year at this time we will reevaluate the "need" for cell phone. He was very happy with this agreement and promises to keep it up. I still don't see why he "needs" a cell phone, but this satisfied his "need" for the phone at this time. If he abuses it, it will stop working, if he looses it I only loose $50 I paid for the phone etc. etc. We had lots of discussions of what to do and what not to do with his cell phone, he was warned repeatedly by DH and I, that his first offense will be his last in abusing his cell phone and his cell phone "needs" will not be reevaluated till he turns 15 if he abuses it.

Oh by the way, both my boys are in Gifted and Talented programs and both play sports extensively and every time the need arise the teachers and/or coaches wore able to get a hold of me or DH on our phones.

 

[NotUrsula]

for Alisonbestford:

In the US, these special telephone devices are known as "911 simulators". You might try checking with the Red Cross about these; they often use them in their safety training programs here, and it wouldn't surprise me if they used something similar in the UK, too.

Portable 911 simulators cost about $2500, and it is a popular thing for private service clubs (like Kiwanis, etc.) to raise money to buy them for the local EMS services so that they can be taken round to schools.

 

[alisonbestford]

for Alisonbestford:

In the US, these special telephone devices are known as "911 simulators". You might try checking with the Red Cross about these; they often use them in their safety training programs here, and it wouldn't surprise me if they used something similar in the UK, too.

Portable 911 simulators cost about $2500, and it is a popular thing for private service clubs (like Kiwanis, etc.) to raise money to buy them for the local EMS services so that they can be taken round to schools.

Thank you. I'll look into it.
It's all very well DD knowing how to call etc but I'm pretty certain that she'll feel intimidated at not knowing what to expect at the other end of the call and be worrying about answering any questions all wrong''

 

[Blondiex46]

i finally broke down and bought my kids cell phones cause when they go out I can never find them, or when I want to know where they are I can never find them, so hopefully when I call they will answer. They wanted them and I thought maybe I could use them as a way of getting them to clean their rooms to buy the minutes, I only bought prepaid. Guess we will see

 

[sara74]

I understand a 6 yo being on the go all the time, and taking multiple classes. Our DD3.5 takes dance and swimming (and is she ever advanced too! ). We aren't allowed to watch dance most weeks so people do run to the store during class - it is right next door to the dance studio. However whenever one of us goes the others step in to offer to help the DD in question for potty trips, etc. I assume that there are other parents present at the cheerleading and gymnastics classes that could contact you? If it is a case of emergency then your DD would be in position to make a call herself, would she? Swim class is the same deal although fewer people seem comfortable leaving their kids in the pool to go work out.

Seems to me that I remember filling out emergency contact forms for all the classes we have taken.

I have to agree with many others that it sounds like a nice toy and if that is enough for you for a reason to get one, then get one. But if you think there is any other reason I think it is reaching for a justification for something that you want her to have.

 

[3kidsmommy]

I have read each post here with interest...my 10 year old 5th grade NORMAL!!! daughter just got a prepaid Tracfone a few months ago. My reasoning was simple. We do not have a land line anymore and she was racking up the minutes om dh's and my plan. I needed her to have a phone that she could use and be responsible for the minutes on. So---she got the phone, I paid for an initial 120 minutes on it. She has to do EXTRA chores to earn money for more minutes. In our house, all the children have chores to do that are because they are part of the family--it takes us all to keep things going. DD will have to do extra chores to earn money. She can also do other things as I ask to earn money. The children each get a small allowance a week that is tied in to behavior, chores, responsibility..etc. The amount was too small for getting cell minutes, so dh and I came up with a plan to help us out while helping her. So far, so good. She is NOT allowed to take it to school (and never once has), to dance (she shoudl be only focusing on dancing) or to church. She IS allowed to take it to friend's houses when she goes and to her birthdad's when she visits. As some of the other posters have said--I truly believe 6 is too young to NEED a cell phone--my dd wouldn't NEED one if we had a land line. At 10, I still take her everywhere, stay with her or have another responsible adult staying with her, and know she is safe where she is. I would never leave her alone yet. Too many scary things happen nowadays. I also have a 6 and 7 year old--neither of them will have phones until they are older--neither of them are allowed to USE the phone without supervision. One thing I hate is kids calling my house and playing on the phone--so no way will my kids do that!!!
To the OP--I never once thought anyone was saying you are a bad parent. I think that it was frustrating to you to see people disagreeing with your opinion. Some people don't agree that we got my dd a phone at 10. That is fine. They don't have to agree. Although I would never have gotten her one at 6, I feel it is important to say that you need to follow your instinct. I don't know your child, or you, and can't tell you what to do.