Paying for Kids' Unlimited Texting

[Tigger&Belle]

We do text a lot in my family and have unlimited texting--it works for us and makes it easier to stay in touch when we're not able to call or the other person isn't able to receive a call. I much prefer that to someone leaving a voicemail. There are times, though, that I text with others and wonder why we don't just pick up the phone. Sometimes it's me and sometimes it's them, but why send out a zillion texts when a phone call would be so much easier.

I don't really worry about what other families are doing as far as these kinds of things. I have confidence that they will do what works for them in their situation.

 

[Momvic5]

I'd be mad too, that girl is still part of a team and regardless of how convenient a type of communication is, if someone on trhe team doesn't use it (for whatever reason they choose not to) then there should still be some form of communication used for them.
There's no reason to not text some of the girls or their parents, however the mom of that girl should be recieving a phone call, an email or a printed letter.



My dd's best friend just got texting priveledges yesterday and I think she has sent dd about 100 texts already. The first one started at 8:30 this morning It got to the point that dd just turned her phone off

My family started texting yesterday....I must admit we went crazy too. Of course, we were just texting eachother. We had lots of fun with it.

My son's high school football coaches prefer to communicate through texting, but they do not require it. At first, we were against it, but after a few out of town games that had last minute field changes, we quickly changed our minds. They sent out emails, but the changes were so last minute that no one was able to check their emails. Most of us were already on the road to our destination. Those who had texting got the messages immediately. Thus today, we have texting!

 

[golfgal]

My family started texting yesterday....I must admit we went crazy too. Of course, we were just texting eachother. We had lots of fun with it.

My son's high school football coaches prefer to communicate through texting, but they do not require it. At first, we were against it, but after a few out of town games that had last minute field changes, we quickly changed our minds. They sent out emails, but the changes were so last minute that no one was able to check their emails. Most of us were already on the road to our destination. Those who had texting got the messages immediately. Thus today, we have texting!

Exactly, the phone messages and emails home only work if you are HOME. The girl doesn't have a cell phone at all so even messages there don't help. The only option is a phone call home but if they aren't home to get it, they miss out. Each section has a Facebook page too and they do a lot of planning on that-but again, she can't have that either.

 

[NotUrsula]

Exactly, the phone messages and emails home only work if you are HOME. The girl doesn't have a cell phone at all so even messages there don't help. The only option is a phone call home but if they aren't home to get it, they miss out. Each section has a Facebook page too and they do a lot of planning on that-but again, she can't have that either.

I've got to say that I *HATE* organizations that try to use Facebook as a meeting-planning tool. It is banned in an awful lot of workplaces. I've quit professional committees over this -- if you are determined to use FB to communicate, you've essentially locked out half the profession. And no, I'm not going to do all of my committee work at home after hours, and it is ridiculous to expect me to do so.

 

[golfgal]

I've got to say that I *HATE* organizations that try to use Facebook as a meeting-planning tool. It is banned in an awful lot of workplaces. I've quit professional committees over this -- if you are determined to use FB to communicate, you've essentially locked out half the profession. And no, I'm not going to do all of my committee work at home after hours, and it is ridiculous to expect me to do so.

These are HIGH SCHOOL kids, not working professionals. They also have the option of cell phones but once again, this girl isn't allowed either.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

Most of the folks I know who fall into the bolded category are not so much paying for unlimited texting as they are paying for a "hot" phone model (or one that was "hot" when they got it) and having no choice but to pay for the contract plan that it requires. And yes, the texting option is often an add-on, but very often the person is not really phone-service-savvy and got talked into signing on the dotted line without realizing that it was an option that could be dropped. Pre-paid phones are an excellent option for the cash-strapped, but the reality is that they are such a small part of the US market that the majority of consumers don't know that they exist, or go with the contract plans anyway because the pre-paids don't offer the most popular phone models.

I agree on the business of the texting-for-activities, but it is becoming common policy for extracurricular activities at affluent schools. If you are the poor-kid-out who doesn't have a cell phone or home internet service, you are essentially screwed. I don't see these kinds of practices at schools that have a high percentage of FRL-eligible kids.

I work in a Title 1 school, and I was going to say the opposite. Most of my low income families, and especially the deep poverty families on TANF have the cheapest pay as you go phone they can get, with the cheapest plan possible. Often those plans are like the one my son has, 300 minutes and unlimited texting for $25. Most families also don't have home phones, their pay as you go phone is all they have.

 

[phorsenuf]

We have 5 phones on our plan. Myself, my husband and my 3 boys 23, 20 and 18. We have unlimited text. Good thing. Last month we had 3,754 texts between us all. It would have been more but my oldest son was a camp counselor and had very crappy reception at camp (and not much down time).

 

[goofy!]

As of yesterday, we are a texting family. My ds14 got his first cell phone, and we decided to add texting for the family. Up until recently, we rarely used our cell phones...we have a crazy amount of roll over minutes!! This year, my ds14 is a freshman and is playing football. The coaches prefer to communicate through texting...they do not require it, but they prefer it. After a few out of town games and missed messages, we decided we needed to step out of the dinosaur age and try texting. After just one day, we are loving it. Yes, you can live without it, but it sure is nice.

That is the way our kids' sports work.

I have two kids that are in a year round sport that requires out of state travel. When we are at an out-of-state competition, we have over 200 athletes from our gym alone and with their parents and siblings, over 600 people. Our athletes are NOT allowed cell phones on their person at any time by our gym (too much drama) and since parents are required to chaperon their kids, they become the go-to people for communication.

It is also a sport where last minute changes occur and quick communication is essential. There is absolutely no way the gym could call 400 parents in 10 minutes. The owners of the gym text the team moms with the changes and then the team moms send out a mass text to the parents of their team.

It is a wonderful system, but you need to have texting for at least the 5 days were are at a competition.

 

[mhsjax]

And just what did teams and bands do before texting? I know it is convenient, but it isn't a requirement, so they should have another system.

This is what ticks me off about technology. And don't even get me started on facebook, I finally signed up for it, what a joke. I look at it about once every other day. And I may or may not want my kids to have a Facebook acct, my DD does have one, but I told her that I may cancel it at any time.

 

[golfgal]

And just what did teams and bands do before texting? I know it is convenient, but it isn't a requirement, so they should have another system.

This is what ticks me off about technology. And don't even get me started on facebook, I finally signed up for it, what a joke. I look at it about once every other day. And I may or may not want my kids to have a Facebook acct, my DD does have one, but I told her that I may cancel it at any time.

They did other stuff and there were issues with that too. I remember the days of "calling trees" where one person was a contact person and would call the next and that person would call the next. Those were a pain in the rear and someone always missed the info because one person in the chain either didn't call or wasn't home to get the info. No system is perfect but if you choose not to participate in the system you also give up the right to get mad about not getting the info too.

 

[mhsjax]

They did other stuff and there were issues with that too. I remember the days of "calling trees" where one person was a contact person and would call the next and that person would call the next. Those were a pain in the rear and someone always missed the info because one person in the chain either didn't call or wasn't home to get the info. No system is perfect but if you choose not to participate in the system you also give up the right to get mad about not getting the info too.

Than they should make it a requirement to be involved in these activities. I have received messages via texting in regards sports, but it is very rare. Usually it is an e-mail. LIke I said, it should be made mandatory if most of the info goes out like this. Or at least be warned that you may miss important detail and you shouldn't get your panties in a wad if you miss them.

Really I wasn't talking about you r particular person, she should know that this is how info gets out. I just think it is a shame that maybe there is someone that for whatever reason doesn't have a phone and they may miss something. I hate to punish the child because the parents won't or can't get a cell phone.

 

[golfgal]

Than they should make it a requirement to be involved in these activities. I have received messages via texting in regards sports, but it is very rare. Usually it is an e-mail. LIke I said, it should be made mandatory if most of the info goes out like this.

It is the kids arranging the sectionals, thus the text messages. The major communications from the band directors do come through email but then you get the parents that "never check" their emails and miss stuff too. There is no perfect solution. Again, it isn't about the texting, it is about the mom getting mad that her DD misses information when the MOM is preventing that from happening. Also, as far as I know she is the ONLY one in the band that doesn't have a cell phone. It hasn't been an issue for anyone else in the 5 years we have been involved with the band.

 

[golfgal]

Than they should make it a requirement to be involved in these activities. I have received messages via texting in regards sports, but it is very rare. Usually it is an e-mail. LIke I said, it should be made mandatory if most of the info goes out like this. Or at least be warned that you may miss important detail and you shouldn't get your panties in a wad if you miss them.

Really I wasn't talking about you r particular person, she should know that this is how info gets out. I just think it is a shame that maybe there is someone that for whatever reason doesn't have a phone and they may miss something. I hate to punish the child because the parents won't or can't get a cell phone.

Then, honestly, the child should find someone with a cell phone and make arrangements for that person to keep her informed. She plays a different instrument then our kids do otherwise we would be happy to help but we don't know when her sectionals, etc. are.

 

[snykymom]

You're all assuming that the "only" way the information is given to the child without texting is via text. How much would you be willing to bet that the kid is also told the information, and then either doesn't remember it or doesn't bother telling her parents about it? The other kids know it because it's in writing! I know that my d forwards texts that I need to know about. But if she doesn't, or (when in high school) she was given a flyer with info, I often didn't get it!

 

[SaraJayne]

I have US Cellular with 5 of us on a family plan. It's $20/mo for unlimited texting for all 5 of us.

I just stopped at US Cellular a couple days ago and asked about adding unlimited texting to our plan. They told me $30 for unlimited texting on the family plan.

 

[disney1990]

So, why is it I see families that can hardly put food on their tables but manage to pay for their kids' unlimited texting?
I feel it's really an unnecessary expense. My husband and I do not text but our daughters do. We spend about $30 extra to have my 17 yo on the plan. I make her pay $5/mo to have up to 5000 texts.
Of course now my 13 yo wants unlimited texting. She has a Tracfone now. I told her at Christmas we will put her on our plan.
It's just crazy! I honestly thought a couple times to put myself on a texting plan because I can get ahold of them quicker by texting.
Is there a cheaper plan out there? We have Verizon.

Well, if your 17 year old goes away to college, you are going to wish you had texting and that you texted yourself. This is the major way that we communicate with our daughter who is away at school. There was an article the other day about how kids (up to about 30) don't talk on the telephone and how they consider it in intrusion in somebody's life. They will send a text to ask, do you mind if I give you call tonight. Just like we were different than our parents, our children are different too.

Colleges today use text messages as a way to inform the students of events on campus such as shootings or other scary things. It is a necessity today.

 

[goofy!]

Than they should make it a requirement to be involved in these activities. I have received messages via texting in regards sports, but it is very rare. Usually it is an e-mail. LIke I said, it should be made mandatory if most of the info goes out like this. Or at least be warned that you may miss important detail and you shouldn't get your panties in a wad if you miss them.

Really I wasn't talking about you r particular person, she should know that this is how info gets out. I just think it is a shame that maybe there is someone that for whatever reason doesn't have a phone and they may miss something. I hate to punish the child because the parents won't or can't get a cell phone.

In the example of our teams, we do have large parent meetings before we head out of town. It is explained very clearly how communication is going to work. So, in our case, the parents know several weeks before hand that they will need texting in some capacity before they get on the plane.

When we are not out of town, all communication is via e-mail. Either the info is in the e-mail, or there are instructions on where to find the info in the member's section of the website.

 

[disykat]

Somehow, my kids have made it through a collective three years of marching band without cell phones or facebook. Good grief! Obviously THAT is not the issue, if it is, the lady has a genuine beef.

 

[NotUrsula]

I work in a Title 1 school, and I was going to say the opposite. Most of my low income families, and especially the deep poverty families on TANF have the cheapest pay as you go phone they can get, with the cheapest plan possible. Often those plans are like the one my son has, 300 minutes and unlimited texting for $25. Most families also don't have home phones, their pay as you go phone is all they have.

Oh, you're correct, that is the most common option for prepaids these days, and I don't think there is any problem with that; $25 month is a reasonable price for phone service. (I think more than about $50/month is highway robbery, though.)

Prepaids actually do come even cheaper than that, but you have to dig deep to get information on the very lowest-priced plans now. I pay $80/yr for my service. For that I get my choice of about 2 hours a month of talk, or a couple of hundred messages a month, or about 15 mb of bandwidth, in whatever combination I choose to use them until the balance runs out. I think I've run through the minimum 90-day allowance and had to add money early all of twice in the 10 years I've had the service -- I'm just not much of a phone user, so this is the best option for me.

However, what I was really addressing was the OP's perception of the expense of the unlimited texting. That perception tends to come from the idea that you always have a contract, and that texting always adds additional charges to the contract. People who don't know much about the way prepaids and new plans commonly work now tend to see the unlimited texting and think $$$$. However, sometimes they are right, because people do foolishly sign wireless contracts that they really cannot afford. THOSE are the people who have messed-up priorities.

 

[Polyluvr]

we're w T-Mobile, 4 lines on plan and we pat 9.99 mo for unlimited txting.

We have been w them since 2003,and took the txting plan from them 5 years ago- they are charging 20 a month now for new customers- I'm glad we go grandfathered in @ the lower rate.