teens WITHOUT cell phones, email

[DeniseinNS]

seriously? 10 year olds? I don't think I'm that far out of the loop (DD is 10, I'm a girl scout leader and Sunday school director, know just a few kids there). I don't think I know any 10 year olds with a cell phone? Yikes!

For what it's worth, I don't have texting or internet on my cell phone either. Really only have it for emergencies.

I only use my phone for emergencies too. And I also don't know ANY 10 year olds with a cell phone. My daughter is almost 9 and non of her friends or kids she knows a year or two older have a cell phone.

 

[disneyjunkie]

This is SO ridiculous and what is wrong with kids today

I let my kid use my cell when he started driving at 16-he got his own at 161/2.
There is no way a 10 year old HAS to have a cell.

Many kids here have cell phones to keep in touch with parents while traveling to/from school. The vast majority of kids in NYC do not use school buses. They use public transportation (buses and subways).

It's very common to see elementary and new middle school kids talking to their parents when they get on the bus or train. "We just got on the bus. I'll call when we get to the house."

 

[MichelleVW]

I thinking cell phones are fine to have, if they are used in moderation, when my kids get to the teen year I will let her take one of our cell phones if they are going out and needs to get ahold of us, we do not text so it will be for phone use only. I would consider getting them a basic phone when they get older (14-15) but if they want a phone with texting they will have to pay for that on their own because I don't feel that it's a "need". IMO 11 is way too young to have their own phone.

Texting seems to be taking over and I feel like it's really getting out of control with how many people are obsessed with it. The majority of people I work with cannot put their phone away long enough to work even a 3 hour shift so they are constantly hiding off in a corner texting when they should be doing their jobs. I know of so many teens that text constantly and cannot put it down even to have a dinner with their families. It's ok in moderation but thousands of texts a month is nuts.

Lol...I learned a long time ago as a parent never to say never. Texting is an awesome form of communication between my DD's and I. It's great if they are out and you just want to know where they are, or when they will be home without bothering them with a phone call. I will just send a text that says, "ETA" and the girls will send me back a text of the approximate time they are coming home. Way easier and less intrusive on their teen lives than having to answer a phone call from mom when they are out on a date or out with friends.

My dd's use thousands of texts a month, but you would never know it if you were around her...I honestly don't know how she fits them all in but it's not non stop texting..

 

[luvsJack]

My kids do have phones and text, but we must be living in an alternate universe, none of my kids activites use texting for anything, they do e mail but not text. I think I like where I live more and more. I hate texting, JMHO. /thank goodness my kids aren't that fond of it either. But they do love their phones, and so do I. It makes it so much easier to get in touch with them if I need to or if they need me.

When we first started experiencing so many coaches, teachers, leaders, etc. texting; I didn't like it either. But now, I do. For instance her softball coach can send me a text during the day while I am at work or to dd's phone while she is at school and we will get the message when we are able to get to our phones. We don't have to worry about missing the call. Some of the parents who don't have text complain that they don't get the messages that have been left on voice mail or with whomever answers the phone.

Same with show choir. If the person over fund raisers want's to send out a "PLEASE COME HELP AT THE BAKE SALE" to all the parents, she sends it one time. Those of us that can just respond. She knows right away who can be there.

With everyone being so busy, its the easiest way for larger groups like that to communicate.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

My 10 year old daughter was one of the LAST kids in her 5th grade class to get a cell phone---I don't know where you all live but here it is very common for almost all 10 year olds to have cells! As far as email addesses my daughter has one of those too- her teacher emails her through that email address--why would I want to have to read the email, go get her and have her come and answer it on my computer and my account? She also writes back and forth to 2 of her teachers that she had in the grade school she went to last year on her own email.
And as far as the cell phone goes- I LOVE LOVE LOVE that she has one and carrys it... she will call or text when she rides her bike to a friends house and gets where she is going. If she goes to the park she will call when she gets there and when she is leaving for home. If she and a friend get dropped off at the movies she will call when its over to get picked up etc.....that cell phone is as much for me as it is for her! If drama club practice is running late at school she will call me to pick her up at 5 rather than 4 so I don't have to sit there for an hour waiting...its great!!!

I live in a small suburb outside of Montgomery, Alabama, and I don't know any 10 or 11 year olds that have cell phones or email accounts. My kids are in 3rd, 4th, 5th and 8th grade and none of their teachers email them anything from school. Also, for the record, I never said I was "against" cell phones or email, it's just not something that has really come up or that we have had a use for yet. Note, I said yet. As for the others saying that kids are left out and aren't invited to social events, that hasn't been an issue either. I don't know what kind of large social network others kids are involved in, maybe it is a regional difference, but they each have a few close friends at school and church and that's about it. There isn't really any "important, last minute social events," they are children and usually make plans or talk about doing something with their friends at school and then the Moms still touch base about carpooling and such. Even my 14 year old doesn't exactly have a huge social calendar. She occasionally will go to the movies or go over to someone eles's house and that's about it. I drive them and pick them up from school and all of their after-school activites and they have NEVER had to borrow another child's phone - that has never in any way been an issue. My 14 year old has recently said she might like to get a phone and said she is putting it on her Christmas list. My DH and I talked about it and we plan on getting her one for Christmas. I think we, and she, view it as more of a fun item than an absolute necessity.

Also, I don't really understand the flack and nastiness claiming that people who don't give their children cell phones or email are somehow depriving them. I can assure you that my kids are not deprived. This is just the norm in our community. There are a lot of kids here that are high school age and/or driving age before they get cell phones. It's not that big of a deal. Having a couple of years in high school to familiarize yourself with technology is plenty of time to be prepared for college.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

My kids do have phones and text, but we must be living in an alternate universe, none of my kids activites use texting for anything, they do e mail but not text. I think I like where I live more and more. I hate texting, JMHO. /thank goodness my kids aren't that fond of it either. But they do love their phones, and so do I. It makes it so much easier to get in touch with them if I need to or if they need me.

I agree with this. None of our kids activities leaders text me. My oldest daughter's Sunday School teacher will send out an overview of her lessons once a month and I just print them out and leave them on my daughter's desk. I do get emails from the kid's schools occasionally, but they are addressed to me, not the kids. I also don't really text. Again, I'm not against it, but why text back and forth, when I can just call someone?

 

[disykat]

Also, I don't really understand the flack and nastiness claiming that people who don't give their children cell phones or email are somehow depriving them.

What? There's no judgement on this thread!

 

[Michelle and crew]

I find calling to be intrusive. A text is quick and can often be read and answered in 5 seconds. Many people I know have cancelled their landlines and I hate calling and getting them in inconvenient places.

 

[KimR]

I agree with this. None of our kids activities leaders text me. My oldest daughter's Sunday School teacher will send out an overview of her lessons once a month and I just print them out and leave them on my daughter's desk. I do get emails from the kid's schools occasionally, but they are addressed to me, not the kids. I also don't really text. Again, I'm not against it, but why text back and forth, when I can just call someone?

Texting comes in very handy for me when I'm somewhere with a lot of background noise and can't hear on the phone. Similarly, if I'm around other people, I can have a 'private' conversation via text without disturbing others. And often, I actually find it faster than calling, having the phone on the other end ring several times, listening to a recorded greeting, then finally leaving my voice message. Especially since DH rarely answers his phone anyway.

 

[Scurvy]

This is SO ridiculous and what is wrong with kids today
I let my kid use my cell when he started driving at 16-he got his own at 161/2.
There is no way a 10 year old HAS to have a cell.

Are you really saying that the fact that 10 year olds have phones is what's wrong with kids today? I don't understand that. I think there are all sorts of things wrong with kids today (or at least some of them) but I can't at all see what phones have to do with any of it. Could you explain what you mean?

As for whether a 10 year old HAS to have a cell - well, I guess that probably depends on the circumstances. If my child was walking home to an emply house with no land line every day, you better believe I would think he HAD to have a cell. If he just wanted to be able to call his friends all the time, then no I don't think he'd have to have one. But then, why does it matter if they HAVE to have cell phones. Kids - and adults - have plenty of things they don't need to have. If it makes them happy or if their parents find it useful for the 10 year old to have a cell phone, then is there any good reason why they shouldn't have one, whether they need it or not?

 

[KimR]

Are you really saying that the fact that 10 year olds have phones is what's wrong with kids today? I don't understand that. I think there are all sorts of things wrong with kids today (or at least some of them) but I can't at all see what phones have to do with any of it. Could you explain what you mean?

That's how they keep in contact with their drug dealers, obviously.

 

[Scurvy]

That's how they keep in contact with their drug dealers, obviously.

Silly me, I can't believe I didn't think of that!

 

[Michelle and crew]

Are you really saying that the fact that 10 year olds have phones is what's wrong with kids today? I don't understand that. I think there are all sorts of things wrong with kids today (or at least some of them) but I can't at all see what phones have to do with any of it. Could you explain what you mean?

As for whether a 10 year old HAS to have a cell - well, I guess that probably depends on the circumstances. If my child was walking home to an emply house with no land line every day, you better believe I would think he HAD to have a cell. If he just wanted to be able to call his friends all the time, then no I don't think he'd have to have one. But then, why does it matter if they HAVE to have cell phones. Kids - and adults - have plenty of things they don't need to have. If it makes them happy or if their parents find it useful for the 10 year old to have a cell phone, then is there any good reason why they shouldn't have one, whether they need it or not?

I don't think there is anything wrong with kids today. I know a lot of awesome kids. Some people can't understand the attachment to computers, but that poster seems to have mastered them. What is wrong with people today?!

It is the snobby attitude on either side that makes this another battle in the mommy wars. Pathetic.

 

[Disneyadore]

That's how they keep in contact with their drug dealers, obviously.

You are speaking with experience I guess?

 

[allison443]

This is SO ridiculous and what is wrong with kids today

Wait, I thought what was wrong with kids today was that they all received participation trophies for every activity?

Or what was wrong with kids today was that they are treated like special snowflakes?

Or aren't given consequences for their actions?

Or have helicopter parents and aren't allowed to be free-range kids?

All these contradictory threads....the disboards are so confusing!

(Just couldn't resist, Mimi!)

 

[RockAndRollBallerina]

Texting seems to be taking over and I feel like it's really getting out of control with how many people are obsessed with it. The majority of people I work with cannot put their phone away long enough to work even a 3 hour shift so they are constantly hiding off in a corner texting when they should be doing their jobs. I know of so many teens that text constantly and cannot put it down even to have a dinner with their families. It's ok in moderation but thousands of texts a month is nuts.

I couldn't agree more with this post. It has gotten out of hand...Majorly. Cell phones were a great thing when they first came out and were simply a phone you could take out of the house for the convenience of being able to be reached when you were out and about.

Now days, cell phones are not exactly what I would call a phone for 99.9% of the people who have them. For that percentage of people its a social networking device, and I say that because all they are doing is texting on it, and maybe making an actual phone call once a week.

It never ceases to amaze me whenever my sister has friends over and the room is dead silent because instead of opening up their mouths to talk, they are sitting around and texting each other. Someone try to convince me that is not a communication breakdown.

Its absurd how people are attached to their phones to the point where they only text on them, and cant even get on it to make a phone call to the person on a weekend or weekday, the same person they had been sending texts to for well over an hour, and go and have lunch or something to actually talk to that person face to face.

 

[MamaLema]

DS is 14 and doesn't have a cell phone or email. He has no interest and I'm pretty happy about that because we can't really afford those extras right now.

I do feel bad sometimes because it seems every teenager has cell phones these days. He doesn't want one though.

 

[robinb]

That's how they keep in contact with their drug dealers, obviously.

Oh crap. Gotta check my 11-year old's contact list when she gets home.

 

[allison443]

I don't think there is anything wrong with kids today. I know a lot of awesome kids. Some people can't understand the attachment to computers, but that poster seems to have mastered them. What is wrong with people today?!

It is the snobby attitude on either side that makes this another battle in the mommy wars. Pathetic.

Me too (to the bolded)!!

 

[mhsjax]

I find calling to be intrusive. A text is quick and can often be read and answered in 5 seconds. Many people I know have cancelled their landlines and I hate calling and getting them in inconvenient places.

Like I said, I text people when I know they are at work. I won't cancel my landline and neither will anyone else in my area, because in our specific neighborhood reception sucks. A text sent to me, maybe be read 5 hours later, never 5 second much less a response, I refuse to tote my phone around the house when I am here just incase I need to see a text. If I don't want to answer the phone, then I don't and they can leave a message. To each there own. I don't like texting, never will. My kids doa little but they don't need to, we still knock on doors around here. And my DD best friend will still call my house and ask to speak to her. I don't mind at all, DD still has to clear it with me if they make plans so why not just call and talk. Anyway, no biggie, text or don't text, but I won't be.