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Parenting & Farm Kids:  Cell phone age  |
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hwright95
True Blue Farmgirl
90 Posts
Heather
Murfreesboro
TN
USA
90 Posts |
 Posted - Oct 28 2012 : 4:39:08 PM
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Hi,I was just wanting some opinions from other moms on here.If your kids have cell phones, why did you let them have one, and at what age? If they don't what are your reasons for not? My girls are 8,11, and 12. They don't have phones but it seems like every child their age has one.
Heather Wright~ Farmgirl Sister #2187 Plant your own garden and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers. ~Veronica A. Shoffstall
www.vintagekarmajewels.com |
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City Chick
True Blue Farmgirl
1402 Posts
Deb
Chattanooga
TN
USA
1402 Posts |
Posted - Oct 29 2012 : 07:39:49 AM
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My girls are 14 & 11. The 11 yo got hers last year and the 14 yo was 11 (if I remember correctly.)
They have the pay-as-you-go phones. When they had a paper route, they paid for their own phone cards. now I do - in exchange for chores. 
We were hesitant at first. Didn't want them to abuse them. We had some issues that we quickly fixed. My girls are not ones to sit and talk on the phone (I wonder if kids still do that?) They do text but mostly on their Ipod touches. I like being able to text them when to come home for dinner or they can get a hold of me if they need to be picked up from somewhere.
We sat down and gave them rules for the phones. You never text anything that you would say to a person face to face. Never, ever text pictures of yourself or anyone. Phones go on the charger at night. Ipods go with Mom at 9pm. No phones or Ipods at the dinner table or camping.
I would sit with your children and find out what they would do with a phone. Is it in the budget? Will they contribute to the phone bill?
Good luck. It's a big step to take.
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My new blog - http://citychickadventures.blogspot.com/ Come visit me!
Farm Girl #790
http://pinterest.com/debbie_s/
https://twitter.com/EllieFunt
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FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader
4928 Posts
USA
4928 Posts |
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hwright95
True Blue Farmgirl
90 Posts
Heather
Murfreesboro
TN
USA
90 Posts |
Posted - Oct 29 2012 : 4:44:49 PM
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I like the idea of a float phone when they need it! good idea!
Heather Wright~ Farmgirl Sister #2187 Plant your own garden and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers. ~Veronica A. Shoffstall
www.vintagekarmajewels.com |
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texdane
Farmgirl Legend Chapter Leader Chapter Guru
4658 Posts
Nicole
Sandy Hook
CT
USA
4658 Posts |
Posted - Oct 31 2012 : 4:10:00 PM
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I was against it at a young age until recently. My dd is ten, in fifth grade. She is always going places now, and most recently, it would have been helpful when her bus was late and in an accident. I was scared to death. It would have been nice if she could call me and tell me what was happening.
We are looking into it. We will be laying down and adhering to rules. She won't be able to talk on it all the time without headphones, either. But it is a different world than before. She has had an IPod touch for three years so I have seen her follow the rules.
When she becomes a teen, I will expect her to help with the bill. For now, she will have to earn it doing chores, etc.
Nicole
Farmgirl Sister #1155
KNITTER, JAM-MAKER AND MOM EXTRAORDINAIRE
Chapter Leader, Connecticut Simpler Life Sisters
Suburban Farmgirl Blogger
http://sfgblog.maryjanesfarm.org/ |
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YakLady
True Blue Farmgirl
652 Posts
Natalie
Montana
USA
652 Posts |
Posted - Oct 31 2012 : 9:16:25 PM
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I don't have kids of age (Ty is almost one, though!) But when I started as a Freshman in high school, my parents got me a phone because it was a private school and pretty far from my house (20 miles or so). They wanted me to have a phone in case anything came up where I needed the other parent to pick me up or something. Ty won't get a phone. There is no cell service here!
~Hen 4316~ Just a farmgirl in Western Montana.
Starting a family and raising up a small ranch using natural resources.
www.mydoterra.com/thurman |
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
Posted - Nov 01 2012 : 3:06:06 PM
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For me it will be quite a while. Mine are 6, 2 and 1. However, when the day comes that they need one (I'm thinking if/when they can drive on their own and won't be with me most the time). I would do one that can only text/call 4 people and 911. You program it for the 4 people-mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, and 911. Cause personally I don't see a need to use a cell phone/texting friends! They can use the house phone for that, or wait till they see their friends again. Or wait till they are old enough to pay for their own phone.
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
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sjmjgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
566 Posts
Stephanie
Mt. Vernon
Iowa
USA
566 Posts |
Posted - Nov 04 2012 : 08:04:50 AM
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I am considering a phone for my son,too. I have decided that it will be for when he's out at activities only. The rest of the time it will be with me. No texting or photo sharing allowed. Seems like yesterday we were bringing him home from the hospital...lol!
Farmgirl Sister # 3810
Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.
- Dalai Lama
April is Autism Awareness month. Autism affects 1 in 88 children (1 in 54 boys, including my son). Go to http://www.autismspeaks.org/ to learn more and help Light It Up Blue on April 2nd!
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Joey
True Blue Farmgirl
1868 Posts
Joey
Gulf Coast
FL
USA
1868 Posts |
Posted - Nov 28 2012 : 09:01:03 AM
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I know y'all will think I am crazy but my grandgirl has had a phone since she was 4 yrs old. It was one of the ones that could only get 4 numbers. They live on a big farm and she was often there alone with her Dad. I wanted her to be able to get help in an emergency. She has always used her phone responsibly and now has a "real" phone. She is 11. She will occasionally text but has always followed the rules. I don't believe, in general, that young kids should have phones but I think it depends on the kid. Her 5 yr old sister does not have a phone but she is never alone at the farm and is not that kind of kid. She is very chatty and will probably be in middle school before she gets one. Joey
Well behaved women rarely make history. |
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SarahJ
True Blue Farmgirl
198 Posts
Shreveport
Louisiana
198 Posts |
Posted - Dec 03 2012 : 12:28:55 PM
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My oldest is 10, and my youngest is 8 (both boys). My mom tried to get them a phone for their birthday, but I put my foot down. They won't get a phone until my husband and I think they need one. Phones are both expensive and a responsibility. Until they care enough about it to earn some of it on their own, they aren;t getting one.
SarahJ
Farmgirl Sister #116
http://bayoumama.wordpress.com/ |
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Parenting & Farm Kids: Cell phone age |
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Cell phone age
