In this age of instant contact and a desire for the safety of your children, I can understand the need for parents to give their children a cell phone. But, I think it's gone too far, especially when children as young as 8 years old have their own phone with texting capabilities. I could go on and on about my opinions in this matter, but the reason for this post is to give an alternative to each child in your family having their own cell phone.
In our family, Mom and Dad have their own phones and for the children we have family phones. The family phones can be checked out with permission, to take on dates, dances, out with friends, to the store, etc. This provides a phone for the child for safety issues and ease of communication. Yet, it limits the extreme use of texting, gaming and talking on the phone. A certain child never has a certain phone, preventing the "girl that calls all the time" from getting to your son; rather, half the time little sister will answer instead. Parents are able to better monitor calls that are coming and going. Texting is not on our family communication plan.
No, this method may not be for everyone, but it keeps the phone for the purpose it was intended - a tool for proper communication, not a toy for fun and games. There is enough media distraction in our children's lives already. Let's not add more complication to the mix.
More to come, but until then - Stick-to-it!
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