Does Your Child Have A Mobile/Cell Phone?

[Andry]

pmcleanj,

Couldn't agree with you more - we can relate! During business travel, my son will call and ask if I've had my Starbuck's latte yet! I so love hearing that from him.

As for living in Tsawwassen (which I assume you meant), been here 10 years, but grew up around Lower Mainland. Where are you abouts? BTW, they've just torn down the south campus of SDSS to make room for 30 houses.

 

[pmcleanj]

I'm in Alberta now. I left Tsawwassen in 1978, but I was back a couple of years ago to take my little prairie children to the sea-side. We stayed at the Beach Grove Motel, and walked down to Boundary Bay beach every day. They built sand-castles and collected jelly-fish and thought they were in heaven. It's built up a lot since my time, but that beach and the wildfowl sanctuary are still a natural treasure.

 

[LadyDJ]

My 10 year old has been asking when she will get a cell phone and my response is when she can afford it. What will probably happen is when she and her sister get to the teen years and are out with friends, like what was mentioned in a previous post, one of the 3 cell phones in the house will probably be loaned to them for checking in purposes.

They won't be allowed a computer in their room either, they will have to use the one computer and when and if my parents finally hook it up to the net, there will be a lot of monitoring going on. The girls were given a small TV/VCR combo one Christmas, but we ended up taking it out of their room for a variety of reasons, now it's only brought back in if one of them is home ill and stuck with bed rest.

 

[vanshan]

ATTENTION:

I read a study recently that states it is dangerous for children under the age of 16 to use cellular phones. The electomagnetic current that is emitted about 1 1/2 to 2 inches into your head when you are using the phone is not dangerous for adults but a child whose brain is still growing can later develop turmors.

I work at a major cell phone company and get unlimited phone usage, but I do not let my children use the phone at all.

 

[GinooKo]

Thanks for that warning Vanshan but is this at all times or use it in moderation? We don't have a long distance carrier and whenever we call long distance we use our cell phones. I let my children, 10 and 13 year old use cell phones for that purpose.

 

[lookinguptoo]

I think it depends on the circumstances. My children will not have cell phones unless I feel they are mature enough to use them only when necessary and if I felt there was a reason they needed them. For example, if I lived in an area where the crime rate was high and my children had to walk home from school (we don't have school buses where I live) then I would seriously consider buying them a cell phone. If I had a responsible daughter, and she went out on a date, I would probably send her with my cell phone so she could call me or the police if the guy got too fresh. I think just the threat of pulling out a phone can deter some smaller crimes. If they were going camping with friends, I might send them with my cell phone. So it really depends on the circumstances. Right now, I have a 5 year old and I am pregnant so circumstances are not calling for cell phones, but if I thought a cell phone could help my child or increase his safety in some way, I would not hesistate in buying one granted he used it wisely.

 

[katelyn]

My dad bought me a cell phone once I was old enough to drive, but it was for emergencies only (30 minutes per month). If I had wanted more than that, I suppose my dad would have said I could, as long as I paid for the difference. I also didn't have to pay for my car, but I needed to have a car to be able to have a job. Basically, I was always given what I needed and if I wanted anything extra, I had to work for it myself. I think it gave me a greater appreciation for the "extras" in my life, and also helped me to be responsible in my spending habits.

 

[Alessandra]

I know this is the parenst board, but I hope no one minds me posting here:

I have always been a rather spoilt child and I know that. I have had a television in my room since I was about 10 and have had a cell phone since I was 12 or so. The TV is simply because I was getting to an age where I wanted to watch different programs then my parents and I could watch them in my room. The Cell phone is for convience and being able to contact my parents. They pay they bill and I am responsible with it.