I have 3 boys , 10 , 8 and 2 .We got our 10 & 8 year old cell phones.The reason? Well the 10 year old has a 1.9 mile walk to school every day .They do not have a bus if you are within a 2 mile radies.The 8 year old is walking alone from his stop 8 looooong blocks.
At the same time I will be arriving home , they will be walking in .
All my fellow mom friends think I am crazy . But I have such a fear
of "anything can happen" . I did block thier phones to contacts only.
Whats your opinion?
2006-07-26 08:15:27 · 19 answers · asked by suiki 3 in Family & Relationships ➔ Family
You did the right thing. You are not crazy but cautious and this is necessary in today's society. The other mothers will probably have to get their kids cell phones too, this is why they are saying you are "crazy"
2006-07-26 08:29:32 · answer #1 · answered by older woman 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Cell phones are the least of your worries, if the state finds out that your children are home alone for any period of time you will get them taken away from you, Sounds like your priorities are not in the right place, I have an 8 and 10 yr old little girls, NO WAY IN HELL I would ever let them walk 1.9 miles or 8 blocks, or 1 block by themselves, they are no where near mature enough to make a split second decision if someone approaches them. You are worried what others think about you getting them cell phones? I worry about them walking home from school everyday alone and what happens if you get caught in traffic and they are home alone, your fellow friend think you are crazy, take to heart what they say to you.....We all have to make sacrafices for our children and if we do not protect them no one else will, alter your schedule around your kids! you wanted an opinion and that was just what you got, just my opinion!
2006-07-26 08:34:01 · answer #2 · answered by slf620 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it is a good idea. We have to worry about our kids all the time. If giving them a limited cell phone you have every right. It will make you feel more secure and they will too (even if they don't admit to being a little worried by themselves). They do have phones called fireflies I believe you can get them at target. You program what calls go into it. There is only a few buttons on there like four or five. Two of them are for emergency (police and fire. Two other buttons is for parents and one friend. So if you want you could look into those if you are worried of a high cell phone bill.
2006-07-26 08:21:45 · answer #3 · answered by jellybean7980 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am not sure that cell phones are the best choice. Is there anyone that the kids could walk to/from school with?
I understand being careful, but is a cell phone going to fix anything? They cannot use it to get away from someone. Maybe sending them to a self defense class would be a better idea. It would cost about the same.
2006-07-26 08:55:55 · answer #4 · answered by chemrose 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a very controversial topic. Are we, parents, contributing to the rapid development of our children? I once saw a movie about the life of a legendary character that singed children songs (this is a well known Mexican singer in the 60’s) that stopped singing because “children where no longer children” but rather “small adults”. The innocent child who believed in Santa and The Tooth Fairy no longer exist. Children now days have nothing to hope and dream for. They are technically smarter than their parents and have managed to learn how to manipulate and get what ever they want out of them. This however, is not their fault, and maybe is not ours either, but rather society’s as a whole.
Why do I say this to you? Because an 8 year old and even a 10 year old is too young to carry a cell phone, regardless whether you limit it to emergency calls. You are pushing your children to take on a responsibility that really belongs to you, their safety. I would try to find other options. Could you maybe take them to school? Could you find a mother who takes her kids to school and offer pay her to take your kids or maybe to take turns taking the kids to school? Maybe you could put together a little group of kids in your neighborhood and have them all walk together. Try to find other solutions to your problem and allow your kids to be just that…kids.
By the way, my “always worried about her kids” friend gave her 11 year old a cell phone and you know what happened? He got teased at school, constantly, and eventually stopped carrying the cell phone without telling his mother.
2006-07-26 08:55:51 · answer #5 · answered by Calis_Shygirl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Generally, I'm strongly against kids and teens having cell phones. Particularily because of the way I've seen them abuse them and be totally disrespectful to others in public. In your case however, I think it's the safest bet! You'd have to be crazy not to send some sort of method to contact help with that long of a walk. I guess I would only limit the phone use to that particular time frame and make sure they don't use the phone for anything but emergencies, until they're older.
2006-07-26 08:21:32 · answer #6 · answered by SnapDragon 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe you have a valid reason for allowing the boys to have cell phones. You were also responsible with blocking the numbers to contacts only. Our oldest son is 11 and he also has a cell phone. In today's world, you can't be too protective of your child and as long as they understand the phone is a tool and not a toy, I believe a parent is being responsible by allowing a child to have one.
2006-07-26 08:51:55 · answer #7 · answered by cgspitfire 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I understand why you got them cell phones and I think that if they only use them to contact you in case of emergency it's a good idea. Just be prepared, as the mother of 3, you know how destructive and careless kids can be. You'll probably have to replace the phones more than once.
2006-07-26 08:22:45 · answer #8 · answered by Hope 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My opinion is that this is an unnecessary expense. I don't know what city you live in, but just teach them to be street smart. What did children do before cell phones?
Find places along their route that are safe places for them to go if they are in trouble. Safe houses or convenience stores. Otherwise, have them wait at school and pick them up there. You might also try carpooling with other people.
2006-07-26 08:21:40 · answer #9 · answered by Sara B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
good job mom! i got mine phones too as soon as they turned 13 b/c of their after school activities...i have 3...all have something i.e karate, beta, band, rotc and each thing is on a different day of the week...their schedules are so hectic and im pretty much at work....so in order to keep up with whos where and when cell phones were the answer
2006-07-26 08:21:12 · answer #10 · answered by cookiesmom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋