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I am completely annoyed that so many eight year old’s have cell phones. I have run into this so many times with my eight year old that I want to scream! Since when do kids need phones?
While my eight year old, Abigail, tries to get me to say yes she can have a cellphone I sit and wonder why we are even having this conversation! AT the age of eight what could you possibly need to a cell phone for? Here is what she things she needs it for:
1. In case I need to call you mom. Ok this would be a valid argument if it were not for the fact that I go everywhere she does. She is not 16 with a drivers license. She is 8. It is not like all of her friend parents do not have phones in their homes and cell phones! DENIED!
2. To talk to my friends. I am a big believer that kids do not need privacy. There is no need for it. She is again 8 years old and I think that it is important that she not be lurking in corner talking to people without being in ear shot of me. In our home you have to ask to use the phone. It is after all my phone. DENIED!
3. I want to text my friends. Well unless you have a job I am not paying for my eight year old to text. She cannot even spell word correctly! DENIED!
4. They are rude. I have run into this problem in Girl Scouts more then once. Girls texting while we are in the middle of a meeting. Kids do not think of them as means of communication they are looking at it as a toy. Parents who are buying these 8 years old girls phones are not even taking the time out to teach them good manners with them. I think that it is crazy! DENIED!
At this point Abigail gives up and tells me that I am the worst mom ever and that she hates me. The thing is that I am ok with all of that. I just will not buy my eight year old a phone even if she is the only kid in the world without one!
Becca
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No way am I buying my kids a cellphone. I totallly agree with this article. Kids grow up to fast without the need of a cellphone attached to their minds always wanting to text friends 24/7 instead of being kids.
I am so happy that someone agrees with me. I think that we are a dying breed!
Becca
No way will I give a kid a cellphone. We all survived without them. Where could a kid be that there is not a phone available to them? I am waiting until my kid has a job and helps to pay for it.
I would have to agree with you… I think that people are into giving their kids cell phones because they think of it as a status thing. I think that with the economy perhaps we will see a turn around in the next year or so. I will keep telling myself that!
Becca
Denied – Denied – Denied! no cell phone until age 12-14 when the boys are old enough to be out on their own for long periods of time. That’s about the time I got my 16 almost 17 year old son a cell phone and my 5 year old will not get one until then either…DENIED!!!
I am glad that you are with me… I just do not see why they need one! Thanks for the support!
Becca
And kids do not have a sense of how much things cost. When I challenged Abby to skip snacking in order to pay for it- she lasted two hours.
My brother always told his son that if you want to have/ do something and you need my permission, then you have to write a five page report on why it is so important that you do this. This worked when my nephew wanted his ear pierced since he was 5 until he was 17. Then he was able to do it on his own.
Has Abby written the report that I asked for? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
I grew up believing that parents went to “no” school, because they said no to everything. You soon get the message that whatever you ask for is no and that no amount convincing will change their minds. I wonder where that brochure is?
OK OK- this takes the cake. As I was responding to this article- who call me on the cell phone? Analese- the baby. Ok so becca wont let the 8 year old have a cell phone, but lets the baby make calls on her cell phone???
This sounds more like a trust issue to me. Talking to friends is automatically equated with lurking in corners? Ok… I can understand that some parents don’t want to give their young kids cellphones, but those reasons just sound like a lack of trust. Cellphones aren’t rude – they can be used in rude ways and if kids aren’t taught to be polite with how they use their possessions from a young age, you’ll likely still see them sitting there texting during meetings when they’re 16.
Lisa the issue is that no parents are taking the time to teach their children not to be rude. It is not the phone, it is the phone in the hands of people who are still learning right and wrong. I do not think that trust is the issue. She is 8!
As for people who are 16 and texting they are the ones who have had the phones for years now. It is not something that kids need. They are able to function without them. Why should it not be something that they earn and pay for on their own?
Becca