raindancer
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,095
Jun 26, 2014 20:10:29 GMT
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Post by raindancer on Nov 22, 2015 3:41:35 GMT
I bought my 10 year old a Samsung Young. It's a Smartphone and all, but it's not really an advanced model. At 10 she doesn't need an advanced model. We use it as a homephone because they get home from school an hour or two before I get home from work. I can call and check on them, and they can call me (usually to ask me if they are allowed to eat a yoghurt or watch tv LOL). She occasionally texts her friends, and she has one or two games on it she sometimes uses. She doesn't need a brand new iPhone or a fancy model smartphone. I have heard other kids her age ask each other what phones they have. It seems to be a status thing. It's always cool to have the shiniest toy, but that not a good enough reason for me to buy her an expensive phone. I might upgrade my own and give the kids my old one. That's the farthest I'll stretch it. And I have a Samsung Galaxy 3, so it's not the newest phone around either. I don't really understand why people think that if a parent buys a kid the "shines toy" is either because of some projected status symbol (you ate guessing that's why) or how your giving an old phone is different. To another parent any smartphone at all is over the top. Do you feel like you should have to justify that decision? I have reasons for buying my kids phones, but not once did I wonder if their friends would think it was cool enough. I suspect we are very similar in that regard. How we spend our money, things we find to be of value to our families, etc. Might not look exactly the same but they are probably made with the intention of making life easier.
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Post by rainangel on Nov 22, 2015 13:27:40 GMT
I bought my 10 year old a Samsung Young. It's a Smartphone and all, but it's not really an advanced model. At 10 she doesn't need an advanced model. We use it as a homephone because they get home from school an hour or two before I get home from work. I can call and check on them, and they can call me (usually to ask me if they are allowed to eat a yoghurt or watch tv LOL). She occasionally texts her friends, and she has one or two games on it she sometimes uses. She doesn't need a brand new iPhone or a fancy model smartphone. I have heard other kids her age ask each other what phones they have. It seems to be a status thing. It's always cool to have the shiniest toy, but that not a good enough reason for me to buy her an expensive phone. I might upgrade my own and give the kids my old one. That's the farthest I'll stretch it. And I have a Samsung Galaxy 3, so it's not the newest phone around either. I don't really understand why people think that if a parent buys a kid the "shines toy" is either because of some projected status symbol (you ate guessing that's why) or how your giving an old phone is different. To another parent any smartphone at all is over the top. Do you feel like you should have to justify that decision? I have reasons for buying my kids phones, but not once did I wonder if their friends would think it was cool enough. I suspect we are very similar in that regard. How we spend our money, things we find to be of value to our families, etc. Might not look exactly the same but they are probably made with the intention of making life easier. I don't think buying a smartphone for a kid is over the top. In fact, it would almost be strange at this point to have a landline or a pushbutton cellphone. Buying the newest released phone that cost well over $1000 to a 10-year old I consider over the top, and unnecessary. Especially considering there will be a newer phone on the wishlist the next year. And the next year, and the next year. Giving my kids my old phone IS different. It has to do with the expense I am willing to pay for a phone to a kid. I guess it is similar to buying a car for your teenager. Did you go straight for the newest model car? Or did you get them an old car, possibly your own old car? I never considered the 'cool' factor when buying a phone for my 10-year old. I bought her a phone that would cover the needs we have in that phone. End of story. If she wants a different phone with more features, or a newer model, that is something she should save up for and pay for herself. It's not that I MIND her having the newest and shiniest phone, but *I* am not paying for it. I cover her basic phone needs, anything extra is up to her (at 10 yo it is of course difficult to get a job and buy her own, but I am not starting a trend where she wants, and I give, without any effort on her part).
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Post by Merge on Nov 22, 2015 13:36:48 GMT
My 12 and 14 year olds have smart phones because texting and social media are the primary forms of communication among their peers, and because it's a convenience for me to be able to communicate easily with them without worrying about whether they have access to wifi. They have the latest iPhone because we work hard and can afford for them to have it. No apologies. Please feel free to make other choices for your own family.
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Kerri W
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,768
Location: Kentucky
Jun 25, 2014 20:31:44 GMT
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Post by Kerri W on Nov 22, 2015 14:24:32 GMT
Even if your child is responsible with a phone and has parental controls on it, that doesn't always mean that other kids are the same. A friend of ours came over to our house with his son who was in third grade. His son was playing with one of our girls. He showed her a pornographic image on his phone. I wish I could have un-done that image from her brain. At least she was open enough to tell me. I think the kid's dad just didn't have a handle on what was on his son's phone. It's unfortunate, yes, and I'd be pissed but the same thing could have happened with a magazine on the playground. Yes, my 10 yo DS is getting an iPhone for Christmas. He's going to flip and I can't wait.
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Post by just PEAchy on Nov 22, 2015 14:41:49 GMT
My kids all have iPhones, but not the latest models. Once we dropped our landline, we decided it was important for all the kids to have phones. My youngest was 10 at the time, the older 2 already had phones. The phones themselves weren't very expensive, 1 was free and it only increased our bill by a small amount. The 10 yr old is 12 now and still has the same phone. He rarely uses it though, doesn't even take it to school. But like I said, since we don't have a landline and he is home alone at times, we felt he needed a phone.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Nov 22, 2015 18:24:14 GMT
Maybe I'll change my mind in another five years, but I don't think I'd be giving a 10 year old any cell phone, much less a smart phone. Kids can find way too much trouble with the tech that's already here in the house, and oftentimes they (or their friends) are smart enough to figure out ways to bypass the parental controls. I didn't get a smart phone until I was well in my 40's so I'm pretty sure my kid can survive childhood without one, too.
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paget
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,742
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:39 GMT
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Post by paget on Nov 22, 2015 18:30:01 GMT
Maybe I'll change my mind in another five years, but I don't think I'd be giving a 10 year old any cell phone, much less a smart phone. Kids can find way too much trouble with the tech that's already here in the house, and oftentimes they (or their friends) are smart enough to figure out ways to bypass the parental controls. I didn't get a smart phone until I was well in my 40's so I'm pretty sure my kid can survive childhood without one, too. Sigh. They didn't exist in your childhood so it's really not comparable. And of course they will "survive" but at what cost? It's hard socially now for kids without having the major means of communication that their peers are using. Plus, a large part of my kids getting cell phone was for ME and my ability to contact them and the peace of mind I had knowing they could contact me or others if needed. These conversations are always frustrating. Obviously each family is going to do what's right for them based on values, budget, perceptions, etc. But they always seem so judge-y. FWIW, my three dds (now almost 22, 19, and 16) never "got in trouble" with any technology so perhaps that is a big part that's playing into your perception.
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,403
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Nov 22, 2015 20:26:35 GMT
All this talk about "social" stuff. Uh, call a friend (on the parents phone or house phone) and GO SEE THEM! GO PLAY OUTSIDE! I am hardly old (I have a 4 year old and am pregnant due in March) and think that kids need to not have "social" stuff online but rather in person. Hang out at friends houses, go do things other than sit behind a screen! I'm a junior high teacher and I see the effects of phones/texting/non face to face interactions all the time. Kids don't know how to just be kids anymore. They also have a hard time reading each other.
iPod touch, iPad, computer... those all allow texting and internet usage. My 4 yo uses FaceTime to all her grandparents and cousins. She doesn't need a phone.
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Post by epeanymous on Nov 22, 2015 21:33:51 GMT
All this talk about "social" stuff. Uh, call a friend (on the parents phone or house phone) and GO SEE THEM! GO PLAY OUTSIDE! I am hardly old (I have a 4 year old and am pregnant due in March) and think that kids need to not have "social" stuff online but rather in person. Hang out at friends houses, go do things other than sit behind a screen! I'm a junior high teacher and I see the effects of phones/texting/non face to face interactions all the time. Kids don't know how to just be kids anymore. They also have a hard time reading each other. iPod touch, iPad, computer... those all allow texting and internet usage. My 4 yo uses FaceTime to all her grandparents and cousins. She doesn't need a phone. When I was a kid, it was completely acceptable for a child to walk or bike to another child's house, often at some distance, and we often were hanging out outside or in another child's house unsupervised. That is not something that is acceptable now. It's all very well to say that kids should emulate our childhoods, but it is often somewhere between "unacceptable," "impractical," and "illegal" to let kids do what we did. Kids also tend now to have more after-school activities and at younger ages, and often have two working parents. Kids communicate via social media and texting often because they actually cannot just get together and hang out.
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Post by mymindseyedpea on Nov 22, 2015 21:52:39 GMT
Dd wanted an iPhone too and we got her an iPod touch when she was 11. But with her being so hack-techie she figured out how to text others on it with iCloud and create an email address. It's been convenient for us to text her or for her to text us. But finding her texting, video messaging and face timing her classmates after 11pm was reason to make some changes on her iPod use. Till we figure that out it's been put away till further notice. I really don't see much difference between the 2 devices.
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Kerri W
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,768
Location: Kentucky
Jun 25, 2014 20:31:44 GMT
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Post by Kerri W on Nov 22, 2015 23:03:54 GMT
I'll admit I'm perplexed by the argument that an iPod Touch is ok but a iPhone is of the devil. The Touch can do anything a phone can do other than phone calls which is a good way for kids to have that personal interaction you're all talking about. It's amazing how quickly this topic turns judgemental every time it comes up.
Four kids, all with newest technology available at that point starting about 5th grade. So far the three that are adults/late teens at contributing members of society and we've never has as much as a phone taken by a teacher for misuse.
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Post by moveablefeast on Nov 23, 2015 1:15:12 GMT
All this talk about "social" stuff. Uh, call a friend (on the parents phone or house phone) and GO SEE THEM! GO PLAY OUTSIDE! I am hardly old (I have a 4 year old and am pregnant due in March) and think that kids need to not have "social" stuff online but rather in person. Hang out at friends houses, go do things other than sit behind a screen! I'm a junior high teacher and I see the effects of phones/texting/non face to face interactions all the time. Kids don't know how to just be kids anymore. They also have a hard time reading each other. iPod touch, iPad, computer... those all allow texting and internet usage. My 4 yo uses FaceTime to all her grandparents and cousins. She doesn't need a phone. When I was a kid, it was completely acceptable for a child to walk or bike to another child's house, often at some distance, and we often were hanging out outside or in another child's house unsupervised. That is not something that is acceptable now. It's all very well to say that kids should emulate our childhoods, but it is often somewhere between "unacceptable," "impractical," and "illegal" to let kids do what we did. Kids also tend now to have more after-school activities and at younger ages, and often have two working parents. Kids communicate via social media and texting often because they actually cannot just get together and hang out. I think my response to that is - this kind of communication is both a good thing and a bad thing. It's not a universally good thing for kids to be able to communicate with their peers - it's also not a universally bad thing. In my opinion, it's mostly a developmental thing and some kids are ready for it and some kids just aren't. I appreciate that there are tools to help kids and adults both stay connected to one another and foster those relationships. But at the same time, I think it would be incredibly naive of me to think that more access is better, or that those are forms of communication that my child needs at any given stage of her development. It puts the outside world at your fingertips all the time - when we were kids and someone wanted to bug you at home, they at least had to ring the house phone and your mother could hear it, which is not so with a cell phone. I try really hard to be neutral as to other people's approach to this stuff, because my daughter has had peers with smartphones since kindergarten and I get that there are reasons people do this, like the single working mom whose kid lets himself into his empty house every afternoon and needs a way to contact somebody if he can't get inside for some reason, or the mom who wants her kid to be able to skype with grandma, or whatever else. It's cool, I don't really have an opinion on this one for other people. You make your best decision based on the information available to you at that time. But for me and my family, I am hesitant about the immediacy of access of a cell phone for the adults in the house, much less the kids in the house. That connectedness has many obvious social benefits, but I think that connectedness also has many social downsides, the unnatural proximity afforded by a cell phone being chief among them. I am absolutely concerned about the way young people use technology and social media, and that informs my opinions about my child's electronics usage. It's one reason why I have been saying no to a phone for my DD even though some of her peers have been walking around with iPhones in their backpacks for two and three years now. But lest I be unclear about this - this is my opinion about the appropriateness of that for my child, not anybody else's.
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Post by AussieMeg on Nov 23, 2015 1:45:31 GMT
I'll admit I'm perplexed by the argument that an iPod Touch is ok but a iPhone is of the devil. The Touch can do anything a phone can do other than phone calls which is a good way for kids to have that personal interaction you're all talking about. I get your point, I'm sure some parents don't even know that their kids can text their friends using iMessage on their iPods and iPads, as well as all the other apps such as Kik etc. (We found out that hard way about that one!) I guess for me it is the difference in cost. I just had a quick look online and here the iPod 6 is approx $279 but the iPhone 6 is almost $1000. The iPhone 5 is well over $700. PLUS whatever call & data plan you are on. That's why my 11yo won't be getting one until he is at least 12 or 13. And even then it will probably be my old dinosaur iPhone 4!
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Kerri W
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,768
Location: Kentucky
Jun 25, 2014 20:31:44 GMT
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Post by Kerri W on Nov 23, 2015 2:17:33 GMT
I'll admit I'm perplexed by the argument that an iPod Touch is ok but a iPhone is of the devil. The Touch can do anything a phone can do other than phone calls which is a good way for kids to have that personal interaction you're all talking about. I get your point, I'm sure some parents don't even know that their kids can text their friends using iMessage on their iPods and iPads, as well as all the other apps such as Kik etc. (We found out that hard way about that one!) I guess for me it is the difference in cost. I just had a quick look online and here the iPod 6 is approx $279 but the iPhone 6 is almost $1000. The iPhone 5 is well over $700. PLUS whatever call & data plan you are on. That's why my 11yo won't be getting one until he is at least 12 or 13. And even then it will probably be my old dinosaur iPhone 4! I should have been more clear. I'm not confused by the cost of an iPhone and why parents would choose the iPod based on cost. For *me* the iPhone will cost $100-200 and we'll have one family member leaving our plan when we add DS to it, so I'm comfortable with the cost our family will incur. It's my opinion many people don't realize you can do exactly the same things on an iPod you can on an iPhone. I feel many think it a "safer" option or that they're taking a baby step with the iPod.
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Post by Marina on Nov 23, 2015 2:20:38 GMT
I preferred giving my son in iPod touch at that age. He would often take his phone for parties, going out for activities like laser tag games, after school practices where it could drop out of his pocket. A cheap phone was a good way to go. Plus I didn't want him to always have a game system available. Too addicting and too distracting. I'm also cheap and didn't want to pay for the data plan.
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Post by jenjie on Nov 23, 2015 2:21:45 GMT
I'm considering an iPod touch for ds10 for Christmas. I might consider a phone at age 13 if the was a need for it. Have you looked at the GB options? Any suggestions for me there? DD said that when they got theirs it was 8 GB. It was good for about 2 years until they wanted more and more apps and such. But she doesn't think they even sell 8 GB iPod touch anymore?
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Post by alexa11 on Nov 23, 2015 2:50:06 GMT
I would be laughing, but then again I'm old school.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Nov 23, 2015 3:19:22 GMT
Maybe I'll change my mind in another five years, but I don't think I'd be giving a 10 year old any cell phone, much less a smart phone. Kids can find way too much trouble with the tech that's already here in the house, and oftentimes they (or their friends) are smart enough to figure out ways to bypass the parental controls. I didn't get a smart phone until I was well in my 40's so I'm pretty sure my kid can survive childhood without one, too. Sigh. They didn't exist in your childhood so it's really not comparable. And of course they will "survive" but at what cost? It's hard socially now for kids without having the major means of communication that their peers are using. Plus, a large part of my kids getting cell phone was for ME and my ability to contact them and the peace of mind I had knowing they could contact me or others if needed. These conversations are always frustrating. Obviously each family is going to do what's right for them based on values, budget, perceptions, etc. But they always seem so judge-y. FWIW, my three dds (now almost 22, 19, and 16) never "got in trouble" with any technology so perhaps that is a big part that's playing into your perception. Like I said, maybe I'll feel differently when my kid is that age but ten seems pretty young to need a phone of their own. I didn't mean to be judgy at all so I apologize if my reply came off that way. It just seems to me that today's cell phone is yesterday's Atari, or whatever the "must have" thing of the day for kids is. Cool to have, sure. But a true need? I'm sure some kids probably do have a need for their own phone. But at ten years old I think kids need to be working more on their in-person relationship skills vs. how fast they can text. This recent news story is fairly local to me, and the kid involved is 13.
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