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These statements contradict each other. How could she have been outside for 45 minutes and not a single person had a phone, yet "everyone" has a phone?
Think about it... not everyone has a phone, and you need to do what you want to do, not what "everyone" else's parents are doing.
Sorry, but having a phone should almost be mandatory (and even if it's not a smartphone), in my opinion. If nothing else, for emergency purposes.
NK, I'm not one to give in to crowd pressure, but your daughters are right in this case. You live in a very nice area, I'm certain "everybody" really does have a smart phone, at least at the age of 14.
At 14, they are in high school. Everything here is done on their phones, their tablets or their laptops. Many of her assignments are online. Her textbooks are also online.
My granddaughter finally got a smart phone this week. Basically everything band related is texted or emailed and she needs the phone for that. Her teachers also text the kids on the remind system about assignments and such.
She does not have to use the phone during school, but they do bring their own devices, so she often uses her iPad or her laptop for school.
It would be ok to have a non-smart phone, but it would set her apart from the other kids and she does not need that. She already had some social skills problems.
Also, since she is in band and stays late (no late bus) and needs someone to pick her up at different times, it is important for her to have a phone (it could be a flip phone, but you know how the kids would tease and bully her if she used one like that).
My 14 year old has a smart phone. It's the pretty much the only way he makes plans with friends (group messaging). That alone makes it worth it to me.
Like any piece of technology, you need to set limits on what apps are downloaded, what happens if they go over the data plan/break the phone, will you require them to plug in the phones in the kitchen overnight, etc. But as those are mutually agreed upon, I don't see any compelling reason NOT to get them.
Every child may not need a smart phone. But I do know of areas in the country, and NK lives in one, where it is plausible that the vast majority of high schools students use them. When her daughters claim everybody has them, I believe them. And, they can be purchased(and used) at a reasonable cost.
Every child may not need a smart phone. But I do know of areas in the country, and NK lives in one, where it is plausible that the vast majority of high schools students use them. When her daughters claim everybody has them, I believe them. And, they can be purchased(and used) at a reasonable cost.
The OP has to do what is necessary and best for his/her family.
I will do what is necessary and best for mine. My kids have what they need and are doing extremely well in school.
I'm holding as long as possible with smartphones because from what I can see they have also become a status symbol. If I had it my way, the kids would wear uniforms (but I know its not a popular opinion).
My kid currently has a flip phone. He does have an ipad and chromebook (used for school). If the purpose is communication with family and emergencies, I fail to see how a smartphone is considered a mandatory "tool"... cell phone yes... but a smartphone.. no.
Our youngest complained incessantly from about 5th grade on. His siblings all had phones and it was just not fair.
He told us about the rich kids at school who would play a game throwing their Iphones against a wall in the hallway. If your phone broke, you were out. They kept going until the winner was the only one whose phone did nto break. Then they would all go home and tell mom "My phone broke, I need a new one"
Kinda made us less inclined to get him a phone.
He kept coming up with better and better reasons he needed a phone, he had to stay after shool and call for a ride if we forgot to come get him. He needed to contact friends about homework and our home phone was always tied up (he was the youngest of 5).
Finally we gave in about 7th grade and got him a phone. He played games on it constantly, texted uttely meaningless messages to people and giggles about it. He made about one phone call a year, if that. He may have snet a meaningful text twice as well "Can you come pick me up please?"
It was pretty stupid, but a least he never threw it against the wall.
Now at 16 he still never calls anyone. If I call him, he texts me back "Text me please" Even if he is not otherwise preoccupied, he prefers texting to talking. He mostly communicates with his friend over the internet, usually im some game format. Sometimes they do not even play much, just talk
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