Tweens, teens, and Christmas lists

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  1. I never thought my kid would need/get his own cell phone, too — that is, until 9/11. Afrter that, I made arrangements to get him one of those “pre-paid” units, and I kept close tabs on how much we spent on “minutes” for the thing. It turned out that he didn’t abuse it at all – in fact, these days I sometimes have to remind him to turn the durned thing on!
    What you might do is look at alternatives to “never” (“stay the course”) and “sure, right away” (“cut and run”) – how about one of these cell phones where you allocate time to AC for her use? That gives her somewhat of a sense of independence and feeling “grown up”, while you get a continued sense of something akin to control of the situation and a new thing you can use to help AC manager her behavior / activities.
    And, no, I don’t sell phones for a living – nor do I (knowingly) own stock in any providers.
    ~EdT.

  2. I never had a cell-phone all the way through school, and I was pretty sure that I was one of about 2 people in my high school that did not have one. My graduation gift was a cell-phone. While other kids talked of getting a car for graduation, I was just looking forward to a phone. I even got to drive a used truck to school before I got one. There were no arguments strong enough in my favor…I didn’t think to use the 9/11 angle, but they did know about it so I assume it didn’t bother them.

  3. Actually, my son didn’t think of the 9/11 angle – I did. It was shortly after 9/11 that possession of a cell phone was no longer a capital offense where he went to school (mostly due to pressure from the parents.)
    ~EdT.

  4. Since she hasn’t yet been more than a block away from me at any given time (other than an overnight at a friend’s, where there were many cellphones along with landlines), I have come down hard — even inflexibly — on this.
    I once taught a Junior Achievement class (to her first grade class, in fact), and one of the lessons was “need” vs. “want”. She understands the difference, I’m sure. But she sees it, wants it….
    I’m really unhappy, frankly, with the materialism of this up and coming generation.

  5. There’s a lot of discomfort in the medical field about young children and teens using cell phones. Their brains are not fully developed and there is an alarming uptick in brain cancer for children. Although dismissed as urban legend in some quarters (obviously the cell phone selling quarters especially) there is more and more information coming out that would make me very nervous to hand a cell phone to a kid to use on a regular basis. Check with your pediatrician and other sources. Health is always a good reason to deny something…..and good luck! The culture is moving against you and all sane parents! Children still listen to their parents more than their peers and look to you for sound advice so hang in there.

  6. I am a Tween and i do agree with alot of the things that are goin on i am not aloud to date and i do wear makeup ! But one thing that i do see is alot of girls want to flaut thenselfs to make boys like them and i just dont think that is right i think that girls should let the guys like them for who they are not how they dress or if they are considered a “slut” ! Most of the girls are wanting to be that and i just have somethings to say to them ! … Girls if the guy that you are liking really likes you then you wont need to do the things that you think you need to do ! so dont ask your parents for the clothing that you think is right for the guys dont ! wear what you like ok ! and i am your age and i know what it is like to go through these experiances just dont do it ok !

  7. haha losers i got my phone in the 6th grade lol no just kidding but fo real kids love there phones get them one and they wont wast the money it well be well used

  8. My teenager is on his third phone. He drops them a lot.
    He also washed his iPod, and his scientific calculator.
    Get them the cheapest thing you can if you most get them one.
    If they still have it a year later, and they are using it, then consider an upgrade.
    Having said that… 10? Ummm… no. Hold the line. Give her some goal to reach before you will get her one or something simular. Something that will streach her, and give you time to hold off the tide.

  9. How funny. When I first got to the site, I didn’t see any post… but there was this recent comment, so I clicked it.
    And just realized that I replied to something posted 2 years ago.
    Not that my idea has changed.

  10. LOL!!! Evidently brandon fished my post out of cyberspace. Funny when these old posts pop up — they seem like they were written by another person altogether sometimes (in another lifetime, too!).
    As it happens, btw, we gave AC a cellphone this past Christmas…. but she got it taken away as a disciplinary measure a couple of months ago. She’s working toward getting it back.
    :>

  11. grown ups need to leave us teens ALONE !Give us a chance & if it doesnt work out then do what you got to do.sometimes we think you dont trust us!!!!!!!!!!!!

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