Parenting WIN

[HilbillyHomeboy]

When I was that age, I needed it for school. I also paid for it myself.

Was this a public school? I can't imagine a mandate of necessity for such a pricey item, within public school, without some form of assistance.

Jeremy

[AgentOblivious]

Was this a public school? I can't imagine a mandate of necessity for such a pricey item, within public school, without some form of assistance.

Jeremy

This was a public school, but it was the STEP (science and technology education program) laptop program at this school, so it was only a requirement for that specific program, and I believe there was help on a needs basis (and I didn't need it).

Then here's another question:

If you needed it for school...okay.

But you didn't need it for anything else, so why not lock it up every day after school and retrieve it every morning?

I couldn't just lock it up after school, even just for school work. I had assignments on AutoCAD, as well as website building and Flash, not to mention that additional class notes were on the class webpages as well as some of the textbooks. In short, I needed my laptop whenever I did my homework.

And the cell phone?

What about that?

As for a cellphone or a tablet, well nobody needs a tablet, and I didn't get a cellphone until last year, because I didn't need it. That was mostly because I wasn't social in any real capacity, and so my parents didn't need to keep tabs on where I was. When you've got two parents that are working, it helps kids and parents stay organized and know what's what.

[UTRacerX9]

It's interesting to see when different parents give their kids a cell phone. Me, I didn't have one until I was 18. (Of course, that was basically when "small" cell phones first started appearing.) Bought it myself. I know a few parents who have started giving their kids cell phones at the age of 10-12, when they start having functions outside the home and need to call to be picked up, or something like that. Cell phones are an undeniable convenience, but I don't think it's necessary until 13-16. I always shake my head when I see or hear about some parent who gave their kid a cell phone at age 5 or something.

[j2k4]

It's interesting to see when different parents give their kids a cell phone. Me, I didn't have one until I was 18. (Of course, that was basically when "small" cell phones first started appearing.) Bought it myself. I know a few parents who have started giving their kids cell phones at the age of 10-12, when they start having functions outside the home and need to call to be picked up, or something like that. Cell phones are an undeniable convenience, but I don't think it's necessary until 13-16. I always shake my head when I see or hear about some parent who gave their kid a cell phone at age 5 or something.

Read that back to yourself, why don't you.

[HilbillyHomeboy]

I honestly could not name one kid that age that I know that doesn't have a cell phone...and a facebook account, even though the rules clearly state you are not to have a FB account until age 13. Race to be the super coolest parent is the downfall of society, as of late.

Jeremy

[IPD]

I honestly could not name one kid that age that I know that doesn't have a cell phone...and a facebook account, even though the rules clearly state you are not to have a FB account until age 13. Race to be the super coolest parent is the downfall of society, as of late.

Jeremy

i'm against giving kids cell-phones. i guess i like the old-fashioned curfew. if a kid wants a cell, he/she can get a job & pay for it. just like owning a car.

[bluefox1081]

i'm against giving kids cell-phones. i guess i like the old-fashioned curfew. if a kid wants a cell, he/she can get a job & pay for it. just like owning a car.

Agree. No kid needs a cell phone, let alone a smart phone.

[TonyM]

Interesting situation, my how things have changed in such a short time. Used to be that "public embarrassment" was limited to those within earshot. Now it's the entire world via internet.

Reminds me of how my dad taught me not to screw around when I was little. He'd grab my arm with that vice grip like dad strength they all seem to have and he'd just say, "straighten up or I can embarrass you". Funny how it only took once or twice to learn what dad meant by "embarrass you" to realize you didn't want it to happen again. Embarrassment is a VERY powerful tool for teaching a lesson and I applaud this dad for using the social media tool du jour to accomplish that with his daughter. Sounds like all went well in the aftermath . . .

As for kids and technology, such a shame that learning how to embrace technology for productive purposes has fallen by the wayside in the name of "fun and games". I had computers when I was in my teens because I started a company networking houses and setting up home theaters (hard to believe I bought a used Fujitsu laptop for a whopping $400 back then!). Games and social networking weren't anything and were certainly never a concern, but damnit I'm an Excel wizard of the first order, haha. Had a basic cell when I was 16 since I was driving and it was appropriate, but there wasn't internet connectivity or anything like that at the time, shit texting wasn't even a big thing.

It's digusting how it seems young folks today can't communicate outside a screen and keyboard (and I include my generation in this). They can email, text, and facebook all day but have a server at a restaurant ask them for their order and they stare at the ground and mumble barely audible sentences . . . just incredible to me. Maybe they should just "plug-in" and forego actually "living" in the real world since they seem so infatuated with the digital one.