[blparent] cell phones for kids

Thu Dec 6 15:45:53 UTC 2012

If it helps, kids in Finland get cell phones at to us seem very young, think five years old.
Every exchange student we've had from Finland has said this or expressed interest in why kids here don't have the same.

Figure out what kind of features you want.
Something else to think about is if your son would respond to a cell phone, or would he just ignore it? If he will then no point getting him something he won't use.

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jennifer Jackson
Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2012 7:13 AM
To: 'Blind Parents Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [blparent] cell phones for kids

The boys are 8 and 6. I do not really expect the 6 year old to be out on his
own, though sometimes he goes further a field with his brother. My six year
old uses cochlear implants and is much more likely to be aware of a
vibration or a sound coming from his wrist or body, than to the sound of my
voice from down the street even if he is in normal hearing range. He is also
developing some basic reading skills which means texting some basic phrases
that we practice at home will also likely be an option. His future needs are
part of why I am considering the cell phone, and why I do not want to by
really cheap kid walkie talkies with their poor sound quality.

I think our families particular needs may be best met with the cell, but the
idea of kids that age having cell phones is off putting to me. On the other
hand it might be a good beginning to being responsible with his own
communication device before I turn the 6 year old loose with an i-pad or
pod. There is a great communication program and several learning ones that
his team believes he can really benefit from. I just have to come up with
the money for the device and the $200 for the program. Another reason it can
be so helpful to go over this stuff with others as I had not thought about
that connection until I was responding to the question about their ages.

Jennifer

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Dianna
Alley
Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2012 6:15 PM
To: Blind Parents Mailing List
Subject: Re: [blparent] cell phones for kids

Cell phones are a good tool for anyone these days track phone would work how

old are the kids?
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jennifer Jackson" <jennifersjackson at att.net>
To: "'Blind Parents Mailing List'" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2012 2:46 AM
Subject: [blparent] cell phones for kids

>I am considering getting some cell phones for my two younger kids. Really
> more as a communication tool for me. I started out looking at walkie
> talkies, but that quickly moved into actual two way radios with the
> durability and distance issues figured in. I am still considering both
> options and wanted to get some other thoughts on the matter.
>
> The walkie talkie solution  is more expensive up front, but will have
> minimal ongoing expenses other than electricity to recharge the batteries.
> They would have enough range for Henry to play in the neighborhood and be
> called home even if he goes in someone's house. I think they walkie
> talkies
> might also be more difficult to use because they have 22 channels and some
> other controls. Once set up though you can talk at the push of a button. I
> also have not heard anything about research showing that radio waves cause
> brain cancer like I have with cell phone transmissions. I also think my
> kids
> would get a kick out of the wrist watch versions of these. There are also
> head set ones that I think kids would enjoy, but they could also be
> misplaced more easily.
>
>
>
> Cell phones. In principle I am opposed to cell phones for kids. As a blind
> parent though, I see the benefit to being able to call my child and
> confirm
> he is just up the street. Am I using my blindness to justify this? I am
> thinking of a $20 track phone and then just buying minutes as we go. Of
> course this could quickly add up even if we stick to texting.
>
>
>
> I am really open to other thoughts and opinions on this subject. I know
> some
> of this could be accomplished with an electronic locater, but those do not
> have much range for my older kids. I am not thinking of these as Christmas
> gifts, just my families various communication issues in the upcoming year.
> It just occurs to me that maybe what I want is one of this GPS locater
> wrist
> bands. Something like they use for the house arrest kids. :-)
>
>
>
> J
>
> Jennifer
>
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