Texting Toddlers, How Young is Too Young? 286
theodp writes "Toddlers don't need to be texting, concedes the NYT's Lisa Belkin, but since they have always had toy typewriters and toy telephones, why not toy Blackberrys? If your little tyke is itching to text, the NYT has a round-up of texting devices aimed at children as young as three who want to talk with their thumbs. The question of, 'when is a child is old enough for their own cell phone' has been replaced with the question of, 'what type of texting gadget is appropriate for which age group.' But don't forget to lay down the law: 'Our 13-year-old got a phone with an unlimited plan as a reward for good grades,' says HiTechMommy.com blogger Cat Schwartz. 'Each night he is required to turn the phone in at 10 p.m. and then gets it back first thing in the morning.'"
It's a practical matter (Score:5, Funny)
If they're going to drool into the keys and ruin it, they're too young.
If they're going to type at me all day, they're too young.
If they're going to type at their father all day instead of me, not only are they not too young, I fully expect a call saying "Dad? Remember when you first got that Apple II and were learning to program, and I kept trying to help you? I just wanted to say I'm sorry." THEN if I get that phone call, and they keep pestering him, they're too young. But I'll still laugh. In fact, I may go buy it. They got any with drool proof keys?
Re:It's a practical matter (Score:3, Funny)
If they're going to drool into the keys and ruin it, they're too young.
If they're going to type at me all day, they're too young.
I'm sorry grandpa; you're just too young to have a cellphone. You keep drooling on it, and you won't stop texting me about Matlock.
in MY day! (Score:5, Funny)
In my day, if we wanted to send a text message to a friend, we used an instant messenger! Or we even wrote out an email. It took time to sit down and put some thought into composing that message. None of this Twitter Trotter Twatter flim-flarn-flith. We had more than 140 characters to work with and could take the time to say something that was worth taking the time to say! And we sat at a keyboard. With a chair. Typed with our fingers instead of with our thumbs like savages.
If the little ankle-biters offer you any lip, send 'em to their rooms with nothing but bread, water, and 56k dial-up.
Re:Something is wrong with this. (Score:5, Funny)
In most cases kids quickly lose interest. "I want I want I want" quickly becomes "I'm bored" as the novelty wears off and the phone disappears into a drawer.
I was discussing this with my boss a little while ago, and he said his kids destroy half the stuff he buys for them, and that when we were growing-up we appreciated things more. And I replied, "That's because we didn't have anything. I had one record player and I treasured it like it was gold." He laughed and conceded the same was true for him.
What is given freely is not valued. Your girlfriend's virginity, worthless if given, of value only if taken!
Broken Aesops and kidding aside, there's so much to be said for teaching kids the value of something they've earned for themselves. Even if you end up helping to subsidize the purchase, the 10% of the price they put into it could well be the birthday and grandma money they saved up all year. It counts for something. I know I liked my first computer which was a family machine but I loved my second one which was the result of three years worth of xmas and bday funds and subsequent upgrades were paid for with the proceeds of my first job.
Re:Nothing is too young (Score:5, Funny)
I even got them cell phones when they were 4
The same is the argument for texting. Dont text while driving,
As a parent, I send my six year old to his room when I catch him texting while driving.
Hi Tech Mommy (Score:1, Funny)
'Our 13-year-old got a phone with an unlimited plan as a reward for good grades,' says HiTechMommy.com blogger Cat Schwartz.
I'd tap that, for sure.
Check it out [hitechmommy.com]
frakking ri-frakking-diculous. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:frakking ri-frakking-diculous. (Score:5, Funny)
You keep your gam cackers n apple joose at the top of a clocktower? Isn't that terribly inconvenient?
Re:0 Years of age (Score:5, Funny)
Sure. Why not? When my 6-year-old nephew asked, "How do babies get in mommys bellies?"
Show 'em the face-hugger scene from Alien.
Re:0 Years of age (Score:3, Funny)
Zero years? What on earth would someone who doesn't know how to talk, let alone read or write, need a cell phone for?
To help that person learn to read, write and talk.
If a kid is learning to read and write with text messages, you might as well just start them right off with "would you like fries with that?"
Re:Something is wrong with this. (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Something is wrong with this. (Score:1, Funny)
I personally love it when my 5 year old sends me little notes over the cell phone telling me that he loves me, tells me what he is doing at that moment, or just tells me about something he thought was neat.
+1 awww, so cute