re: One "normal" thing you'll never allow your kids to do. Defend your position.

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m not saying you need to give a 2nd grader one but waiting until college.....that is going to 100% assure your kid is a complete outcast in HS and frick them up way way worse than the smart phone ever would.

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You are arguing with people who either don't have kids, have young kids and don't have to make these decisions now, or old people who never had to make these decisions

just smile and nod when discussing these things with people like this

Travel ball

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Did you see my earlier post referring to e-ink screen phones? These seem like a happy medium between dumb phones and smart phones. If push came to shove, I think I’d go with this option for my children. They still have all the apps you are talking about but the screen isn’t as tunnel vision inducing. They are like kindle phones.

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I think these are about to become popular.

I bet we see more "mainstream" phones adopt this within a few years.

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You are arguing with people who either don't have kids, have young kids and don't have to make these decisions now, or old people who never had to make these decisions just smile and nod when discussing these things with people like this

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Yes, I do think we are talking a bit past each other. I think my kids are way younger and I’m probably too idealistic. But at least I have these principles and don’t want to just give in to the tide. Seeing kids at restaurants or groups of kids just staring at their phones/tablets instead of interacting depresses the hell out of me. Then I go to school where phones aren’t allowed and suddenly kids are kids again. When we have play dates no screens are involved and it’s awesome. That’s just what I’m aiming for here.

Ha! Yeah, I definitely don’t want my kids to be addicted to TD and Twitter like I am.

For the record, that post count got racked up in college when I’d post in the IM threads. If you saw a chart it would maybe trend in a reassuring direction. But no doubt I can’t quit this place.

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Yes, I do think we are talking a bit past each other. I think my kids are way younger and I’m probably too idealistic. But at least I have these principles and don’t want to just give in to the tide. Seeing kids at restaurants or groups of kids just staring at their phones/tablets instead of interacting depresses the hell out of me. Then I go to school where phones aren’t allowed and suddenly kids are kids again. When we have play dates no screens are involved and it’s awesome. That’s just what I’m aiming for here.

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You and your kids will be fine. You care. And that is what is most important.

My daughter is 12. All of her friends have phones. We didn't cave, but did get her an Apple watch that can text/call. Thats all she really wanted. She didn't want to be left out of the group texts.

Parenting is hard. I try not to judge others too harshly.

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Yes, I do think we are talking a bit past each other. I think my kids are way younger and I’m probably too idealistic. But at least I have these principles and don’t want to just give in to the tide. Seeing kids at restaurants or groups of kids just staring at their phones/tablets instead of interacting depresses the hell out of me. Then I go to school where phones aren’t allowed and suddenly kids are kids again. When we have play dates no screens are involved and it’s awesome. That’s just what I’m aiming for here.

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so i have 3 boys in 9/7/4th grades and like you I said...never getting a phone until HS. then they start getting involved in all kinds of sports and other activities and you start having to split up some and send one kid with another parent or your kids start wanting to go places with others etc and you get real tired real quick of not being able to get ahold of your kid.

you change your mind real quick

you are being way way too idealistic and its because you have young kids. I said same thing but society changed even more to where you have to have a phone in hs.

but it isnt hard to restrict and limit and keep the kids well rounded. I actually have to get on my kids because they tend to just leave their phone charging at home or in their room and when i call I cant get ahold of them. They are very aware some kids are addicted and they dont want to be like that.

my kids only have insta and know I can and do monitor it

if you want to cut a lot of drama out....keep your kids off snap chat, that one is the worst and keep them from at least posting on tictok

but in general, kids have to have a phone that at least can text, call and use apps. also all homework is on the apps or the web portal.

I will say you are setting yourself up for a lot of frustration

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The other day I came back from lunch a d some of the younger guys were walking across the parking lot. When I got back to the office I asked one of them were they webt for lunch. He said we didnt go anywhere we were out catching Pokémon. These were 25-30 y.o. guys and 1 girl, and a retired Coast Guard guy out doing this.

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m

Who cares?

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Who cares?

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i mean i think its pretty gay and weird but it isnt affecting me so like you said...who cares

i would make fun of my sons for it though.

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Seeing kids at restaurants or groups of kids just staring at their phones/tablets instead of interacting depresses the hell out of me.

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this is the main thing I am trying to avoid at the moment

tablet is exclusively for Airplanes or drives over a couple hours. I know it is going to creep more and more in

drives me nuts when kids are glued to screens at restaurants