Children: Cell Phones & Texting Age Appropriate

Let me start this blog off by a simple picture...

This pretty much sums it all up doesn't it?  Our children are becoming digital machines.  Conversations are becoming nonexistent, and parents are having to text their children to tell them dinner is ready, and what time to be ready for an evening out.  Wow, what a difference from the way things used to be done.  Is this really the way to do things?  What is happening to face to face conversations with our children or good ol' fashion yelling up the stairs: "Kiddos, dinner is ready!"?   Some think that texting is a simpler for of communication without a negative feeling.   What does this mean?  The yelling of "KIDS, DINNER IS READY" can be taken negative, out of context, and really negatively influence the child.  I always go into the room my boyfriend is in to tell him dinner is ready (although, usually, he is helping me with dinner) versus yelling because it is such a negative thing.  So, what do you think?  Is texting your children for dinner really so bad?  I don't think it's too horrible. 

Here is the other question at hand: What age is appropriate for cell phones and texting? A pretty simple article was posted about appropriate ages for cell phones that sums up my opinion as well.  This article states to use common sense.  Cell phones are intended for use if an emergency happens.  For example, if your child is going places alone and is with other people, or walking home from school, if your child is running around the mall by him/herself then your child should have a cell phone.  Although, cell phones have become such the "walking computer" that with our children growing more and more addicted to online games, social media, and text messaging (this next picture sums it up) the cell phone is deemed a want at an earlier age. 

Too cute,  right?  But true.  Here's an adorable old Cingular (AT&T) commercial about a kid using overages texting and the child is speaking text.

To wrap things up, here is a cute commerical of babies texting.

Facebook & Our Children

Do you remember when you were a child?  You were probably playing board games, running around outside, coloring up your entire neighborhood with sidewalk chalk designs, and playing school with your siblings.  Our present and future children are growing up in an entire different environment.  They are inside on the computer, downloading music to their iPod, playing with the coolest new app game which is all circulated with a connected online spirit.  Games are no longer games that are played in the living room with the family; they are apps on an iPod or a tablet of some sort.  Times are changing for our children from the way games are played to the way they learn.  YouTube has quite a selection of assistance for our children too.  Learn how to tie a tie, work your new iPod, or learn the best way to do an algebra problem these are all ways learning is different than my day!  The Joan Ganz Cooney Center did research and studies about children using social media with 810 parents ages 3-10.  They list some astounding facts with the research:

• About 59 percent of parents say their children’s digital media use prevents them from getting physical exercise.

·   More than half (53 percent) say the media use can pose a threat for online safety and privacy.

·   About 40 percent of parents say digital media infringes on time their children would otherwise spend in face-to-face interactions.

·   Only 18 percent of parents believe their own children spend too much time with digital media.

With over half of the parents stating that their child is lacking physical exercise because of digital media and that it poses a threat for safety of their children, yet only eighteen percent are admitting to too much time being spent on digital media something seems wrong here? Some parents do not really see how much time their children are spending on the devices because they are portable.  From personal experiences, my little cousin is ALWAYS on her iPod.  She is constantly downloading movies and music videos that her mom doesn’t always know the rating or content of the videos. 

This picture is too funny!

         The ultimate question of what is an appropriate age for a child to begin using social media also comes into play.  Facebook is the largest form of social networking available that children are easily attracted to.  Again, my cousin, who is 9 years old has a Facebook account.  She loves following Justin Bieber on Twitter and cannot get enough of Justin’s pictures on Facebook.  Of course, terms of use on the site is an age limit, but who really puts their real information on Facebook anyway?  If you are, then you are in for it a little… your real birthday is linked to many things and can let you get your identity stolen very quickly.  Back to topic, Facebook and social network appropriate age seems to be a common topic online among mothers everywhere.  A group of Manchester women posted the ever posing question, “How young is too young to allow your child to use Facebook?”  One mom posted some great insight, the Facebook rule is the child is to be 13 years old.  So, what does everyone else think?  So, I leave it up to you... what is the appropriate age for Facebook?