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Feb 24, 2021
11:45
:34
am
DB Cooper
All-American
We're going to get our kids HAM radios. Very useful in an emergency, they can
communicate with their friends and family all they want, and no data fees or worrying what they're looking at on them.
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DB Cooper
Previous username
Buton777
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DB Cooper
Joined
Jun 27, 2007
Last login
Jun 13, 2024
Total posts
11,708 (535 FO)
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Messages
Author
Time
My wife and I have decided NO smartphones for our kids when they become teens
RockyBalboa
2/24/21 11:19am
Like no phone at 13? 17 as well?
LiveCoug
2/24/21 11:20am
We'll get them Gabb phones or something similar to it.
RockyBalboa
2/24/21 11:24am
I thought the same thing
Remigius
2/24/21 11:21am
I think most have
Covid-19
2/24/21 11:22am
I know a few people who have decided this. From what I have seen lately its a good decision.
John Doe
2/24/21 11:21am
Easy to say now but it will be much harder when they can't communicate with
mudpupper
2/24/21 11:21am
If their friends have those apps, they have sms texting too.
Schultz is back
2/24/21 11:22am
But that isn't how they communicate. It's all through the apps in many cases
mudpupper
2/24/21 11:24am
Yes and they won’t use it
Blue2thebone
2/25/21 12:57am
Including YM/YW
BeyondTheMark
2/24/21 11:25am
Even church stuff--it's all on Circles, at least in our ward.
fredgarvin
2/24/21 11:25am
The Living App is available on tablets and other devices.
John Doe
2/24/21 11:26am
Right, but if you're not letting your kid have a smart phone because of the
fredgarvin
2/24/21 11:28am
Texting is part of the problem too, especially with girls. They can be ruthless to each other.
John Doe
2/24/21 11:31am
Gabb phones are fine. Don't give kids a phone, or any device, that have
byusage
2/24/21 11:21am
Great idea. We use Gabb phones so they can text and call, but no browser
Dangerous
2/24/21 11:26am
so what age then?
Cougarclaw
2/24/21 11:22am
You should parent however you feel is best
Gibbcoug
2/24/21 11:23am
For sure.
RockyBalboa
2/24/21 11:26am
So your issue is money?
Future_Tacos
2/25/21 5:22pm
The amount of grief you will catch over this will likely pale in comparison to
BR549
2/24/21 11:24am
Without question, if we had to do it again, this would be the route.
boogers
2/24/21 3:45pm
We use gabb phones and are very happy.
Alister Mackenzie
2/24/21 11:25am
Our oldest is 12. He has a Gizmo watch. It was working great, but now every one
BerkeleyCoug
2/24/21 11:26am
You should ask yourself and your wife this question. Would you rather your son access porn at home
CSoul
2/24/21 11:37am
On the flip side, young teens (10-14), that access porn early may not talk about
byusage
2/24/21 11:48am
That's why monitoring is so important. But the idea that boys who had no access in teens don't
CSoul
2/24/21 11:55am
I agree. I have worked with a lot of people with the situation
byusage
2/24/21 11:59am
RE: That's why monitoring is so important. But the idea that boys who had no
Bin01015
2/24/21 12:51pm
It was in the 90s and they had no Internet. But yes, there was an underlying issue
CSoul
2/24/21 5:20pm
Teaching kids how to properly use technology is a good parenting idea.
SpiffCoug
2/24/21 11:26am
My oldest is 12 and hasn't even asked for a phone yet. I'm in no hurry and will
WhirleyPop
2/24/21 11:27am
Our boys have them, we just limit the apps they can get. We like some of the features of the smartphone.
Turnpike Lane
2/24/21 11:27am
If they don’t have access to apps and they aren’t complaining
Bin01015
2/24/21 12:53pm
You get the kids with the hidden burner phones. Much more challenging to deal with.
Zedhead
2/24/21 11:28am
My younger brother did this when he was 16
BYUStudentCoug
2/24/21 11:45am
I see this post quite often on CB. I thought it must be common parenting these days
TCuz
2/24/21 11:28am
The majority of teens def have smartphones
RockyBalboa
2/24/21 11:49am
I hope it works out for you. We waited until they were 15,
Hops
2/24/21 11:29am
I hear ya. I'm sure we'll adjust as we feel is right.
RockyBalboa
2/24/21 11:30am
Yeh, I know those parents too. I also know how most of their kids have phones their friends
CSoul
2/24/21 11:32am
Good insight and thoughtful advice. Thanks.
RockyBalboa
2/24/21 11:34am
We have friends that don't give their kids phones until pretty late. Just told us that they found their
CSoul
2/24/21 11:40am
I have felt a responsibility to teach the proper use of technology inclusive of phones to my kids
Remigius
2/24/21 11:39am
A parent's most important calling/responsibility in life is to teach/advise imo, not to restrict/protect.
CSoul
2/24/21 11:42am
I think the under 15-16 year olds need time to be taught to have an internal
byusage
2/24/21 11:58am
This is how I feel about it too. You can try to teach a 12 year old but their
O Gaucho
2/24/21 3:42pm
Really the only good decision to make right now. We did the same and haven't
O Gaucho
2/24/21 11:33am
We're going to get our kids HAM radios. Very useful in an emergency, they can
DB Cooper
2/24/21 11:45am
Watch out for the HAM predators!
Parkercoug82
2/24/21 11:47am
RE: Watch out for the HAM predators!
DB Cooper
2/24/21 11:49am
It will be harder than you think. No one does email anymore.
HuskerFan2
2/24/21 11:48am
I like Gabb for kids up until they start driving
BYUStudentCoug
2/24/21 11:49am
You're very wise.
A_blue_car
2/24/21 11:50am
We get smartphones but NO SOCIAL MEDIA APPS. That's worked really well for us.
CObluezone
2/24/21 11:52am
Good luck with that.
idcougarfan
2/24/21 11:59am
It is tough. I absolutely understand what you are doing.
Carnac
2/24/21 12:03pm
The sad reality is that most if not all LDS girls and boys will be exposed
BYUStudentCoug
2/24/21 12:04pm
Of course, but there is a huge difference between seeing it from time to time and being able to access it easily and
vegasnative
2/24/21 1:09pm
Google Fi with MM Guardian...it is a Gabb phone that allows you to install LDS
doctorcoug
2/24/21 12:04pm
You can obviously do what you want, but we give our kids phones at 12. IMO the teen years are when they learn to
Odysseus
2/24/21 12:17pm
The issue is that teens can do stupid things that will haunt them forever, like sext, post nudes online, make dumb jokes
vegasnative
2/24/21 1:12pm
It's not an either or proposition. You slowly give kids more and more freedom of choice.
CSoul
2/24/21 5:23pm
This is always a tough one to decide upon when and how
Isleofavalon
2/24/21 12:24pm
I cried several times last week after I went through
Cobra Venom
2/24/21 12:47pm
We waited until our kids were freshman to get them a phone.
Bin01015
2/24/21 1:05pm
They only need calls and texting. They'll cry bc they can't have Instagram
BYU Grounds
2/24/21 1:12pm
I have 8 kids oldest 19 on his mission, 4 teenagers right now and no smartphones
gilmerbuckeye
2/24/21 2:29pm
Going from complete restriction to no restriction is worse. I believe parents
Powerbait DPM
2/24/21 3:17pm
Thup for your last sentence. My oldest will be 9 soon. He's already asked
Schultz is back
2/24/21 4:09pm
I support your desire and intentions. Hopefully the Gabb tech allows you to
StalwartBraveTrue
2/24/21 4:25pm
We didn’t allow ours phones till they graduated high school.
Boxey
2/24/21 5:04pm
Be a little generous. If you can afford it go for the gusto. I didn’t know it
Bullrider
2/24/21 7:03pm
The strictest parents always have the most crazy kids when they leave the nest.
Cosmo4life
2/24/21 8:48pm
that is not true at all. Yes, it happens sometimes
gilmerbuckeye
2/24/21 10:25pm
We have any old phone that works on wifi for $5 per month. We use it as a family
TailgateU
2/24/21 10:40pm
Smart move. Stick with it. They will still get access to almost everything but
Bee Chunder
2/25/21 9:25am
We have some friends who don't let their 13 year old have a phone
Medute
2/25/21 4:46pm
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