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monster · 01-30-2008, 08:03 AM

Depends on maturity/need not age.

I used to be horrified by the young kids I see with them and think it was ridiculous, but as it turns out, we were the first among our friends with kids the same age to get them for ours

.....

We got the first for our kids 2 years ago, once they started at school with spontaneous field trips and being unaccompanied at swim practice with variable finish time, and after the school closed early for snow one day and the bus dumped the oldest (7) in a snow drift in the middle of the afternoon half a mile from home with no adult supervision, no check that she knew how to get home etc. (yes, people were fired).

We called it the "sprog phone" it's a Virgin PAYG -free out-of-style phone, no contract, minimum top-up $60/year -cheap at twice the cost for the peace of mind it provides. Oldest was 8, she was responsible for carrying it, but they all knew where it was and how to use it if the needed to (all were usually in same place at that time). They are not allowed to call/text anyone except me, and they don't.

Just got the second sprog phone, same deal, now that the oldest two tend to be in different places at the same time with variable taxi requirements. More often that not, we need to get in touch with them to inform them of pick-up arrangements rather than the other way around (3 kids, 2 parents, flexibility required). Middle sprog is about to turn 9.

I think the 3rd sprog phone is a long way off -the little guy (age 6) has enough difficulty remembering his pants and can break jello. Plus he's off with the fairies most of the time, and is still almost always accompanied by a responsible adult (with ready-to-go-straight-jacket) at all extra-curricular activities

01-30-2008, 08:03 AM	#8
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	Depends on maturity/need not age. I used to be horrified by the young kids I see with them and think it was ridiculous, but as it turns out, we were the first among our friends with kids the same age to get them for ours ..... We got the first for our kids 2 years ago, once they started at school with spontaneous field trips and being unaccompanied at swim practice with variable finish time, and after the school closed early for snow one day and the bus dumped the oldest (7) in a snow drift in the middle of the afternoon half a mile from home with no adult supervision, no check that she knew how to get home etc. (yes, people were fired). We called it the "sprog phone" it's a Virgin PAYG -free out-of-style phone, no contract, minimum top-up $60/year -cheap at twice the cost for the peace of mind it provides. Oldest was 8, she was responsible for carrying it, but they all knew where it was and how to use it if the needed to (all were usually in same place at that time). They are not allowed to call/text anyone except me, and they don't. Just got the second sprog phone, same deal, now that the oldest two tend to be in different places at the same time with variable taxi requirements. More often that not, we need to get in touch with them to inform them of pick-up arrangements rather than the other way around (3 kids, 2 parents, flexibility required). Middle sprog is about to turn 9. I think the 3rd sprog phone is a long way off -the little guy (age 6) has enough difficulty remembering his pants and can break jello. Plus he's off with the fairies most of the time, and is still almost always accompanied by a responsible adult (with ready-to-go-straight-jacket) at all extra-curricular activities __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart