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Post by cindylou on Aug 23, 2008 1:20:22 GMT -5
I am getting Kaylee a cell phone for her 15th birthday. It's all she wants and asks for it all the time. I won't be getting the pay as you go kind or the kind with only 4 buttons. She would be so offended. I'm wondering if any of you have experience with your kids with regular cell phones and if so--which ones worked the best (styles) and if you have any tips. HELP! She takes mine on busy days and calls all my friends and Emma's friends--and they all put up with her.  We have a nice group of friends. However, I can't have her calling people all the time--so I need some ground rules.. Thanks for any help- Cindy |
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Post by Jackie on Aug 23, 2008 11:52:59 GMT -5
Emily has a Samsung Sprint phone. No picture mail or extras. She doesn't have too many friendscall her on it so never uses all her minutes. She is not really a phone talker and uses it mostly to keep in touch with Katie. Elvis and others know to call her after hours when minutes are free. She is on a shared plan with me. I think they allow our kids ever so much more freedom and I wish they had been around when Em was younger.
Jackie
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Post by laurasmom on Aug 23, 2008 13:32:10 GMT -5
Laura also has a Samsung phone, we are on Verizon so all calls to other Verizon customers are free. So she can call her grandparents for free, and she calls them several times a week.
We have rules like no calls after 9:30 (her bedtime). Has to be charged and with her if she goes out anywhere. If I leave the girls at home, they each have to have their phones in their pockets at all times.
Laura loves hers. It does have picture and video capability, and she has lots of fun with that.
It also provides a little measure of safety. I like that.
Sharon
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Post by damarasmom on Aug 23, 2008 15:24:20 GMT -5
I'll chime in here...Although Damara is way too young for a phone, I will for sure give her one when she is older! I like being able to reach her when I want and I agree with the sense of independence...Of course...the way Damara steals my phone and walks around the house having hour long conversations...she might be ready earlier than I think!
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Post by ALLISA on Aug 23, 2008 16:56:39 GMT -5
Don't fully knock the pay as you go phones....You can use almost any phone ( does not have to be a dinky little "cheap" phone) and you just put money on that chip.....there is a machine all set up in the AT&t store that does it....you need the chip and a credit card, then you put the chip in the phone. It is a great thing if you have a decent phone laying around & don't want to buy a plan for someone who doesn't talk a lot.
I think camera etc is fun....and most phones have them anyways....but obvioulsy the most important factor is cool ringtones and color !
Have fun ! She will be blissfully happy this b-day I suspect !
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Post by MB on Aug 23, 2008 21:30:59 GMT -5
Son has a full out LG Chocolate with bells and whistles. It has been very successful. We went through the inappropriate call phase in elementary school.
His best friend had one for a year before Son received his and was very appropriate so we may have just caught a break having Son follow in his friend's footsteps.
MB
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Post by rickismom on Aug 24, 2008 16:37:26 GMT -5
Once I saw a young adult in the bus station. Someone came up and asked to borrow his phone (which is done a lot around here). Be sure your child is aware of the possibility of theft.
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Post by jessjetland on Aug 24, 2008 21:25:42 GMT -5
Dont forget about a text messaging plan, you really get nailed for incoming text and I know texting is a big thing now.
Jess
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Post by steffaroni on Aug 25, 2008 9:24:23 GMT -5
Interesting point there rickismom. Kids here always ask other kids to use each others cell phones too. When I used to pick up Liv from school whenever kids saw me with my cell they'd wanna use it to call their moms etc. I mean everyday and at least 2-3 a day. So. lol I stopped bringing it in cause I am a sucker for a kid and let em all use it. I noticed my bill got kinda hefty after a few weeks of this. I know Olivia would do the same and let others use it if they asked.
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Post by steffaroni on Aug 25, 2008 9:26:47 GMT -5
Do you know here in cali (little off topic here) they made a new law which is being heavily enforced YAY that you may NOT drive with a cell unless u have the blue tooth wrieless headpiece. You shoulda seen circuit city n frys electronics the day before the law was enacted. Sh*t I'm in the wrong business is all I was thinking. day late and a dollar short. lol Steff
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Post by CC on Aug 25, 2008 23:01:18 GMT -5
Hey Cindy girl so good to see you posting ;D Just wondering does Emma have a cell phone?? Cause if she does I would suggest getting Kaylee the same kind. Kodi Lee at this time has a verizon cause most her pals have verizon and they offer free calls to all other verizon users. Not sure if text messaging is something Kaylee would be into BUT OMG a must around here LOL As for the ground rules, I would go with the same rules you have for Emma, if she has a cell too. How the heck have you all been, update needed  CC ~ |
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Post by cindylou on Aug 26, 2008 2:59:03 GMT -5
Thanks for all your advice. to answer a few questions: No, Emma does not yet have a cell phone--and she's the ONLY girl on her soccer team and amongst all her girl/boy friends that doesn't have one. She does, however, have a brand new inground pool that all her cell-phone-carrying friends have spent half their summer in. She is getting one the day of or the day after Kaylee gets one. I couldn't bear giving Emma one before Kaylee--and I am finally giving in to both. Kaylee will get hers for her birthday. Yes, we will need unlimited texting--I'm sure Kaylee will want to text--it will be interesting to see what come through. She will mostly be calling/texting family, family friends--and all of Emma's boyfriends--because they are all so nice to her. She calls them on my cell all the time and leaves messages. The callenge will be to teach her how many times a day its appropriate to call someone. WE have already warned them all to just not pick up the call if Kaylee keeps calling... I'll let you know how it all works out! thanks cindy |
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Post by mollysmomma on Aug 26, 2008 8:50:12 GMT -5
i saw an add on television...verizon i think, where the parent can monitor usage, and set usage as they want!
after raising two typical sons...ONE $400 bill (5000 text messages) and having one cell phone lost (i found it in 37 pieces on the road in front of the sonic) all i can tell you is...the insurance is a waste of money, and shop ebay for replacements. HA!
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Post by advocate4myself on Aug 26, 2008 19:51:06 GMT -5
I have a Mortola Razor Thin phone. My service, I guess it is okay say, is ATT&T Cingular. It took me a while to learn everything on it. I don't text message because it cost extra. I don't even check my Internet on it. I use my cell as a basic phone to keep connected with my family, mainly my parents. I never have been one that likes to talk alot on the phone as some do. I do enjoy putting pictures on it. My current wallpaper, is my boy-friend.
His handsome face is on my screen. I changed color on it, they call it a skin, and I really like the color! I also fixed my voice message to say please leave a message. I am learning! I can look up to see my date calendar also. Reading the book is actually helpful!..............Debbie
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Post by ALLISA on Aug 26, 2008 20:20:12 GMT -5
Reading the book is actually helpful! ;D I had to laugh when I read that....it is SO true....I had to get a new phone after I dropped mine in a cup of coffee  ....I read the manual one night when I couldn't sleep....and man....I got all the bells and whistles working now.....I've got custom ring tones for each person so I know who is calling based on what I hear....I've got music on it..... And yes....I agree the insuarnce isn't worth it....just buy used ones on Craiglist |
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We have a nice group of friends. However, I can't have her calling people all the time--so I need some ground rules..
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....I read the manual one night when I couldn't sleep....and man....I got all the bells and whistles working now.....I've got custom ring tones for each person so I know who is calling based on what I hear....I've got music on it.....