Cell phone targets tweeners

Phone from Firefly Mobile, designed to help reduce parental angst, limits calls to numbers that parents program with a PIN.
Photo: Firefly phone for kids
The New York Times

The story "Cell phone targets tweeners" published April 14, 2005 at 6:01 AM is no longer available on CNET News.

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Heres a thought!

KIDS DONT NEED CELLPHONES.. what is wrong with everyone today? Why does a kid need a cellphone? For hundreds of years with good parenting skills.. we managed to have (and be) kids that didnt need electronic teathers to our parents.. I have a child and he has no need for a cell phone.. there was a girl in his kindergarden class with one????? why???

They dont need them.. they dont need to have them in school.. want to get them one for emergencies.. let them take it when they go to a specific place.

My god people.. lets get back to parenting and stop trying to make technology take this responsibility.

[Christopher Hall]

And all the good people said...

AMEN!

It's a breath of fresh air to hear someone else say that, I must admit. People pin it on the "post 9/11 world" where parents need to be connected to their children all the time. I think that's a load of baloney.

While this is certainly better than giving a child a cellphone, it still missed the main issues. Parents need to BE THERE for their kids, not just call them. Phones don't raise responsible human beings. And giving a child a cellphone from an early age teaches dependence. The last thing I want my kids dependent on is mindlessly usless communication with Sally over what Jenny wore. Every day. For eighteen years.