Peer pressure to buy kids phones
Discussion
bulldong said:
That's hilarious, I remember begging my mum and dad for a pair of Bauer blades. Eventually they caved in and I got them but spread across Christmas and Birthday. I agree though, pester power has always been there but you couldn't buy a pair of Bauer skates on credit, hence not everyone was able to have them just like that.
Next youll be telling me you had Sim Wheels too... Ziplobb said:
Interesting thread - my wife and I have resisited the kids having phones until they were 14 - my daughter was the last in her class to have one. She bought (with her own money) a hand me down iphone from a friend. She has just upgraded it to another one bought from a friend at school who has just bee given the latest iphone whatever at a cost of around £800. My son has an iphone 6 he bought off a mate at school. I dont see it as my job to splash out on somethig they dont need and i consider it a waste of their time when they use it. My son causes me great annoyance by playing clash of clans but they cant be bothered to set the table for dinner. Both kids do a lot (100/150 miles a week in the summer) cycling so the phone is used to run Strava and I see the value in that for them but otherise its a luxury item.
Whilst I agree with you wholeheartedly in theory, and I do try to keep my kids off their devices on a regular basis, in practice I think it only works if all kids are in the same boat.They all have WhatsApp groups and the like, and these form the core of their social group. All activities are planned on them, and counterintuitively though it may seem to us, friendships are developed on them. Do you remember making friends on holiday when you were a kid, and promising you'd keep in touch as pen pals once you got home? Did it ever happen? One of my lads still chats daily to kids all over the country whom he met in an activity group on holiday.
I also listen to them playing Xbox. Most adults think it's antisocial because they think of the single player video games of their youth. The reality is that they're playing in groups, and building their friendships whilst doing so. Sure, I'd love to see them out building tree houses or whatever, but in reality, their mates weeks just stay on the Xbox, and mine would lose out.
Vaud said:
boyse7en said:
Her school bans phones completely. Phones must be in bags (not pockets) and must be switched off. Any pupils found holding a phone (on or off, in use or not) will have it confiscated and their parents can collect it from the school on the next Friday after school. It will not be given back to the pupil.
Sounds very sensible.Surprised more schools don't do this. Cuts out a lot of bullying, aggrevation, theft etc. Albeit probably causes minor heart-attack for future pupils when they find out.
andyb said:
Our kids' secondary school does this but goes one step further - no smart phones on the school building. Detention if you are found with a phone with a camera. And yes, you can buy 'brick' phones without any smart or camera so they have those for emergencies.
Surprised more schools don't do this. Cuts out a lot of bullying, aggrevation, theft etc. Albeit probably causes minor heart-attack for future pupils when they find out.
Excellent - I agree!Surprised more schools don't do this. Cuts out a lot of bullying, aggrevation, theft etc. Albeit probably causes minor heart-attack for future pupils when they find out.
The rise of sexting, etc is very damaging.
Bullying will always happen, but the ubiquitous nature of devices, the ability to be near anonymous and the range of media that can be uploaded (and manipulated) means that additional controls are definitely warranted.
I have no issue with some kids needed a phone for safety/security/some tracking going to school and on their way home. But no child needs a phone in school.
Vaud said:
jonamv8 said:
a lot of the kids mentioned in this thread sound like dreadful children.......
I agree - with boundaries and expectations that the parents have clearly not set.alorotom said:
Vaud said:
jonamv8 said:
a lot of the kids mentioned in this thread sound like dreadful children.......
I agree - with boundaries and expectations that the parents have clearly not set.jonamv8 said:
Nope they just sound like spoilt brats.
That was my take...As noted, I have no issue with kids having a phone of some form. Or even an older iPhone. But it isn't a right, and with it comes responsibilities. And for a new phone, a contribution from pocket money or errands/jobs.
It's key that children learn where money comes from and the effort needed to buy nice things.
Otherwise they will grow up to be entitled spoiled brats.
I have two girls 8 & 10 both received 2 year old hand me down phones when i did our upgrades.
They were then given the choice if they wanted a sim they had to use their birthday money alternatively they could just use them on wifi as a mini tablet. One chose to buy a sim the other didn't i dont think either regret their decision.
They were then given the choice if they wanted a sim they had to use their birthday money alternatively they could just use them on wifi as a mini tablet. One chose to buy a sim the other didn't i dont think either regret their decision.
Vaud said:
I have no issue with some kids needed a phone for safety/security/some tracking going to school and on their way home. But no child needs a phone in school.
You might think so, but it's not uncommon for my eldest two to use their phones in lessons at secondary school.Both schools (which were Excellent across the board at their last Ofsted inspections and get superb exam results) have strict rules banning the use of phones at all other times on school premises. My son's for example, has a three strikes rule. First infringement = phone confiscated to the end of the day, second = phone confiscated to the end of the week, and a parent has to collect it, third = phone confiscated to the end of the term.
The alternative to letting them use their Smartphones in class under supervision is to have tablets or laptops for every child, rather than just those who don't have a phone they can use. I guess in the ideal world, each child would have a heavily locked down school tablet, but there are a lot of demands on the schools' limited budgets, so in this case I can understand fully why they take the pragmatic approach.
Vaud said:
So what happens to the kids whose parents cant afford smart phones?
I like the schools that mandate a reasonably priced uniform and ban designer labels. Anything that reduces the ability to compare.
If you're referring to my post, I believe they have some tablets/laptops, but not enough for the whole class. The teachers just distribute them as required.I like the schools that mandate a reasonably priced uniform and ban designer labels. Anything that reduces the ability to compare.
Vaud said:
I like the schools that mandate a reasonably priced uniform and ban designer labels. Anything that reduces the ability to compare.
Both our kids schools' both have that policy - except for the small point that they insist on the school logo being embroidered onto all clothing, which can only be obtained from one preferred supplier.....I'm one of many parents that have said we will ensure our kids are well presented in the right colour uniform, if the school ensure they focus on educational matters, not branding and marketing.
Vaud said:
boyse7en said:
Her school bans phones completely. Phones must be in bags (not pockets) and must be switched off. Any pupils found holding a phone (on or off, in use or not) will have it confiscated and their parents can collect it from the school on the next Friday after school. It will not be given back to the pupil.
Sounds very sensible.Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff