Reply to APS Current cell phones reality

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]With a little effort -you know parenting- parents could solve this problem for themselves. Even with no effort they could decide not to give their kid a smartphone. But the parents who won’t want to ban phones for everyone else. I still don’t get this. [/quote]

This isn’t accurate. The parents who don’t want to limit their kids’ use ALSO don’t want them banned. The people most in favor of it seem to be the parents of kids who genuinely want ALL kids to have rich learning experiences and the ability to not spend their educational years on screens. The parents fighting this hardest are the ones who also have phone issues and can’t fathom what their kids could possibly do all day if not on a phone. [/quote]

I'd also include parents whose own anxiety is not well managed. They have anxiety about needing to reach their child, and likewise, their child has anxiety about needing to reach them. The most stark example of this is the poster on AEM who alluded to their child needing an emergency appt with their pscyh re: the possibility of not having their phone. When probing of the situation unfolded, the parent suggested that the child A. has anxiety, and B. would have no problem storing their phone during the day, but, feels very strongly about having it in case of an emergency.

Well, let's employ common sense. Who wouldn't feel strongly about having a phone in case of an emergency? Everyone would like to have a phone available to contact their families in case of an emergency. Now, what we are talking about most likely here is a scenario of a active shooter at a school. The reality is that having a phone or not having a phone will not save a child in a situation like this. Further, actively using a phone during this type of situation could create greater danger to a child as it could draw attention to them inadvertently. Also, can we imagine what type of scenario would unfold if a singular child in a classroom had a phone and no other children had them--what kind of clamoring and desperation would occur as everyone bartered to use the sole phone? My last point on this goes back to control and anxiety, which I highlighted further upstream, there is this magical thinking that if someone just has a phone it will save or protect them in this situation--it is not likely to.

We like to think that we can control or predict safety and life for our loved ones, but, anyone could have a stroke, get in a car accident, etc etc. We most often don't know when someone's last day will be. Magical thinking should not be the prevailing force that influences this cell phone discussion, and I hope people can embrace reality, manage their anxieties, and understand that tolerating discomfort and uncertainty is part of life, and allow those notions to enter into the overall discussion and planning as well. [/quote]

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