Anonymous wrote:Don't take his phone away for bad manners, unless those violations were phone-related.

+1,000,000

I would never let my child leave the house without his phone...especially if he will be walking home alone. What is wrong with you OP?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't take his phone away for bad manners, unless those violations were phone-related.

i disagree. You take away whatever they like most.

I disagree. I once failed a math test in 8th grade. My mom threatened to take away my gymnastics tape collection. ( I have every gymnastics meet recorded since 84) I told her if you do that I will kill myself. I 100% meant it. Guess who didn't take away my tapes.

Normal response, I can't imagine I would have reacted any differently. I'm glad everything was fine OP.

Please do not second guess involving the police...I'm an officer and it happens quite often. Your child was over 1.5 hours late...definitely worth asking for the help! I'm sure when my kids are that age they will wish their mom wasn't a cop and over-protective. You did the right thing!

Anonymous wrote:don't take away the phone. Just turn off data and texting. For my phone plan, I can do this on the internet.

I agree. They need the phone at that age when they are away from home. It's a matter of safety.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't take his phone away for bad manners, unless those violations were phone-related.

i disagree. You take away whatever they like most.

No, you need to fit the discipline to the offense. Punishment for punishment's sake doesn't work. Discipline based on the initial action can teach a child control.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Think you did the right thing. And to the poster who said they communicated their whereabouts pre cell phone, so did I by using pay phones. Is that what you used? It's pretty much impossible to find them now!

He was at the library. I'm fairly certain the librarian would allow a child to use the phone to call home. He was at a computer. He knows how to use gmail.

Thanks everyone for all your support.

My library doesn't allow kids under 13 to access the internet unless they are with a parent or guardian. If yours does allow it, great. However, I do agree that librarians will allow kids to call mom and let her know where they are.

Anonymous wrote:Don't take his phone away for bad manners, unless those violations were phone-related.

i disagree. You take away whatever they like most.

Agree with others who said don't take the phone way. I wouldn't allow my 11 year old out without a form of communication. Yes, he was at the library but what if he wasn't?

Anonymous wrote:don't take away the phone. Just turn off data and texting. For my phone plan, I can do this on the internet.

+1 I always consider the phone is something for my convenience for my kids, not theirs. I might take it away when they are in the house, but they always have it when they leave the house -- for me.

Anonymous wrote:Think you did the right thing. And to the poster who said they communicated their whereabouts pre cell phone, so did I by using pay phones. Is that what you used? It's pretty much impossible to find them now!

He was at the library. I'm fairly certain the librarian would allow a child to use the phone to call home. He was at a computer. He knows how to use gmail.

Thanks everyone for all your support.

Anonymous wrote:Do not be embarrassed. Officers deal with those situations all the time. They are happy when there is not a tragic ending.

absolutely agree with this OP. And I work with the police.

Trade his phone for a basic flip phone or cancel data on his phone.

Think you did the right thing. And to the poster who said they communicated their whereabouts pre cell phone, so did I by using pay phones. Is that what you used? It's pretty much impossible to find them now!

I am sure it was very scary, and I am glad that he was safe - and at the library no less!
Having said that, an 11 year old should have a phone that is so boring it won't be abused. No games, not photos, no internet, etc.