Weird that the coaches left before the kids were picked up. I’m sure that’s not allowed. But yes, times have changed since the mid 90s. Kids are still left at activities alone, in age appropriate fashion, but instead of pay phone banks, kids now have their own devices to call mom. In my house, this in in the form of a watch that doesn’t do anything besides call or text me, dad, grandma, neighbor, or anyone else we add in. Other parents choose dumb phones or smart phones. This is society now. You have to adapt to it, not shake your fist at the clouds that society is no longer the same

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I just hate that we are pushing technology like cell phones on our kids when there could be other solutions. I don't want my kids relying on adults to text.

I also think a lot of parents have extreme anxiety and give their kids cells so they can track them. Kids deserve independence and trust.

It's ridiculous to rely on a technological crutch like a payphone, which is operated by adults. Kids deserve independence and trust.

Therapy for your disordered thinking might help. It's not 1930 anymore.

1930? Really? You are obviously disconnected from reality so why would anyone listen to you? Most of us grew up in a world where we would make calls from pay phones if we needed to. How old are you?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Buy an older iPhone (flip phones are cumbersome IMO), strip it down via parental controls, hand to whichever kid is getting dropped off somewhere. Kid keeps phone in his bag during activity, & returns phone when you pick him up.

Phone is your “spare family phone” and does not belong to anyone specifically.

Works great, and no need to depend on others.

“No need to depend on others” is destroying our society.

A pay phone required depending on a company, but not directly or in any tangible way. Why would that be better? My cell phone requires depending on the service provider, phone manufacturer, and cell tower companies, so it's basically the same dependence level as a pay phone.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Buy an older iPhone (flip phones are cumbersome IMO), strip it down via parental controls, hand to whichever kid is getting dropped off somewhere. Kid keeps phone in his bag during activity, & returns phone when you pick him up.

Phone is your “spare family phone” and does not belong to anyone specifically.

Works great, and no need to depend on others.

“No need to depend on others” is destroying our society.

THIS

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would complain about the coaches leaving before everyone was picked up.

Yeah this is actually the real issue here. What kind of drop off kids activity just stops in the middle and the adult in charge just leaves ?? I would be mad.

Agreed. The coach should not have left.

And yet several PPs have told OP she is in the wrong for leaving the premises and not properly supervising her kids.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, this is why some parents of older kids/teens roll their eyes when parents of very young kids insist that they won't let their kids have a phone till they are 18.

Mine did just fine without a phone until the could drive. After that we allowed it.

Anonymous wrote:Buy an older iPhone (flip phones are cumbersome IMO), strip it down via parental controls, hand to whichever kid is getting dropped off somewhere. Kid keeps phone in his bag during activity, & returns phone when you pick him up.

Phone is your “spare family phone” and does not belong to anyone specifically.

Works great, and no need to depend on others.

“No need to depend on others” is destroying our society.

This is why we got our younger kids the flip phones. The phones only made calls and sent basic texts. They didn't have access to the internet on them.

My SIL has given her younger kids GABB watches and phones. Look into those. I'm not familiar but again, no internet. They can only call and text the numbers that are approved when added to them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would complain about the coaches leaving before everyone was picked up.

Yeah this is actually the real issue here. What kind of drop off kids activity just stops in the middle and the adult in charge just leaves ?? I would be mad.

Agreed. The coach should not have left.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, this is why some parents of older kids/teens roll their eyes when parents of very young kids insist that they won't let their kids have a phone till they are 18.

+1. My sister is like this and I think she is about to learn this.

We plan on 8th grade for a phone. Kid in 6th and still no phone. They have a kids watch for urgent situations. They talk to friends on Echo, Meets or Zoom.

Great, so your kid can call you. OP's kid needs this ability. Especially since she has her focus on minding a toddler and wants to leave this kid on their own.

Anonymous wrote:I would complain about the coaches leaving before everyone was picked up.

Yeah this is actually the real issue here. What kind of drop off kids activity just stops in the middle and the adult in charge just leaves ?? I would be mad.

Buy an older iPhone (flip phones are cumbersome IMO), strip it down via parental controls, hand to whichever kid is getting dropped off somewhere. Kid keeps phone in his bag during activity, & returns phone when you pick him up.

Phone is your “spare family phone” and does not belong to anyone specifically.

Works great, and no need to depend on others.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or we could have something that didn’t require a monthly bill and could be lost or broken.

like a parent staying near by

Modern Payphones still cost money for maintenance and service. Nothing is free.

Hovering over your kids makes them insecure and frightened of the world. There’s been endless articles on this.

Some public goods are beneficial to all. This falls into that category.

It's not hovering to go sit in your car or walk around the block for an hour. GTFO

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or we could have something that didn’t require a monthly bill and could be lost or broken.

like a parent staying near by

Modern Payphones still cost money for maintenance and service. Nothing is free.

Hovering over your kids makes them insecure and frightened of the world. There’s been endless articles on this.

Some public goods are beneficial to all. This falls into that category.

This is so not the example of that. Stop the nonsense.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or we could have something that didn’t require a monthly bill and could be lost or broken.

like a parent staying near by

Modern Payphones still cost money for maintenance and service. Nothing is free.

Hovering over your kids makes them insecure and frightened of the world. There’s been endless articles on this.

Some public goods are beneficial to all. This falls into that category.