I'm curious how old the children of the "just say no" crowd is. Sure, we did that when our children were younger, but I have teens now who are thankfully learning responsibility by having it. If you treat your 17 year-old like a 10 year-old how do you expect him to have self-discipline in college?

* to ALL this crap

And don't get me started on video games, which are so terrible for children and teens. So destructive. So mind-numbing. So addictive. Such a complete waste of time. Smart, caring involved parents don't let their children play video games. Do some research. Don't be lazy. Just say NO to call this crap.

* distracted not distrasted

^ I agree. This trend is so sad. I will never, ever let my kids have all this stuff in their rooms. I will prob. never let them have ANY of this stuff period. My sister let her teen son have all this in his room and he ended up getting poor grades. He was so distrasted by it all. It is nonsense. I want my kids to remember their childhoods and do quality activities like read books and play board games and sports and go outside. We don't even have cable tv. I personally am on my laptop too much, but when my kids ask me, I say, well, I am a grownup and I am reading, which is true. But they are not adults and it is my job to protect them from themselves. Even pediatricians nowadays warn parents not to allow tvs and computers in children's rooms. This is lazy, horrible parenting to give your kids all this electronic crap.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids have televisions, video games, and laptops in their rooms. Plus, they have iphones.

We've never had a problem. They know that during the school year, they need to get all of their homework finished and be in bed at a reasonable hour. And they know that if they don't live up to those expectations, they will lose the privilege of having those things in their rooms.

During the summer and on weekends, it's not unusual for my older teens to be texting until 2am. But on school nights, it's never been an issue. They all study hard and make good grades. And they are all involved in extra-curricular activities and sports. Honestly, they are tired at night!

Seriously? I can't believe your teens are not spending all of the their time on their electronics with all this stuff in their rooms.

I agree. It is like teens now have their own mini apartments in their room. Less time they have to spend with their family.

Anonymous wrote:My kids have televisions, video games, and laptops in their rooms. Plus, they have iphones.

We've never had a problem. They know that during the school year, they need to get all of their homework finished and be in bed at a reasonable hour. And they know that if they don't live up to those expectations, they will lose the privilege of having those things in their rooms.

During the summer and on weekends, it's not unusual for my older teens to be texting until 2am. But on school nights, it's never been an issue. They all study hard and make good grades. And they are all involved in extra-curricular activities and sports. Honestly, they are tired at night!

Seriously? I can't believe your teens are not spending all of the their time on their electronics with all this stuff in their rooms.

Anonymous wrote:It totally depends on the individual kid.

DS1 loses everything so his phone is cheap. On the other hand he is pretty good at setting limits for himself, so he is allowed to hold on to his phone and laptop at night.

DS2 is careful with belongings, so his phone is fancier. But his self-regulation is iffy, so electronics stay downstairs at night.

Both have laptops. We check their usage some, and check their facebooks frequently, but don't constantly peer over their shoulders. DS2 has a limited data plan for his phone, which he pays for. DS1 didn't want to spend that money.

Good parenting means that you make the rules fit the individual kid, not that you make the rules according to someone else's theory of what all kids do/don't need.

Nice.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really think it depends on the kid.

16 year old dd has an I-phone she brought herself from work income. She also uses it regularly at night texting and listening to music, yes, even on school nights. I don't really care. She's responsible, gets up on time everyday, does well in school and takes care of tasks at home.

See, this is my thought. What the heck is wrong with allowing a child to learn how to self regulate? I know my kids have stayed up until midnight or later on the stupid phones, but the next morning when they're dead tired and can't sit through class without dozing off, they've learned their lesson.

They do their homework. They set alarms to get up in the morning, and don't oversleep them.

I really never even thought of taking away their phones.

My mom made me go to bed at 9 pm in high school. I think it is your job to help your kids. You should not be letting them stay up until midnight or later on the stupid phones. That is irresponsible. It sounds pretty much like you have no idea at all when they go to sleep at night. Are you sure they are even at home? My dh used to sneak out of the house many times as a kid. Maybe they are out banging the neighbor for all you know.

Uh yes, especially as I'm a night owl. Lol at your paranoia.

Only idiotic, ignorant parents think their teens are not sexting/caming into the wee hours of the night. Sorry to break the news to you but it's too late. Their nude pics and vids are most likely already out there in circulations.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really think it depends on the kid.

16 year old dd has an I-phone she brought herself from work income. She also uses it regularly at night texting and listening to music, yes, even on school nights. I don't really care. She's responsible, gets up on time everyday, does well in school and takes care of tasks at home.

See, this is my thought. What the heck is wrong with allowing a child to learn how to self regulate? I know my kids have stayed up until midnight or later on the stupid phones, but the next morning when they're dead tired and can't sit through class without dozing off, they've learned their lesson.

They do their homework. They set alarms to get up in the morning, and don't oversleep them.

I really never even thought of taking away their phones.

My mom made me go to bed at 9 pm in high school. I think it is your job to help your kids. You should not be letting them stay up until midnight or later on the stupid phones. That is irresponsible. It sounds pretty much like you have no idea at all when they go to sleep at night. Are you sure they are even at home? My dh used to sneak out of the house many times as a kid. Maybe they are out banging the neighbor for all you know.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My teens have the iPhone 3G, which was $50. Who spends $700 on a phone for a teen? We have limited data plans. What's the fuss?

There is no iPhone that costs $50. I've had this discussion with my teenager many times. If you buy a phone that "costs" $50 and requires a 2 year plan, and that plan costs $20 more a month than the same plan pay as you go, then the phone costs $50 + ($20 x 24) or $530.

I already had a two year contract and got my sons iphone free without having to add to the length of the contract. So, there really can be a free or low cost iphone.

No, that's an iPhone you'd already paid for.

Not that it's a big deal, but the reality is that an iPhone is a luxury. I'm not saying your kid should or shouldn't have one (the post above is my first post), but it is a luxury.

And your point is? I'm not sure of a single person who lives life without luxuries.

Really, it's okay to give your kids things.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My teens have the iPhone 3G, which was $50. Who spends $700 on a phone for a teen? We have limited data plans. What's the fuss?

There is no iPhone that costs $50. I've had this discussion with my teenager many times. If you buy a phone that "costs" $50 and requires a 2 year plan, and that plan costs $20 more a month than the same plan pay as you go, then the phone costs $50 + ($20 x 24) or $530.

I already had a two year contract and got my sons iphone free without having to add to the length of the contract. So, there really can be a free or low cost iphone.

No, that's an iPhone you'd already paid for.

Not that it's a big deal, but the reality is that an iPhone is a luxury. I'm not saying your kid should or shouldn't have one (the post above is my first post), but it is a luxury.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My teens have the iPhone 3G, which was $50. Who spends $700 on a phone for a teen? We have limited data plans. What's the fuss?

There is no iPhone that costs $50. I've had this discussion with my teenager many times. If you buy a phone that "costs" $50 and requires a 2 year plan, and that plan costs $20 more a month than the same plan pay as you go, then the phone costs $50 + ($20 x 24) or $530.

I already had a two year contract and got my sons iphone free without having to add to the length of the contract. So, there really can be a free or low cost iphone.

Anonymous wrote:My teens have the iPhone 3G, which was $50. Who spends $700 on a phone for a teen? We have limited data plans. What's the fuss?

There is no iPhone that costs $50. I've had this discussion with my teenager many times. If you buy a phone that "costs" $50 and requires a 2 year plan, and that plan costs $20 more a month than the same plan pay as you go, then the phone costs $50 + ($20 x 24) or $530.