For sure, its easier than being present as a parent
Comment on UK: Almost a quarter of kids aged 5-7 have smartphones
stonerboner@lemmynsfw.com 8 months ago
It’s much easier to give your kid your old phone and pay $10 a month for a kids’ account than to deal with your kid constantly wanting to use your phone.
tim-clark@kbin.social 8 months ago
stonerboner@lemmynsfw.com 8 months ago
When they are at the point of going to sleepovers, play dates at friends, camp, etc it also makes a lot of sense to give them a lifeline.
The kids line I pay for gives me all the parental controls I could dream of and control over her contacts. I am 100% present, but I’m not dumb enough to send me kid out into the world without a lifeline.
It seems being needlessly judgmental is the easiest of all.
kernelle@lemmy.world 8 months ago
deal with your kid constantly wanting to use your phone
They are being ‘needlessly judgemental’ about this line, you can fret over the importance of having 100% control over the device (which is weird to me as well but that’s besides the point), having your kid conditioned to constantly want your phone is what people are calling you out for.
TheRaven@lemmy.ca 8 months ago
It’s also easier to give them all the candy they can eat, than to deal with your kid constantly wanting candy. Doesn’t make it healthy.
gaylord_fartmaster@lemmy.world 8 months ago
Being a good parent isn’t doing whatever’s easiest to distract your kid.
stonerboner@lemmynsfw.com 8 months ago
When they are at the point of going to sleepovers, play dates at friends, camp, etc it also makes a lot of sense to give them a lifeline.
The kids line I pay for gives me all the parental controls I could dream of and control over her contacts. I am 100% present, but I’m not dumb enough to send me kid out into the world without a lifeline.
It seems being needlessly judgmental is the easiest of all.
EngineerGaming@feddit.nl 8 months ago
Dunbphone seems enough for a “lifeline”. Also parental controls where the parent sees absolutely everything seem dystopian af anyway, I would not like to expose my potential child to such an experience.
sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works 8 months ago
Why do they need a “lifeline”? They can ask an adult to call you if they need something. If you don’t trust them at a sleepover or play date, then don’t send them.
I let my kids go to their friends’ houses all the time and sometimes to the local park by themselves, and I’ve never once regretted not giving them a phone. They know our address, phone numbers, and how to get home, and we pre-arrange what time they should be home (they have simple watches).
That has worked well for us.