Texting Toddlers, How Young is Too Young?

theodp writes "Toddlers don't need to be texting, concedes the NYT's Lisa Belkin, but since they have always had toy typewriters and toy telephones, why not toy Blackberrys? If your little tyke is itching to text, the NYT has a round-up of texting devices aimed at children as young as three who want to talk with their thumbs. The question of, 'when is a child is old enough for their own cell phone' has been replaced with the question of, 'what type of texting gadget is appropriate for which age group.' But don't forget to lay down the law: 'Our 13-year-old got a phone with an unlimited plan as a reward for good grades,' says HiTechMommy.com blogger Cat Schwartz. 'Each night he is required to turn the phone in at 10 p.m. and then gets it back first thing in the morning.'"

Comments

in MY day!

[jollyreaper]

In my day, if we wanted to send a text message to a friend, we used an instant messenger! Or we even wrote out an email. It took time to sit down and put some thought into composing that message. None of this Twitter Trotter Twatter flim-flarn-flith. We had more than 140 characters to work with and could take the time to say something that was worth taking the time to say! And we sat at a keyboard. With a chair. Typed with our fingers instead of with our thumbs like savages.

If the little ankle-biters offer you any lip, send 'em to their rooms with nothing but bread, water, and 56k dial-up.

Re:Nothing is too young

[vlm]

I even got them cell phones when they were 4

The same is the argument for texting. Dont text while driving,

As a parent, I send my six year old to his room when I catch him texting while driving.

frakking ri-frakking-diculous.

[scratchpaper]

The day my toddler texts me from the other room to tell me he wants some "gam cackers n apple joose" is the day I climb the clocktower.

Re:0 Years of age

[jollyreaper]

Sure. Why not? When my 6-year-old nephew asked, "How do babies get in mommys bellies?"

Show 'em the face-hugger scene from Alien.