We live in the boonies (sort of). I visited my friend in Albuquerque and her 13 year old son was text messaging on his cell phone constantly! Blew me away...

His mother said that he had a huge text messaging bill a couple of months ago. Why does it cost money? Why wouldn't you just call your friend on the phone?

My kids won't have cell phones until they start driving or riding with their friends in cars so this was a new one to me!!!

Do your kids do it? Why? How much do your kids TM?

I appreciate any explanations -- sometimes I feel so old and naive as far as technology and with a son entering teenage years; I really want to know what is going on.

They text b/c it is fun and so their parents can't hear what they're saying. (Of course, I'm old too so what do I know?)

Rebecca

LOL. I get it, it is one more way to make their parents feel old, deaf, and 'dumb'!

I don't get the whole texting thing either. I also don't get IMing people who you have spent the whole day with and that you could pick up the phone and call.

I am guessing part of the texting is the secret thing. You can't call someone at school but if you are good enough at hiding your phone you can text back and forth during class. I would also guess that kids have figured out there is ways for parents to track IMs but text messages are easily deleted so no one is the wiser about what is being said or what possible schemes are being hatched.

That drives me insane, too. My niece & nephews are constantly texting when we're together - makes me nuts.

I had always said my daughter wouldn't get a cell phone until she was dating or driving. She's doing neither, but we got her one for her 13th birthday because she goes out with groups of girlfriends.

She does not have texting. If she wants it, she can pay for it - I provided the phone. She is not interested because she knows how much I hate it!

Lisa

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My children text because it uses fewer minutes to text someone than it does to call them on the phone. They can also be texting with several different people at the same time. What I don't like is when it occurs at inappropriate times. I know that there were several people sending messages during the recent band concerts I attended. That is the part that drives me crazy.

I feel the same. I just don't get it.
My neice, nephew and son are FAST too! It blows me away. I would just be pecking at the tiny buttons, they are lightning quick. The lingo is weird too.
I disabled the text option on my son's phone. If he needs to conversate he can just call the person, and vice versa.

I wonder if the fascination is similar to passing notes in and after class? I know that's what we did in my day....

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some kids here at a local school was caugh texting the answers to kids kids that was taking some kind of text. I dont think cell phones belong in schools. if the parent needs to talk to the kid, they can call the school and leave a message. but taking the phones to class with them just dont make sence to me.

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Higher form of cheating during test taking -- yikes! This is not good.

I'm thinking I'll disable the text option as well when the kids get cell phones. Great tip AMul!

All 3 of my kids have cell phones (they are 14, 12 and 6) My 12 yr old text messages alot to chat with her friends when she doesnt want her father to hear LOL or she will text me when she knows I am at work just to say hi. I text alot myself so I guess thats where she gets it from. I have unlimited messaging so it just cost me $20 a month on my plan. My DS and youngest DD dont text though.

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Hubby, myself and the boys all have cell phones. We hardly ever text. I told my 16 year old that if he wanted to text then he was going to have to pay for it.

Hubby and I will sometimes text each other if we are in a situation that we can not pick up the phone but want to get info across. Oh and rarely we will send each other pictures.


Darlene

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A 6 year old with a cell phone? Why?

Rebecca

myself, my dh and my oldest - 12 yo son - have cells. we all text b/c sometimes we're in an environment where talking would be rude or inappropriate and (TO US) texting is much less intrusive. esp if I'm in class and my kid needs me or vice versa. Of course, not everyone will agree, I'm sure.

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I was wondering the same thing.........

DD, 14, has a cell. No texting. No cell phones at school either. If caught, the student is suspended. There's surprise locker and back pack checks too. If a student chooses to take a cell phone to school, it is to be checked in at the office. Of course, not everyone does that.

I've had a sidekick since 2002 because I love texting! Its unobtrusive plus people can read and respond when they get a chance. Phone calls are the most intrusive form of communication imo - when it rings you are expected to answer and hold a conversation.

These days I love texting from work because no one can hear what I'm saying plus I have my messages saved should I need to go back to them later.

Also shooting off a quick text to let someone know you're thinking of them is faster than calling because you're not stuck on the phone having a long conversation.

I still prefer IM over texting since not everyone has unlimited texting plans.

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DH and I and both boys have cells. We all text. I do it because if I call someone I end up talking for who knows how long. Texting is quick and easy. DH and I don't do it as often as the boys though. They do it for the soul purpose of us not knowing what they are saying.

They both take them to school, they either leave them off or on vibrate. They take them because I'm a loon. LOL Because if anything "bad" happens at the school and they don't feel safe they can get ahold of me. Especially if the school is on lock down or something.

Laura

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You might want to check with your school district what their policies are if a school goes on lock down. In our district if a school goes on lock down, cell phones are to be immediately turned off, classroom doors are supposed to already be closed and locked, lights are turned out and students go to the darkest part of the room away from the door and sit in the floor. If a cellphone were to ring or even vibrate, it would only alert the intruders to the location of someone.

She got it so she can call me when she is with her father. I would hear lots of excuses as to why she coulddnt call me so "Santa" got her a phone

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