RE: Birthday's Coming Upon Us
Wow, a phone at 4, and my first cell phone was when I was about 21. Had some toys in the 90's, was born in 85, and tried to steal toys from other kids when I was maybe 2 said my mom and kids do this partly as they assume those toys are theirs as that is the only thing that matters, selfishly, as we feel as we are the center of the universe. Well, kids don't generally think enough at times, maybe even most of the time. So, kids are generally not thinking if the toys are theirs or not. They are simply acting off impulses, like animals, int he spur of the moment, and that can be fun, but also full of risks.
Not sure when or how I would give my own kids phones and gifts assuming I ever get married to start a family, have kids. But I would hope I would not say one thing and do a different thing.
That is a hard thing to do, say one thing and do different, as times change and situations change but we try our best to make it work. I would say on my behalf, for my kids, that I would only allow them to have a phone when they are responsible for it. A pay as you go type as the first one would be in case of emergency or I need to get a hold of them. Once that is respected and more responsibility is in play then they can upgrade it to something more IF they can pay for it. So this being said they would be of age to start working... small jobs even.
I am sometimes a strict parent, but we need to be, especially in this day and age.
Agreed, pay as you go, kids can level up, life can be like a game, with contests, prizes, challenges, bonuses, specials, like a game show, full of some excitement, where the levels get harder and harder slowly at the pace that the kids can handle and keep up with and each kid is different.
Pay as you go phone plans are perfect. Or even prepaid plans as well. I started working with my dad when I was ten in some landscaping and yard work and started getting paid and that helped.