Sure, cell phones are useful... if you're lost, or meeting someone, or whatever. But they're not any more necessary than any other toy or gadget.
I'm whole heartedly on the side of learning face-to-face interactions. They're harder to kick off, but ultimately a lot more fun. I used to have an orchestra director who would ask parents if they made their kids practice. Too many parents said "well, not if (s)he doesn't like to." His response was always, "do you make them brush their teeth? They may not like it right away, but I bet they like the results."
I'm not comparing hanging out at lunch to brushing teeth, but more to playing an instrument - it's tough at first, but it becomes a huge part of your life, and a good part. But it's still a learned behavior. As is social interaction and basic politeness and dealing with human beings in a situation around you. I sure wouldn't want my kids to turn into people addicted to the wires around them, obnoxiously screaming into their phones as they sat on a bus full of people they might just as easily befriend.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that face-to-face interaction isn't important. I'm saying that electronic interaction is too. Sure you can survive without a cell phone. Really, you can survive with nothing but water, bread, clothing and a cardboard box for when it rains. But that doesn't make you a productive part of society. Like I find it crazy when I hear parents talking about not allowing their teenaged children to have their own internet accounts. And I do know people like that. You can't realistically go to college in this country today without know how to use email and the web. Period. You can't hold most office jobs. And today, there are a growing number of jobs you can't hold without a cell phone. Mine is one of them in fact.
There will always be people who rebel or for whatever reason are without a particular technology. I know lots of people who don't drive for instance. That said, knowing how to drive is an integral and important part of out society today and by preventing your kid from learning you are definitely adversely effecting their possible choices in the world. Same with cell phones and computers.
I'm whole heartedly on the side of learning face-to-face interactions. They're harder to kick off, but ultimately a lot more fun. I used to have an orchestra director who would ask parents if they made their kids practice. Too many parents said "well, not if (s)he doesn't like to." His response was always, "do you make them brush their teeth? They may not like it right away, but I bet they like the results."
I'm not comparing hanging out at lunch to brushing teeth, but more to playing an instrument - it's tough at first, but it becomes a huge part of your life, and a good part. But it's still a learned behavior. As is social interaction and basic politeness and dealing with human beings in a situation around you. I sure wouldn't want my kids to turn into people addicted to the wires around them, obnoxiously screaming into their phones as they sat on a bus full of people they might just as easily befriend.
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There will always be people who rebel or for whatever reason are without a particular technology. I know lots of people who don't drive for instance. That said, knowing how to drive is an integral and important part of out society today and by preventing your kid from learning you are definitely adversely effecting their possible choices in the world. Same with cell phones and computers.
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