Terry, I'm going to suggest something I mention in my tech seminars: limited data plans.
There are a number of providers (RedPocket, US Wireless, and others) that offer plans that are Text/Talk only or very limited data. It's very hard to get into trouble on 200MB a month. That's about 10 minutes of YouTube videos. But it's enough to pull up maps on your phone or email people.
A no-app, no-data phone is better, but there are lots of parents who don't want to go that far, and particularly for older teens, that's kind of understandable. There are QR codes for everything at my daughter's college, so these kids are going to need to learn to use these tools responsibly eventually. (Again, I said older teens / near adults.) Our 17 yo has an Android with a 200 MB plan and our 15 yo a flip phone but will get the same plan and phone when she starts driving. It's a good way to release the leash slightly but still have control of it.
(Oh, and use parental control software. Even my college student has been informed that she's required to keep that on her phone. She can take it off when she's paying for her own existence.)
Terry, I'm going to suggest something I mention in my tech seminars: limited data plans.
There are a number of providers (RedPocket, US Wireless, and others) that offer plans that are Text/Talk only or very limited data. It's very hard to get into trouble on 200MB a month. That's about 10 minutes of YouTube videos. But it's enough to pull up maps on your phone or email people.
A no-app, no-data phone is better, but there are lots of parents who don't want to go that far, and particularly for older teens, that's kind of understandable. There are QR codes for everything at my daughter's college, so these kids are going to need to learn to use these tools responsibly eventually. (Again, I said older teens / near adults.) Our 17 yo has an Android with a 200 MB plan and our 15 yo a flip phone but will get the same plan and phone when she starts driving. It's a good way to release the leash slightly but still have control of it.
(Oh, and use parental control software. Even my college student has been informed that she's required to keep that on her phone. She can take it off when she's paying for her own existence.)
Yes. Now, how do we get that into weekend programs at churches — for parents
Baden-Powell? A mother filed a complaint against a Scout camp because the Scouts would be forced to cook their own food on an overnight hike!
Tell me more. Baden-Powell? And my question: what if religious groups assisted with this kind of project?