As the mom of a text-happy tween, I know I'm supposed to respond with a hearty, "Hear, hear!" to reports about how texting is a teen epidemic and our kids are never going to learn how to have a proper conversation or write in complete sentences or speak out loud.
But you know something? I don't. To be completely honest, I'd rather have my kid texting than talking on her phone 24/7. And not merely because I don't buy into all the hype about how these kids today won't know how to make eye contact with other human beings or that there aren't actually any words spelled with both numbers AND letters.
I prefer my daughter let her thumbs do the talking because I actually believe there are benefits to texting.
Here are the 7 best things about your kid's texting addiction:
1. You don't have to listen those endless one-sided gab-fests punctuated with eardrum-piercingly loud exclamations. (He said WHAT?! Shut up!! SERIOUSLY?! No way!!)
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2. Everything your kid and her friends tell each other is on record. Not that you'd ever read her texts or anything. You'd never in a million years invade her privacy like that! Ahem.
3. Less brain tumor-inducing radiation straight to your kid's head.
4. Improved digital dexterity from constant finger exercise will pay off in piano/flute/etc. lessons!
5. Texting your kid reminders ("Don't forget to study for tomorrow's test!") is the easiest, most passive-aggressive form of parental nagging ever.
6. Instant access to photographic evidence whenever you need a back-up: But I swear I unloaded the dishwasher before I left the house! Oh yeah? Not according to this pic!
7. No need to yell when you need your kid to come from another part of the house: Time 4 dinner.
Is your kid addicted to texting?
Image via Carissa Rogers/Flickr
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Comments 11
I hope this is meant as a joke, because when/if my daughter gets a cell phone there shall be nary a text happening. Its maddening to me to see effing 9 year olds texting their little fingers off. HAVE a conversation people! Parents who think things like this are "good" are probably the kind of parents who are JUST AS GLUED to their phones as their kids. Why would you "text" your kid that dinner is ready? They're in the other room! Whats wrong with a little converstation and human contact! Jeez :-p
my kidsare 9 and 10.. I hope I have a few years
These comments crack me up! Lighten up! It isn't bad parenting to text your kid "time 4 dinner". My kids text ... a lot, but they also carry on very intelligent, in depth conversations.Why do we automatically assume if kids are good at one thing it is at the expense of another? Granted, my kids don't get phones until they are 12 and it is VERY limited until they are 13 (and prove they can be responsible ...our 8th child is currently the 3rd child on this system and it seems to work well). Cell phones are a part of life, learning to negotiate this phase is the same as any other.
I hope you're just saying that you prefer texting than talking on cell phones because too much of anything is bad. Both ways have their own negatives and positives. While texting, works your finger muscles and reduce chances of brain cancer; talking old fashion-ly on cell or regular phone, works your speech (you'd be surprised how many people CANNOT pronouce) and it's also better for you're eyes since you'd be texting at different lighting. and I believe though it's indirect, texting still exposes you to radiation, since you're in front of the screen, still. Opinion: none is worse or better