kidz should not have a fone till 13

Good tips… I like them and people should learn about this thing. I have already forwarded this article to all my relatives and wish everybody does that

I think the first comment is kind of ironic

I agree that kids should’t have a cell phone as early as first grade! I got one when I was in 7th grade. I am still able to do well in school because I know when I should use more formal language like in papers and when I can use “txt talk”. I think texting has actually helped my spelling because with T9 you have to spell the word right for it to come up.

well,,,uhmm,,, i also love to text,,,this can be one way to express your feelings or say something what you really feel to someone,,, but nowadays, texting affects the proficiency in spelling among students,,,when writing essay,they got wrong in spelling or they got confuse about a certain word… so I think we should limit ourselves texting or maybe when we’re texting,we should complete the words so that we can practice our spelling.. texting helps us when there is an emergency that we’re going to text our parents if there is problem,,,,so that’s all..hehehe mwah..[Admin Note: phone number removed]

That’s REALLY TRUE…….. Stop TEXTING at your YOUNG AGE>>

We had some of the same problems integrating instant messaging into our business. The “older folks” (25+) had to be trained by the entry level staff! It was comical but it brought our company together. Although, we recently had to switch from a public IM Client (MSN) to an enterprise instant messenger (Brosix.com) so that our employees weren’t wasting time chatting with friends and family

I think that the younger generations shouldnt have a phone until they are in high school, unless they have the phones from verizon where they only can receive calls and send calls with built in gps. The learning process of grammar starts when they are in grade school. I think that is why we see low scores on the state test.

You are right to a certain degree. Texting is a faster way and more efficient way to get ahold of people. Teenagers that need to get ahold of thier parents but dont have enough minuts on their phone or a computer can easily send a message to them fast and easily. Although the problem is YES it has a major effect on the world today with spelling and grammer. There are words that are being added to the dictionary that are made up from texting. I beleive that it will get so bad that no one will even right full words anymore it will all be (* lmfao, iwiwu, sul and that is just unthinkable.

Texting once caused my mother to crash her bicycle into a tree. But thats not to say it wouldn’t have happened if she’d been writing a letter out whilst riding. I think this sums up China’s feelings adequately.

Hey VHU_23, why dont you keep your opinions to yourself. LOL

I don’t know about you guys but I really think we kids need a cell phone. We need to communicate with our loved ones when they are away and stay connected with friends. It’s all up to you to check up on your grammar or something. I also use it in my assignments. If ever I needed some answers with just one click I get answers using bongo. I just text 505050 to bongo then presto! I get all the answers I need for my assignments. No need to go the library and spend hours of researching. And when I finish my assignments early, I have time to help up my mom in the kitchen and prepare dinner. Bongo is a life saver..

This new texting “fad” is ridiculous. One of my friends sent me an email in “text language.” I couldn’t read it! I had to send her an email back in real English to tell her it was hard to read and understand and request that she send future emails in “English .” I don’t mean to sound like a snob, but, writing is a dying art. For the record, I am under the age of 18 but over the age of 10. P.S. Pads were added to lamps on a certain street in London (I think it was London) because so many people weren’t watching where they were going while texting and running into them.

I do agree with a lot of the comments. I didn’t purchase a cell phone for my daughter until she was at least 12 years old. I do think 6 years old is too young. Also, text messaging during homework and class should definitely be offlimits. I remember when I went to the public library and check out books to read. Why does kid’s have the tv on while they’re doing their homework. I tell my 16 year old daughter she spends too much time on the internet Facebook, Twitter and MySpace. How many kid’s on this site read books during the school year and during summer? Reading improve vocabulary, reading comprehension. What about Summer Enrichement Programs & Summer School? Grammar, Spelling & is very important that’s some school districts test scores are very low.

I think that you should let them text, but only if they pay for it, and make them use REAL WORDS, not just acronyms, because it makes it easier to understand, and because you dont want to have your kids get a bad grade because they used texting language.

I think you should let them text for only emergincies if they are young… It’s dumb for a 7 year old to have unlimited text!!!! She will have 4 grammer classes!!!

wow i never used my humble opion or anythiing i use pos parent over houlder

hhhhhmmmmmmm…….. i iz a 14 yr old teen and i have to admit kids relay on their phones an itz not dat gud lol i shuld know

Hey adam you might not have meant to sound like a snob, but trust me you did. The use of shorthands and acronyms is to save text space so your message doesnt extend into two messages costing you more, its common sense.

I am 15, and instant messaging is definitely the hottest form of communication around… and one that I personally don’t partake in. Acronyms like “LOL” and “ROFL” are good for saving space and typing out your message at a faster rate of speed, but they don’t really do anything in expanding our vocabulary, improving our spelling, and sophisticating our speech. The things that really matter. The problem is that text messaging will not make someone popular. If their peers consider them losers, text messaging will not change that. Is it a good way to make friends? Maybe, but it’s also a good way to bully someone. Is it good to sneak messages to your friends while your teacher is talking? Yes, if you’re secretive enough about it; but it keeps people from learning. Nothing is more annoying than the person who is sitting beside you that texts every 5 minutes, believe me. I don’t like testing. What the hell is with kids in Grade 1 buying their kids cell phones? Oh, and I’m no snob. I speak with LOLS and ROFLS on the internet every day. I also find Chuck Norris jokes (some of them) funny. Yep.

OMG BRAD!!!! Seriously, you actually use LOL and ROFL on the internet, wow! Im impressed, I can think of any behaviour a snob would partake in less!! I bet your a regular party animal on the scene arn’t you, dropping your LOL’s and ROFL’s left right and centre!!!

does anyone else ever think this conversation was had when we began speaking modern english from previous dialects? Such as Queen’s english or before..and how awful the new form of language was becoming? dropping the U from colour. ’Pants’ instead of trousers. Gas instead of Petrol. Or at any other previous point in history where the ’older generation’ was adament their way was right and the new way the younger generation did things was wrong and would somehow result in them being dumber? maybe texting via it’s abbreviations is a superior way to communicate due it’s efficiency or implied understanding of context that the receiver must have?…just throwing it out there… BTW – my 2 cents, kids crappy grammar (or anything else) is more to do with the parent(s) not spending the required time. Or the parent didn’t make it a priority. not the phone, TV or whatever else which is easier to blame.

hey peepz im onli 13 years old && ihave had a fone since lik the 5th grade and i dnt c how it is affecting us negative because ikan go to school and write perfectly fine and still text in slang. but mi mommmie worries dhat i 2hookd 2mi fone and idnt pay attention in skool but i totalli qot it under kontrol.=) peace.

So, FWIW, you honestly perceive ’American’ English, as modern engish? Rather than a string of errors that formed a language JUST different enough for some idiots to believe it to be a seperate language…

i think txting is fine i dont know why people freak out about it.

wow this is crazy and i thought that texting was ok at the age of 6. this brightens my mind about how texting can affect the life of a child and his/her ability to learn.

Hey guys, this has really opened my eyes, I mean the different pros and cons of texting and writing, thanks so much for making it as a topic! I can honestly say Ive never given it any though before, and I can guarentee I never will again. I mean seriously, who cares.

Hi, Just to let everyone know I am 14 and I do not have a cell phone yet. I’m not allowed to get one until I am 16. But guess what? I am still alive. I am surviving without a phone. Actually, I probably have a better social life than many of the kids at school who sit around and text all day. One thing (I just have to say this)that is extremely funny/ironic that I have been reading on here is when people say that texting isn’t hurting their spelling and grammer, but are making tons of mistakes in their posts. Another thing is that kids are getting addicted to their phones. I have friends that can’t go any where without them or can’t even turn their phones off. They constantly have to be chatting with other people. I would think that it would be better, actually able to think without people sending messages to them all of the time. Plus I think that it is also rude when I am talking to someone and they break away from the conversation and start talking to someone else on their cell phone. What happened to manners? I am reading a book in English class called Fahrenheit 451. It’s sad to see the parallels between the book and today’s society. Finally, 1st Grade is way too young to be getting a cell phone. What would they need to talk to their friends about? Their next play-date? The lesson about the letter K in school? Or maybe they are calling their Mom or Dad….you know, the people sitting right next to them. What is this world coming to?

im a kid and i have 2 do a report on this!! haha i find it funny that ppl wud think about his ya kno??

i mean this

haha totally agree with emily!! lol

I found this article very interesting. I think it is true, but also kids can handle it.

there are some concearns most deffinatly. but i think i gets kids used to using wrighting to express themselfs. wrighting can be scary enough for some, or expressing their self through it any way. its 2010. we need to except that iming is a new form of communication. point in fact, do we write or talk the way the old english did such as shakespear? no, we don’t. so whats wrong with this form of wrighting. kids from the south have some of the worst slang in the us, but they have no problem wrighting. leave them alone.

I really don’t see why older people think texting is bad. It really doesn’t affect many teens. They do know the difference when it comes to texting and a school assignment paper.

From what I have read, I think some of the readers have gotten a little confused about the context of this article. I do not believe the author was implying that every single student that texts will develop bad habits in grammar and spelling.Everyone devlops and learns in their own way. I also believe that first grade IS quite early for a child to own a cell phone and learn “Text Talk” as opposed to correct grammar. I understand that the dicision is for the parent to make and so I can not criticize their individual choices for their children. The fact that so many people have become so reliant on these bits of plastic and silicon is extremely alarming. I understand the need to feel connected, but I do not believe that immersing yourself in a world of single letters, numerals, and topographic symbols used by themselves or in combination to represent words, parts of words, and noises can ever replace verbally speaking to someone.In text you lose emotion because you can not hear the person sigh with frustration, or see them nod in agreement, or any of the other sounds or gestures humanity has been hard-wired to make when trying to make our point. I am sure that I may get a few comments about what I have written here. I want to be clear that I have no wish to offend anyone, I am simply attempting to add my voice to this discussion.

>>>how cool is: Chappy.

I think it is ok for kids ages 11-16 to text.I mean dont let a child under the ages txt because of the dangers!!I text but only to my friends and sometimes my family.But,atleast i am not one of those stupid teen girls spending all my time in class txting my high school football bf when i could be getting a good high school education!

Texting should be banned for 17 and because, its leading to bad grammer skills and low SAT scores

Ok, so I just have to say this. I’m 17 years old and I don’t have texting, and I’m still living! For those who think we need texting to keep us teens entertained read a book. It’s good for improving English skills and it is entertaining! If you don’t like reading, then find some jobs to do around the house. I’m sure your parents wouldn’t mind if you cleaned the living room, did the dishes, or mowed the lawn.

i have a cell phone and im still young i have started doing short forms while texting i use to only do it when im on messenger or facebook. but when my mom found out she told me to type in full form. what im trying to say Ive learned that its not always good to do that. ps: im doing this topic on my school junior speech

I think that texting is fun but you can sometimes can get to adicted to texting that you for get how to speak so start sayig uua,yay,or what ever,or don’t lison to them

texting is bad

Texting is alright, just as long as it is controlled. Some children get a phone at the age of 1 year because they have no older sibling. If a child gets a phone under the age of 13, it should be for emergency reasons only. children should be allowed to text at the age of 13. Yes, using abbriviations on a phone can make the texting go faster, but if you type full sentences, you will get faster. and hey, you know what? If you cant fit your words into one text, i say: USE TWO TEXTS! Some teachers have spotted the occasional short form in the random book report or story, but if your typing, you should use spellcheck! and jeez. If My elementary teacher spotted one short form/abriviation in something, you would be copying the dictionary out. so watch what you do, for your language depends on it. ~~Lili

Texting is a waste of time…in my opinion.

Texting takes seconds but writing a letter tkes hours at a time what do you prefer to do? I like texting because it gives me time to bond with my friends.

I’m Mackenzie, i have had a phone since my 11th birthday. I’m now 13. I remember when i first got my phone i thought i was so cool. I would brag about it and text during school just to fit in. But now i realized, texting isn’t everything! Its taking over young teens lives just like it took over mine. I try to cope woth not having my phone sometimes, like if i have basketball practive or volleyball i just leave it at home. And when i go to school i do too. Ive learned i dont always have to have my phone with me at all times. And since then ive been getting better grades too. p.s. I came on here trying to find information about my English report but instead i found this. and think its interesting

Okay I thought that I was bad at using short forms and spelling but I’m just not a good grammar person. Says my teacher. This is just weird that in about 8-14 years that we will be able to speak a whole sentence in one letter. Texting in not bad if you type out everything but not if you always use short forms. You will start talking in short forms(as my brother and friends do)and then our whole english language will turn into one worded sentences. Haha. I’m thinking that I will move to a place where I can’t understand the langauge so that I will not have to deal with this. By the way I’m 13.

DUNT WORRY ABOOT IT

I’m 13 as of now and I got a cell phone last year for Christmas. I have good grades in school and my highest are, in fact, in English class. There isn’t a problem with having cell phones and texting, the problem comes up when you text too much. I don’t text 24/7 like some of my friends do. I have a curfew of 8 p.m. and I’m not allowed to text on school nights until after i have my homework done. Texting isn’t the problem, the problem is how often you do it.

And Emily spelled grammar wrong. She spelled it with an “e”. Hahaha!!