The Upside of Tech & Kids


By Daniel Neal

Don’t give Jimmy the keys to the car! Don’t let Alex online! Don’t let Pat have her own cell phone!

There’s been a lot of talk these days about how technology affects our kids. These concerns aren’t really anything new. Each generation, parents have had to make tough decisions about when to let kids use the latest technology, whether that meant the family car, TV set, computer or e-mail. But fear of technology is more about parents—not kids—confronting the unknown.

Technology is just an agent; its value comes from how you use it. That’s why it’s important to encourage our kids to embrace technology—even if we’re not necessarily up-to-speed with all the latest gadgets and gizmos ourselves. In other words: Parents, don’t fear the phone!

Have you ever watched a child tear open the box to a new laptop, Gameboy or cell phone? They magically seem to know how to use this stuff, like they’re born hardwired with instruction books. Today’s technology belongs to them; our kids only know a world that’s wired. An eight-year-old American kid inherits not just baseball, rock music and Mark Twain, but Google, TiVoand X-Box 360.

Just 20 years ago, personal computers entered the classroom and revolutionized the way kids learn. Widespread use of mobile devices is coming next—and fast!—and cell phones are leading the charge. Why is it a good idea for kids to have their own cell phones? Because kids have a need to feel both independent and connected. Because parents can’t always be in two places at once. Because responsible use of technology can enhance our kids’ lives—helping them manage their world in a way that offers mobility, freedom and connection.

There are other important reasons to put cell phones in the hands of our children. According to RCR Wireless News, American kids between the ages of eight to 12 account for just 2.6% of all wireless subscribers, a statistic that’s seriously lagging behind other developed countries. The lowering of trade barriers and the advances of the digital revolution have made the world a much smaller place. In this new, worldwide economic playing field, success equals access. In an information society our kids will need access to all the tools available for them to compete and win.

Cell phones let kids be outwardly mobile, achieve upward mobility and stay inwardly connected. A powerful tool, kajeet™ lets them use it for talking, use it for texting, use it for IM-ing, use it for games, use it for photos. . . use it for good.

They’re not afraid. We shouldn’t be either.

—Daniel Neal is a father and Founder and
Chief Executive Officer of kajeet™ (kajeet.com).

 

About kajeet™

Founded in 2003, kajeet may be based in Bethesda, MD, but kids are the center of our universe. kajeet is the pay-as-you-go cell phone service made from a kid’s point of view, a new word for a new world of mobile entertainment, customization and communication. With kajeet, kids get full-featured phones and a service built expressly for them, and parents can feel good about easy-to-use parental control features with no long-term contracts and no surprise bills. Oh, and no buzzwords. No kidding. kajeet and kids: use it for talking, use it for texting, use it for sharing, use it for playing ... use it for good.™ Parents can find kajeet at more than 3,000 select retail locations nationwide including Best Buy, Target, Toys R Us, Limited Too, and Longs Drugs Stores, as well as online at kajeet.com.

 

Media Contact

kajeet

Leslie Adkins
301-828-5338
ladkins[at]kajeet[dot]com

Nickie Denick
301-652-2818
ndenick[at]kajeet[dot]com