Calling All Kids - Cell Phones For You

Cell phones aren’t just for adults anymore. Cell phones exist for kids that are simple, sturdy and look like toys. Other phones look like regular cell phones, but have features that appeal to kids. Maybe most important though, these phones have features that appeal to parents.

Phones With Parent Appeal Parents everywhere have reasons to buy cell phones for their kids. Maybe your youngster has been begging you for a phone after seeing that all their friends have them. They might even make the case that they need one to stay in touch with you or contact you in an emergency. Parents imagine a big mess: huge phone bills and strange numbers on the phone. Yet, many parents are finding ways to get around steep phone bills and unnecessary conversations. Some companies make phones specifically designed for kids with features parents will love. Here are four popular types of cell phones for kids today with built-in features parents appreciate.

Disney Mobile

• Allows parents to set monthly spending limits for their children’s phones through the phone or the computer. Once a child reaches the limits, they are still allowed to make and receive calls to designated numbers and can still get through to 911. Parents are alerted once a child reaches their limits and may raise them.

• Parents can program the days and times during the week when children can use the phone and can track the location of the phone from their own phone or computer.

• Parents can also enter phone numbers that their children can never access.

Firefly phone

• Using a parental pin, parents can add up to 20 numbers.

• The call screening feature on the phone rejects calls not stored in the Phone Book.

TicTalk phone

• Parents can visit MyTicTalk.com to set controls on the phone. Controls include entering phone numbers that can be called anytime, calling numbers that only can be called during permission-based times which parents set, selecting what times phones can ring, sending your child a reminder, and choosing which features to enable or disable.

• And what’s better than a phone that encourages learning? Kids can earn extra minute rewards on TicTalk phones for playing LeapFrog learning games on their phone.

Verizon Migo

• The phone comes with an optional Chaperon service, where parents can track the phone in real time on their own phone or computer.

• Parents can pay an additional charge to set boundaries for their child; for instance, if their kids leave a designated area, parents will get a text message sent to their phones.

A phone for kids is worthless though if your child won’t use it. Let’s take a look at each of the above phones and why your kids might like their features. Here’s more information on these phones specifically designed for kids.

Disney Mobile, a phone specifically designed for 10-15 year olds includes custom text messaging as well as preset text messaging choices such as “Can U Get A Ride?” Kids can connect to Radio Disney as well as download wallpaper, graphics, and ringtones from Disney. TicTalk phones allow kids to record their own ringtones and download photos. A calendar and to-do list are also available on the TicTalk phone.

But what good are lots of cool features if they are too complicated for your kids to use? Simplicity is particularly key on the Firefly and Verizon Migo phones, which are designed for younger children. The Firefly simplifies things with only five keys. The Verizon Migo, designed for kids between five and nine years old, has five speed dial buttons on the front that parents can program for their kids.

Service Plan Options Interested to know how much these phones cost? In most cases, the phones themselves are more expensive than regular cell phones.

• Customers sign contracts with Disney but the service is actually on Sprint’s network. Interested customers can visit DisneyMobile.com. The Disney service works with LG phones ($110 each) and Pantech phones ($60 each). Subscribers to the Disney service buy two or more phones. One person with the “parent” phone becomes the “family manager” and sets monthly spending allowances for the “child” phone by accessing the Family Center menu on the phone. The monthly family phone plan with two lines and 450 daytime minutes starts at $59.99.

• TicTalk phones can be purchased online at http://www.enfora.com

Rate plans are prepaid according to phone minutes. For example, $25 for 100 airtime minutes.

• A Firefly phone costs $79.99 and includes a travel charger, backpack clip, and 30 minutes of airtime. Firefly has a monthly package starting at $9.99 and a pay-as-you-go $.25 per minute package that requires a minimum of $25. Both can be cancelled at any time.

• The Verizon Migo phone costs about $120 and calling plans vary.

Parents should check out these phones and plans if considering a wireless device for their young children. Kids will probably find the phones easier to use than standard cell phones and parents have the control and peace of mind that they desire.

Robin Meyer is Web Manager of Your Wireless Source, a company that specializes in portable wireless products and accessories including Pantech cell phone accessories and LG cell phone accessories. Visit them online today at http://www.yourwirelesssource.com or contact them at 1-866-837-7265 to learn more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robin_Meyer

Firefly Phones Vs Kajeet Phones

You may have heard all about the new crop of cell phones geared especially to kids. They are full of features that your kids will love, as well as features you'll love as a parent. Two of the popular cell phones for children are Firefly phones and Kajeet Phones.

In order to make your decision you'll want to do a little research. There are features prevalent in one phone that may not be in another phone. Think about your needs as a parent, and your child's needs to pick the cell phone that will work best for your family.

Firefly Phones

The Firefly phone is a fairly simple cell phone for kids. It does not have a keypad, but just five buttons. There is also no camera or some other things you may be used to having on your own phone. That is ok with younger children who will just be happy they have their own phone!

One feature your children will love is that the covers of the phone are interchangeable. If they want a blue phone one day and a red phone the next, it is a simple matter of changing a "skin." This sort of customization is exactly what children need, and a Firefly phone provides this.

You will like the Firefly Kids cell phone because there are two designated buttons for your child to call you. That is a huge plus if your child has a hard time remembering numbers or needs to call quickly in case of an emergency.

Another huge plus is that there is an emergency button for one-touch phone calls to 911. That definitely adds some peace of mind for the safe use of children's cell phones!

The Firefly cell phone is a great choice for you if you like simplicity. There is a phone book and other helpful features, but nothing that gets in the way of this being a very useful cell phone for children.

If your children are keen on the idea of being able to send text messages to their friends, they will not be able to do so with the Firefly mobile phone. Again, they may be so excited with having their very own phone that they may not even notice.

The Firefly offers a prepaid plan and one with a contract. Parents who want to maintain control of how long their children are talking on the phone will want to buy the Firefly prepaid phone rather than the version with a contract.

Pros of the Firefly Cell Phone

Simple, 5 button navigation

Emergency Mom and Dad buttons

One touch 911 Button

Prepaid or Contract Plans

Changeable Skins

Cons of the Firefly Cell Phone

No ability to Text Message

May be Too Simple for Some

Has a Small Learning Curve

Kajeet Phones

Another option in the world of cell phones for kids comes from Kajeet Phones. A Kajeet phone allows parents to provide all of the limitations on the child's phone, rather than the company making a more limited cell phone.

A Kajeet cell phone has the Kajeet Navigator. This is a web software application. Another unique part of the Kajeet phone is the Configurator. This is a Web-based application that you can get to from your home computer.

In the Configurator, parents can set approved and blocked numbers. This is especially important if you want to maintain safe use of cell phones for children.

For parents who are especially concerned, you can also view sent and received calls. This can be important if you're worried that your child is contacting something they should not be.

Kajeet phones seem to be geared toward helping children learn how to live in the real world. One way they do this is by having wallets in the Configurator. In these wallets, your kids can earn how to manage their money and the amount that is going into the cell phone plan.

Kajeet is a pre-paid service, so it is a great learning tool for your children to see how many minutes they have left and come up with better ways they could be using them.

Your kids will want a Kajeet phone because they've recently partnered with Nickelodeon! They can get ring tones, games, and images all with a Nickelodeon theme. So many children love Spongebob and Rugrats that they'll flip for this service.

Kajeet phones allow for text messaging which is all the rage among kids and teenagers these days. The main goal of the Kajeet service seems to be teaching kids responsibility, while still giving them a great full-featured cell phone for children.

Pros of the Kajeet Phone

Full Featured

Parents decide how much or how little freedom their children have.

Nickelodeon themes

Text messaging capability

Teaches Responsibility

Cons of the Kajeet Phone

May offer too much freedom

Not as easy to use for younger children

Has a learning curve

Which Phone is Right for My Child?

Firefly phones and Kajeet Phones are both wonderful in their own way. Weigh the pros and cons of each to make your decision. Regardless of which cell phone you choose, your child will thank you and you will feel great for taking part in safe use of cell phones for children.

Emi Light is the mother of two very active boys, who force her to keep abreast of modern technology trends. For more info on technology for children (including where to find great discounts), visit her info logs at http://BestKidTechnology.wordpress.com and http://BestComputerBuy.wordpress.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Emi_Light

Kiddie Phones

Firefly Mobile, released their new pre-paid cell phone at Target for $99. The new phones are marketed to kids and features kid friendly features and options. Cingular features the pre-paid phone that includes the kiddie phone and 30 minutes of cell phone service through Cincinnati Bell.

Firefly CEO Robin Abrams stated, “What parents told us is they want to know who their kids are talking to - and probably even more important, who's talking to their kids.” The new phones have great kid and parent friendly features. The phone offers a mom and a dad quick button for easy dialing of their parents. There is also a quick 911 button for easy access to emergency operators.

Parents can program 20 other phone numbers in the phone and restrict incoming calls to that list only. Parental access is password protected so kids cannot alter the information and there is not a keypad on the device. The phone also comes in fun color options and features customizable face plates, changeable ringtones, and a “Fireworks” button that when pressed lights the phone up for 30 seconds. There are not any gaming or Internet features on these kiddie phones.

Many other cell phone companies are working on similar releases. Blackberry is working on a kid friendly Blueberry, Grapeberry, and Strawberry’s. Disney and Sprint is also in the works of creating a kid friendly mobile device.

http://www.cellchecker.com

Life of a Firefly

Outside is the summer night is getting dark. What are those twinkles in the yard? They are fireflies. They signal to one another with their lights. The males fly round. The females wait on the grass or a plant and watch for a male's twinkling light. If she likes him, she will twinkle once. They flash at one another about twenty minutes, not all night. Some kinds flash for hours.
Fireflies are not flies. They are beetles with three main body parts: a head, a thorax, and an abdomen.

Its head has two large eyes. The eyes have many flat surfaces. The scientists believe these make the firefly see objects like looking through a cracked mirror. On its head are two antennas. These are used to touch and smell and to check out its surroundings. The head also has two sharp jaws called mandibles that it uses to catch its food.

The firefly has no teeth. It uses maxillas to chew its food. These are found behind the mandibles.
The thorax comes behind the head. The firefly's six legs are attached to the thorax. Each leg includes a foot with two claws. These serve the beetle in climbing.
The firefly's two sets of wings are attached to the thorax. The front pair is stiff and protects the lightweight wings underneath. When the firefly wants to take off, it opens its front wings and uses the other wings to fly like a ladybug does.

The abdomen is behind the thorax. Its light organs lie on the bottom of the thorax. These make the firefly glow yellow or yellow-green.
The light organs contain chemicals to mix and make light energy. The firefly's light is called bioluminescence (by-oh-loo-muh-NEH-sunts).

A firefly hatches from an egg. The mother firefly lays from 40 to 1,000 eggs at one time during the summer! She places them in loose, damp soil to keep them safe from the sun's light and heat.
The round, tiny, smooth egg glows! But it doesn't twinkle. The egg hatches in less than a month.
Then the firefly is called a larva (LAR-va). It resembles a worm with ridges. In the day the larva hides and sleeps and hunts for food at night. It eats earthworms and soft insects. It's like a human baby and must eat liquids. The larva grabs the insect by its mandibles. Then it squirts a liquid into the insect through its mandibles to soften the insect into a thick liquid. This is the larva's meal.

Soon the larva grows too big for its skin and molts. To molt, the larva splits its skin open and wiggles out and then grows a new skin. The larva molts several times through the winter. Some larvas of firefly species are adults in the spring; other kinds take another summer and winter to become an adult.

The firefly larva builds a shelter out of mud. The larva chews the soil into mud and then spits out the mud in strips. Over and over, the larva piles the mud strips atop each other to make its shelter.

The larva crawls in and curls up in its new home. There it stays for about five weeks. Once more it molts. This time it forms a stiff, white cover and is called a pupa (PYOO-puh). The pupa grows its firefly organs for about ten days. Then it is an adult firefly.

©2008 Carol Hegberg.