cell phone

The number of kids with cell phones is on the rise; earlier this year a study said that 20 percent of kids aged 6 to 11 have one. That may have some consequences, including the inability to operate a landline! In yesterday's Ask Amy advice column, a middle school secretary wrote in to remind parents to teach their kids how to use that more old-school way of placing a call. The problem? If there's an emergency where cell phone networks are down, or cell phones have no reception, children may not be able to get the help they need. The secretary noted that her school's kids didn't know to pick up the phone receiver, dial one before a long-distance area code, or even to listen for a dial tone. Perhaps most importantly, the children also had not remembered their parents' digits, since they are programmed into their cell phones.

The columnist advised parents to add the "Landline Talk" to the list of chats they need to have with their kids, like the traditional sex, drugs, and predator lessons. Do your kids remember your home or cell phone numbers, and do you teach them how to use a landline?

A friend of mine once shared the details of an amazing phone plan he had steadily cultivated over the years and made my jaw drop. He'd racked up unlimited incoming text messaging and calls, a huge number of minutes, free nights and weekends, and more. He paid for all of it with the same low-priced basic package he started out with. When I asked my friend how that happened, he told me that he stuck with the same cell provider for over 10 years and every time his contract came up, he would call the company and ask if they can offer him any incentives to renew his contract. The customer service rep always took the bait.

The secret to this is something called customer retentions, a department that offers you discounts and bonus features in order to get you to remain a loyal customer.

For tips on dealing with cell provider reps, read more.

The Internet seems to occupy a good chunk of my life. As a writer I'm constantly online, whether it be posting stories, doing research, or chatting with colleagues. And on a personal level I have my vices: Facebook, Twitter, and an RSS feed that seems never ending. But in the last month I've been questioning the amount of time I spend online; I'm starting to show slight signs of carpal tunnel syndrome, and I've been told by numerous friends that I'm on my iPhone way too much — they call it iRude. The point is, I need to slow down.

While staying connected is a good thing, being online isn't the only way to make that happen. Unplugging helps your body recharge, and it lets you reconnect with the world around you. Turning off electronics gives you more time to be active and also gives you more time to focus on the relationships in your life. To make this more of a priority, I have a new rule in my life: when work is over for the day, I turn the computer off. I also leave my phone at home when I'm out with friends for the night. And even though it may sound crazy in this day and age, it's actually liberating. And more importantly, my friends appreciate it because I am completely focused on the present moment.

See if you can challenge yourself to unplug when work is over. Keep your laptop shut off, put your phone away, and go on a walk, take your BFF to dinner, or read a book instead. Let me know how it works for you!

Is your child reachable at all times? A new study says there's a good chance he is. According to Mediamark Research and Intelligence, one in five children between the ages of 6-11 carries a cell phone. That number has nearly doubled over the past five years with boys accounting for a significant portion of the increase.

When we asked our readers about their views on the mobile phones a year and a half ago, half of LilSugar readers said their tots didn't carry one. As the world continues to shift to more mobile means of communication, and as more parents see the device as a means for providing their tykes with more freedom, many mamas are shifting their views on the lil pieces of technology and opting for phones that they can control.

Have you changed your view on giving your child a cell phone?

The other night my husband came home with a surprise gift for me. No, it wasn't flowers, or chocolate, or tickets to a show. It was a new cell phone case, and I thought, "Gee, thanks honey. How romantic." Then he explained that it wasn't just an ordinary case; it was proven to reduce cell phone radiation. He said, "I know you're on your phone a lot, and I want you to be safe." Kinda sweet, no?

The cell phone case by Pong ($60) is "the only case tested by FCC-certified laboratories to reduce cell phone radiation while maintaining full signal strength." The antenna on your cell phone emits radiation in order to send and receive signals. Unfortunately, your head is exposed to that radiation as well. Pong fixes the problem by redirecting the energy up through its patented laddered chimney and away from your head. So it protects your body as well as your phone.

The flexible silicone case comes in bright green and black. Not only do I feel better using it, but it feels good in my hand. The surface is slip-resistant so you're less likely to drop it on the ground (although I know that never happens). Tell me, would you spend $60 on a healthier cell phone case?

We each develop a unique saving style over the years, which is why it's so important to divulge your winning tactics with friends. You never know how far your little tip will go for the next gal. Spectra recently shared an incredibly smart tip in the comments of my 5 Savvy Ways to Use Your Phone's Calculator and I just had to pass it on. She says:

I use my phone calculator to figure out my gas mileage every time I fill up. I reset the trip odometer when I fill up and I just divide that number by the amount of gas I put in to see if I got decent mileage on that certain tank of gas. I know, it's kind of anal, but it's just something I do.

Saving on gasoline requires great effort so I was impressed by this simple move. Do you have a tip for readers? Join our How Do You Save? group and share your helpful suggestions. Here's a detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups if you are new to the PopSugar Community.

Some health studies make headlines and they seem quite shocking and sad, like this one from CNN: Tweens Challenged by Grown-Up Malady: Breast Cancer. Others bring out my inner fourth grader, and my response to them is sophisticated "no duh." But stories are often more complicated than their headlines, and it is nice to have scientific studies confirm a few assumptions.

Kids' Cereals Pour on the Sugar and Sodium — USA Today
A new study illustrates what we have long since learned by reading nutrition labels: cereals aimed at children have 85 percent more sugar, 65 percent less fiber, and 60 percent more sodium than cereal marketed to adults.

Models Strike a Chord in Self-Esteem — New York Times
A study to soon appear in the Journal of Consumer Research found that when women look at photos of models they think about their weight and their self-esteem is affected.

Talk on Your Cell, Risk Missing the Unicycling Clown — CNET
Pedestrians talking on their cell phones were considerably less likely to notice the conspicuously dressed clown riding a unicycle compared with other pedestrians. If you have ever ridden a bike on a city street, chances are high you probably already know this. Extrapolate this data to drivers and realize you need to bike, run, and walk defensively.

Cell phones can be mommy's best friend and her worst enemy. They can entertain wee ones beyond their wildest imaginations in addition to teaching them the alphabet, shapes and math facts. While they may be excellent distractions for meddlesome miniatures, they can be more menacing for the mature mama.

For starters, no teacher wants to see a mother chatting up with her chums during carpool. Even worse is a parent getting lost in a conversation while driving a truck full of tots around town. Many moms take advantage of pool time to mosey off to chatter land lending a not-so-watchful eye. And just the other day, I witnessed a 3-year-old wiggling her way through a fourth floor balcony. My husband sent security up to check on her and they reported back that the mother was in fact present but on her cell phone. What's the worst cell phone offense you've committed in regards to your child's safety?

Dish about your mommy confessions in The Mommy Club in our LilSugar Community!