Phone Calls

[SpiritFilledMomof2]

So I'm curious, at what age is it appropriate for children to start calling each other on the phone? My dd, who is 6 1/2, has started getting phone calls from a couple of her classmates. I had given our phone number to the moms for the purpose of setting up play dates. To me this seems a little young. Am I over re-acting? Is this the norm these days? What are your rules regarding phone calls. This is new territory for me so I'm just wondering what other moms think about this.

I just went through the same thing with my 61/2 yr old. a couple of weeks ago a classmate of my dd kept giving my daughter her # so she can call her. I thought about if for about a week, then i let her call her and i set up a play date so i can meet her mom and the kids can play. I worked out ok. I to was concerned about them being so young and gabbing on the phone but i figure as long as my dd isn't calling her friends all the time it should be ok as long as it is only to set up play dates. but thats my opinion, maybe some of the other moms can share some experiences they've had to.
I was a little concerned on sunday cuz one of dd's friends from school called but i'm not sure how she got our #, I think she looked it up in the phone book. But i guess it was ok since all they reallly talked about was the fact that they were both going to church.
I'm still not sold on the fact of my dd having friends call but i guess i will
take it as it comes and deal with it one step at a time.sorry if this isn't much help as i don't know what is norm it's just what we are experiencing :D

[breezykc2]

I taught gradeschool...this was a cool thing I heard a parent do for her young daughter just coming into the friend/phone thing!
They didn't have much money, so allowance wasn't an option for chore rewards at the end of each week....so she earned phone minutes! For each week of all done chores without being hounded! She earned 10 minutes of phone time for the next week....everytime she had to be reminded more than two times to do a certain chore that week, she would lose a minute....also, if found doing something very kind or an excellent job on a school thing or just for being a good steward in some way, she could be given extra minutes.......she could use these minutes when she wanted during the week, but when they were up (they would set a timer and mark off the minutes left with a dry/erase board in the kitchen next to the phone) she was done talking until more minutes were earned. The minutes counted if someone called her or if she called someone. Conversations were only allowed between her and kids and families the parents had met and approved. Seemed to work well for them!

[RhysMom]

Wow! breezykc2, that is a great idea. I will have to remember that when my dd is old enough to talk to friends from school. Right now she just talks to her grandparents and father on the phone. I find that very appropriate.

Sara