Um, you aren’t expecting me to give you some stunning psychological insights into the younger generation, are you? I am good for a bit of info on the nifty techno-tricks available and adopted by the younger, more flexible minds out there, however…
More and more convenient communications gadgets are coming out. iPhones, Blackberries, Kindle book reader with cell phone internet built in…
They are all excellent ways to coerce your children at a distance!!
Your kids have probably integrated themselves into the world of the cell phone, ‘texting’ classmates, carrying their cell phone where ever they wander…
The side effect of all this technology is that there’s currently a ‘secret’ realm of communication inhabited by the masters of ‘texting’ – old, slow parental types automatically excluded by lack of skill.
We can invade this semi-private domain by treachery, ambushing our kids at will. Here’s how:
Almost all cell phone text messaging systems offer an EMAIL link, even pay-as-you-go types like Tracfones. Each provider has an EMAIL address setup, usually ##########@providersnet (where ########## is the ten-digit cell phone number with area code, and providersnet varies – for example ‘@txt.att.net’ for AT&T (cingular) phones…)
Some handy tools to help establish your EMAIL-to-cell-phone-text link:
http://fonefinder.net/ - type in the area code, exchange and first digit of the last four digits and this handy site tells you who the cell phone provider is. From that, and this site - http://www.livejournal.com/tools/textmessage.bml?mode=details – you can figure out the EMAIL address needed to send text messages to a cell phone.
Even us ancient relics of bygone eras usually can manage to fat-finger in a lengthy EMAIL message... It's much easier than texting via cell phone keypad!
Just imagine the expression on your dear child’s face when he or she realizes that mom can nag at them via text messages!! Priceless!!
