[astorsnk]

> for keeping in touch when they start school

Do you mean generally once they’re school aged or while at school? I can’t see a reason a child at school would need to keep in touch with parents while at school. I don’t think I had to call home ever in 14 years of schooling.

[mrmincent]

Off the top of my head -

- I won’t be able to pick you up today please take the bus instead

- don’t forget we’re going to Nan’s tonight so please come straight home

- it’s 5pm where are you?

- yes little Bobby Tables can come for dinner

- You left your hat at home, I’ll drop it off at morning recess

[tomjen3]

Trivial: Mum can I go home with <buddy> after school?

Setting up playdates are much easier and can happen much more often when the delay is not 24 hours.

[jhanschoo]

A couple decades ago many didn't see many didn't see much use for connecting with people over the Internet either.

[astorsnk]

Email was 30 years old at that point and was relatively widely used in schools and the workplace so I disagree. Every kid I knew had a Hotmail account and spent hours on MSN Messenger every day.

But my point is more that for a long long time kids have been able to learn independence from family daily at school, in a very safe environment. There’s a lot to lose by availing them of the crutch of constant communication with and tracking by their family.