Cell Phone Rules for You Tweens and Tweens

1) If they are under the age of ten give them a pre-programmed pay-as-you-go cell phone.
This age group does not need to have hundreds of minutes per month. A phone able to dial only a few important numbers is a good cost efficient alternative to a "real" cell phone. Many companies sell these phones for under $75.00. Then you can purchase minutes as you need them. There is no contract to sign and you can discontinue service just by not purchasing additional minutes. Give them access to numbers such as their home phone, grandparents and parents phones. Explain to them that this is used for emergencies, when they really need to get in touch with a family member. Since they have no way of dialing any non-programmed number they are not able to waste minutes calling friends.

2) The child must have a job or do chores to pay for cell phone
Let's face it, cell phone plans can be expensive. Teach your child that minutes don't grow on trees and that they cost real money. Making your child work and pay for a percentage of the cell phone bill can make them more responsible with minute usage. When the bill for the phone comes in sit down with them and tell them how many minutes have been used. Show your child if he/she went over the allowed minutes. Tell them how much of the bill they need to pay. Handing over hard earned money can be a big eye opener.

3) No texting or calls during school or after 10:00 PM
Always check the phone bill to see any calls that are going out or coming in during hours when they are not allowed. There is no reason to be talking during school and most schools have strict cell phone rules anyway. Leaving a phone in a central place to charge at night is one way to keep the child from sitting in their room at 1:00 AM, texting.

4) Never text or call while driving or during family time, such as dinner.
Teach your child there is a time and place for a cell phone and the road is not one of them. Explain the very real dangers of texting and talking while driving a car. Tell teens and tweens that during dinner and other family time cell phones are to be turned off. A family game of monopoly can be ruined by cell phones going off constantly.

5) Phone must be spot checked whenever parent deems necessary
Some parents believe in giving children all the privacy they want other do not. Having the option available to check the cell phone at any time may make the child think twice before sexting or sending certain types of pictures from their phone. Most teens will be smart enough to erase any message or phone number they do not want their parent to see but it is not a bad idea to surprise check the phone every once in awhile, just in case.

Whatever your feelings are on teens and cell phone usage the phones are here to stay. Making rules and keeping them is one way to avoid the pitfalls of cell phone use such as; $800.00 phone bills or your child sending off-color pictures to friends.