There used to be a time when if a teenager wanted to talk on the telephone, they
either had to use the one that was in common areas (like the living room or kitchen) or
hope that their parents would surprise them with one for a milestone birthday like 16 or
18.

Yes, that’s a tale that’s almost light years old because these days, kids as young as
10 (sometimes even younger) have them now. Just because technology has changed
the times, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t some “parental guidance instructions” that
should still apply, though.

If your teen has a cell phone, and you’re wondering what some of the best rules to
implement are when it comes to using it, here are five below.

There’s a time and a place for everything. Some kids have their
phone on them at all times. More times than not, it’s not totally necessary for them to,
especially if they are in the house. Make sure that you designate times when the phone
can (and should) be used and times when it shouldn’t. In class, during homework (unless
it’s to discuss homework) or after bedtime are three times when it needs to be turned
off.

Cell phones are not for talking on all day long. Even when
teenagers are not in school or studying, that doesn’t mean that they need to be on the
phone all day with their friends, either. This particular rule is age-sensitive (meaning
someone 13 needs stricter guidelines than someone who is 17), but be sure to sit down
with your teen to discuss times when they can talk to/text their friends and times when it
should be put on silent or vibrate.

There doesn’t need to be a passcode on it. This particular rule
is controversial with some parents just because they don’t want to feel like they are
invading their children’s privacy. But remember, although you may have a very amicable
relationship with your teen, that doesn’t negate the fact that you are still responsible
for their safety and well-being. That said, a lot of cell phones have an option where
people can put passcodes on it to prevent other people [Read more…]