Choose a cell phone plan with reasonable limits and make sure your child has consequences, financial or otherwise, if limits are exceeded.
Review the cell phone bill with your child – making sure the expenses are what you had both
planned on.
Find out about your child’s school policy on cell phone use and support it!
Talk about cyber bullying. Ask your kids to let you know if they get harassing text, pictures or
phone calls. And, tell them that bullying will not be tolerated.
If you choose to subscribe to mobile television, make sure you set limits on screen time just
like you would with your family television, and also monitor content.
Make sure kids understand no texting or talking while driving - no matter what!
Tell your kids not to share their cell phone number online, especially to people they don’t
know, even if they have been talking with them for a while in a chat room or Instant Messaging.
Talk to your kids about ‘sexting’ and make sure they understand that sexually inappropriate
language or pictures are not allowed.
Keep cell phone use in balance. Try creating ’cell phone free’ zones - perhaps dropping cell
phones into a basket before dinner time.
Talk to your kids about cell phone manners. While cell phones are great connectors for ‘out of sight’ people, kids need to learn not to be rude to people sitting right next to them!
Set a good example! Parents can be just as absorbed in their blackberries and iPhones as kids can. Model balanced, respectful cell phone use.
Make sure that you set meaningful consequences for violations of your family’s cell phone
rules and that you follow through on them.
