5 Tips on managing cell phones with kids

Krazy Kidz and Cell Phones!
(Remember cell phones are a privilege not a right)

Please do not tell me that you are surprised that kidz have their own cell phones! Please do not tell me that you are surprised that parents let kidz have their own cell phones! Our culture allows kidz to be mini adults. So no surprise on the cell phone! Kidz are doing what adults are doing! I think that all this new technology is a good thing! I think that scary things happen because parents do not monitor their kidz! When a parent thinks that a cell phone is right instead of a privilege then trouble happens!

5 tips to HELP manage cell phone usage for your KIDZ!

1- I'm the Parent. I pay the phone bill. I make the rules.

2-The cell phone is a privilege, not a right. You break our rules the phone is put in timeout!

3-Do not answer any phone calls not in your caller ID. As a parent you help them set up their phone contacts. Do not accept blocked ID calls. Those are the calls, pics, txt coming in that will 100% lead to bullying, inappropriate content,etc. I will check the incoming calls. If you answer calls not in your caller ID...well see rule #1 and #2.

4-You will NOT call anyone not in your caller ID unless you let me know. I will check the bill phone log as well as your outgoing calls. If you call out to people not in your caller ID without checking with me ... well see rule #1, #2 and #3.

5-If you happen to slip and break a rule but tell me before I find out on my own then we will talk about the situation and work with it. We love you and we want to keep you safe. I can't keep you safe if you choose to break the rules.

As the parent you have chosen the right family plan. So let's  be realistic. 

If you kid has a phone she will use it. IF she has text messaging she will use it. If she has a picture phone she will use it. If she has internet options she will use. 

So as the parent you need to be practical and realistic on how much you have in your budget for cell phones and set your plan.

If you tell your kids that they only have 200 text messages a month yet you do not help them figure out how to manage that then you are asking for trouble! Remember, parents, cells phones are a privilege, not a right.

Teach your kidz how to be responsible just like you need to be responsible! Teach them about how to be responsible with incoming and outgoing calls, what to and not to share as well as websites that are ok and not ok to go to and what pictures to share and not to share. 

This is a reprinted blog article from 2009 with adjustments.