So you’ve decided to take the plunge and get your child a
cell phone. Studies show the average age for a child to get their first phone
is around 12 but there is a good
amount of variability in that number. Regardless of the age of your child, the
success of this venture depends largely on you, as a parent. You need to set
your child up for success. Here is how:
Establish Rules of Use
The first thing you need to do is define a Rules of Use
Agreement with your child. This Agreement is the set of rules that governs what
your child is and is not allowed to do with their phone. The rules should be specific and actionable. Avoid anything
subjective or open to interpretation. I recommend a written document so that
there is no confusion. A good activity might be to sit down with your child and
come up with the agreement together. Capturing their attention for that long
might seem impossible but if they know that getting a phone is contingent upon
it, you’ll get some of their time and attention. Your agreement should include:
