CELL PHONE GUIDELINES AND AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
MOM AND JORDAN
DAILY USE
• School days (Monday – Friday): Cell phone can be used from the time Jordan gets home until about 6-6:30pm for texting with friends.
• At dinner, cell phone should be ‘at rest’ (on table, but not actively texting or checking for texts while eating).
• During homework time, cell phone should be ‘at rest’ (on table, but not actively texting or checking for texts while doing homework).
• Jordan can answer a phone call or text from her dad at any time.
• Between 8-8:30pm, cell phone can be checked for additional texts or sending texts.
• Cell phone is to be turned off at 8:30pm on weeknights (school nights).
WEEKEND USE
• Friday night: Cell phone can be used until 9:30pm for texting with friends.
• Saturday: Cell phone can be used until 9:30pm for texting with friends (see texting guidelines for details).
• Sunday: Cell phone can be used until 8:30pm for texting with friends (see texting guidelines for details).
TEXTING and CALLING GUIDELINES
• Cell phone is to be used for keeping in touch with friends and family.
• It is NOT to be used for late night prank calling or making one minute phone calls (or less than one minute).
• After hours use: cell phone is to be turned off after 9:30pm on Friday and Saturday evenings or after 8:30pm on Sunday – Thursday evenings.
• Please use cell phone responsibly and wisely!
COST OF CELL PHONE
• Jordan’s cost of cell phone plan with unlimited texting is $23.00 per month.
o Mom will pay one-half of that cost ($11.50) each month.
o Jordan will pay one-half of that cost ($11.50) each month, due on the first of each month.
• Chores can be done during the month to earn money for cell phone payment (see Chore Calendar w/Stickers).
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OK - I'd love to get some feedback on this. Jordan is 10 and just got the cell phone for Christmas less than 2 months ago. Towards the end of January (when we switched to unlimited texting), she had over 1,700 texts in just 6 days. Is that crazy? Or am I the only one who thinks that is excessive? Since she got the cell phone, she has been totally obsessed with it, texting while eating, doing homework, etc. She spent the night at a friend's house 2 weeks ago, and there were 14 phone calls after midnight and 76 text messages ranging from midnight to 4am!!
So, it was totally time for some guidelines. At first, I was mad that she wasn't using the phone responsibly. But then I thought a little more and realized that I haven't even begun to teach her responsible phone usage.
The 'agreement' above is my attempt at giving a little structure and freedom (but structured) to using the cell phone. What do you think?
peace...
Wow what a contract. However, you did not spell out the ramifications of breaking it. I assume she is not taking it to school with her, right? Which is why use starts from the time she gets home. I would say the novelty might wear off, but I don't think it will. Some structure might be a good thing. You can always relax as she earns more freedom/time for it. I think it is too cool that you follow up on it too. Good job mom, most moms don't bother.
ReplyDeleteHi Vicki,
ReplyDeleteNo, she's not taking it to school (definitely not). I didn't include ramifications because I wanted to leave it a little open (for leeway on what kind of punishment would be suitable for a particular issue).
Yesterday was great - she actually played outside for hours (it was finally warm enough to do so) without the cell phone.
Thanks for reading! :)