Looking for help in setting expectations for cell phone usage? Give your child an agreed-upon roadmap, an honor code to uphold, and cell phone etiquette to follow along with clear consequences for breaking the contract.
You might still be asking yourself, “Is my child old enough for a cell phone?” It’s perfectly normal to weigh the pros and cons of this decision! But when your family feels ready, giving your child a cell phone offers many surprising benefits and can be a good tool and resource. However, like everything else, children need to learn how to use it.
Before giving children access to their own cell phones, we understand the importance of putting into place guardrails to protect and teach them. So, we created this printable Cell Phone Contract to help families establish clear guidelines, boundaries, and expectations for cell phone etiquette and usage.
This Cell Phone Contract fosters open communication and understanding between you and your child. From setting respectful communication guidelines and cell phone etiquette to emphasizing the importance of privacy and online safety, this contract gives you point by point to cover together.
The usage section includes a space for you to add the times in which your child can access the phone.
The cell phone etiquette section gives guidance for when it’s OK—and not OK—to use a cell phone.
The honor code section encourages kids to treat others with kindness, to use their devices responsibly and safely, and to ask for permission before adding apps. Plus, it clearly states that you have access to the phone at any time.
And, of course, the contract outlines the consequences for any breach of the agreed-upon rules. We intentionally left those lines blank so you can determine the suitable response for your child.
If you like this printable, you might find these two printables useful: How to Talk to Your Teenager About Peer Pressure and How to Talk to Your Child About Adolescence.
