Kids are becoming technology savvy at such a young age, and it is inevitable that they will someday have a cell phone. Even if a cell phone doesn’t have data service, preteens and teenagers use apps that do all the same things (and more!) as a phone that has data. A WiFi connection is the only requirement for connecting with people from all over the globe, so I came up with a cell phone contract to help keep them safe online.
Preteens and teenagers oftentimes have the mindset that the bad things that happen in the world won’t happen to them. Even if they understand the risks, sometimes they make mistakes without thinking things through.
With all of the dangers in the online world, it is important to keep our kids as safe as possible. The first step to this is talking to them about what is allowed and what isn’t. This gives them the opportunity to understand the expectations and to ask questions.
My Solution? A Cell Phone Contract For Preteens and Teenagers.
My kids are responsible for paying for their own data each month. The phones are usually gifts and we cover any insurance costs, but the data must be paid by them.
Neither of them has a job, but we have a detailed chore chart that has each chore listed and how much they will be paid to do it. At the end of the week, I pay them. They can earn as much or as a little as they want, and it is entirely up to them if they want data. Chances are, they do, so it isn’t an issue for us.
I created two versions of the cell phone contract for preteens and teenagers so that I could share them with you. One contract has a bullet point for paying for their own data and one does not.
What Happens If They Break The Contract?
My kids (14 and 11 years old)
The first time they break the contract they lose their cell phone for one week. For each additional
If she breaks any of those 3 rules again, her time without a phone will be doubled. If she broke a different rule next time it would only be a one-week punishment because she hadn’t broken that one before. Does that make sense?
I know that kids will slip up, so this is a huge learning experience for them and myself. Each time they get their phone back we go over the contract again.
Final Thoughts
Online safety is important to me, and it is so important for our children to understand the dangers. I want to be up front and clear about what is expected of them when they are on the internet and interacting with others. Not only do I want them to be safe, I want them to be respectful, as well.
What do you do to make sure your children understand and practice online safety? Tell me about it in the comments. 🙂
This is a great idea. We have a 12 year old that is wanting a phone. He’s not mature enough yet but it won’t be long. I think something like this would be perfect.