Most tweens and teens don`t pay for their cell phones or cell phone plans, it`s mom and dad who spit out the dough for this expensive technology. If you paid for it, you own it. If they damage or lose it, they have to pay for repair or replacement or no other mobile phone. This also means that you have the right to withdraw it at any time if they violate your trust or the rules you have set out in your mobile phone contract. Each privilege should be accompanied by clear expectations as to the type of behaviour required to maintain that privilege. It helps to set boundaries and all children need and appreciate limits. Knowing what they should or shouldn`t do and the consequences of not following the rules makes life more predictable for them. Once you`ve signed a contract, it`s hard to get by. It is established in contract law that premature termination of the contract entails sanctions. No one wants to read long terms and conditions, but always try to read a contract in its entirety before signing. Be sure to talk to your child regularly to review the contract. Talk about what works and what you could change to make the contract more useful. Then add the consequences of violating cell phone usage rules: If you`re wondering how to get out of a phone contract, it may be a good idea to seek advice from a business lawyer who can review your contract and advise you on next steps.
Federal law governs the telecommunications industry in general, but specific laws for contracts with mobile phone companies are in the hands of the states. Most plans require you to pay an early cancellation fee (ETF) if you cancel your service before the end of the contract term. ETFs can cost hundreds of dollars. Instead of using Google and printing out a ready-made mobile phone contract, we recommend a personalized approach: a mobile phone contract is an agreement that outlines what families will do to make sure kids take care of their phones and use it responsibly — like not texting while driving. The sample phone contract below can help you and your child get started. Use the contract as is or modify it according to your own rules and consequences. Review the contract together regularly, as circumstances and challenges may change. Finally, there are times and places when mobile phone use is not appropriate. At the movies, at the dining table or during school hours, the phone must be cut off and put away. Also, if someone is having a personal conversation with him, he should look at the person, not his phone.
When I was talking to parents and looking for solutions on how to manage cell phones with a teenager, I kept coming across cell phone contracts. They often contained pages and pages of do`s and don`ts asking a child or teen to sign up for a phone. Did you know that if you buy a mobile phone and set up the service, you could have two contracts? The first is your consent to buy a phone and make installment payments until it is refunded. The second is your cell phone plan, also known as a “customer service contract.” This treaty states, among other things, that it is time for a new approach – a slower and more proactive approach – for smartphones and our children. Then, when it comes time to introduce a phone, we need to do more than just let our teens sign on a dotted line. Today`s teens need much more than a signed contract to combat cyberbullying, sexting, sextortion, dangerous online challenges, pornography, online predators, social media harms, and endless games and videos. I started calling old friends, browsing the internet, and reading books like Glow Kids, Reset Your Child`s Brain, and The Tech-Wise Family. How could we delay the introduction of phones in the future and be intentional? With a monthly plan, you decide each month whether you want to continue with your current operator or change carriers. You are not bound by a long-term contract, but must agree to other terms and conditions for the use of your provider`s mobile service. However, if you buy a phone and agree to pay for it in installments, you will need to sign a contract for the purchase of the phone. If your teen is old enough and responsible enough for a smartphone, they should be mature enough to explain how they will or will not use their phone.
A promise always gives you the opportunity to put ideas on paper, and expectations help you write! (I think that`s why a cell phone contract is so appealing.) But keep it brief and let your teen say it in their own words. This will “stick” in the brain much longer than a long list of rules in a contract. Avoid homework battles by using a homework contract. When it comes to your teen`s first phone, it`s not a question of “if.” Another goal is to help kids talk when they see or receive something on their phone that makes them uncomfortable. These contracts include steps that promise children. They also include the steps that parents or caregivers promise. Make sure your tweens and teens understand how to set up their privacy settings, both on the phone and in any apps they use. Talk to them about why it`s so important to protect their privacy. Many teens really have no idea what a cell phone can share about them, including personal information and their location. As parents of five, I knew that not all children would be ready to take on this responsibility at the same time.
I also knew, based on my research and experience, that smartphones were not for kids. It was a privilege to prepare – much like a driver`s license. Telephone service contracts are generally unitary contracts (legally called “adhesion contracts”), but some negotiations may be possible. It`s always worth asking if your carrier adjusts the price or adds extras to keep you as a customer. Speaking of sharing, you also want to cover what can and can`t be shared via a mobile phone. This certainly means photos and language used in texts, emails, and social media. But don`t forget to include simpler things like giving their address, age, or the school they go to in apps or online (if you`ve given them full internet access). Many contracts contain enforced arbitration clauses, which means that you agree to resolve disputes with the provider through a neutral third party or arbitrator and not as part of a dispute. These clauses may allow you to sue in Small Claims Court, but you don`t have a lawyer or jury. Tyler and I struggled with that decision and how to proceed. We talked to our daughter, admitted our myopia and replaced the smartphone with an archaic (but completely usable!) one.
It was painful for everyone, but it was a decision we never regretted. This agreement between [Parents` Names Go Here] and [Tween`s Name Goes Here] sets out family rules and consequences regarding mobile phone use. This can help break down what a contract is in the first place. Without going into legal details, the most common type of contract is where one party agrees to pay another for a good or service. Contracts can also be called “agreements”, “plans” or other names. Giving children a mobile phone is giving them a lot of responsibility. A cell phone contract is a great way to overcome some of the challenges that can come with a phone. This is especially important for children who are easily distracted or have trouble controlling their impulses. Mobile phone contracts also give parents a false sense of security. “Phew! The document is signed. Our teenager knows what he can and cannot do.
Now we can go on with our lives. FALSE. We cannot rely on a piece of paper to protect our children from digital dangers. Also, cell phone addiction among teens is a real thing, and it`s important to set boundaries. In general, it`s a good idea to have a cell phone ban policy while they do their homework and also before bed. Too many teens lose sleep because of nighttime cell phone use. Set up a specific place where the phone will charge overnight, which is not in their room. This is the complaint of every tween or teen in America who has parents who are still waiting to hand over one of the most coveted items of their generation – a cell phone. If a teen or teen can`t tell what they`ll or won`t do with a phone, they`re not ready for one. Our teens need to be able to have quiet conversations about technical limitations before they are allowed to have a cell phone.
We use our self-assessment for mobile phones as well as our self-assessment for parents and teens for social media as we slowly move through this process. Years later, parents now have safer phone options! We use child-resistant phones with our current middle school students and this has made a huge difference when it comes to getting into technology.
