How to Keep Your Teenager’s Phone Use Under Control By Mark Etinger At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Ah, the teenage years. It’s a time when a young person’s personality begins to emerge and they are more interested than ever in the peer group. Teenage social interaction comes in many forms, but the one thing that holds it all together is the phone. And even though instant messages and email have replaced many older means of communication, there will never be a replacement for teenagers talking on the phone.

Keep an eye on bills throughout the month

Keep all your phone bills each month. Then go back and review them in detail. Pay attention to the timing of the calls (peak hours are more expensive) and unnecessary calls. From this information, create a set of ground rules that your teen needs to follow in order to keep all their phone privileges.

Try a Pre-Paid phone plan

If you’ve ever opened up your monthly phone bill and found hundreds of extra charges due to overages, you know that it’s an experience you never want to go through again. To help keep your teen’s phone use under control, try purchasing a pre-paid phone, or supplying minutes your child’s cell with a pre-paid calling card. With these plans in place, you know that there is absolutely NO way they can call over their limit.

Be firm and stay safe

It is important that your teenager understands that their phone is a privilege and not a right. The more they realize that fact, the more responsible their actions will be. Also, it is incredibly important to explain to them the importance of phone safety. No teenager should be talking on the phone while driving – even with a hands-free device. Recent research has shown that teenagers talking on the phone represent the highest risk individuals in terms of getting into an accident. Also, make sure that your child knows how to protect their phone from theft – and understands that they should never leave it out on a table or exposed in an open purse or knapsack.

Try a lower cost alternative

Bills for traditional land line phones or cell service can add up quick. One lower-cost option you might want to try is VOIP service. VOIP (or “Voice Over Internet Protocol”) is a new technology that allows individuals to make calls using their high-speed internet connection. VOIP calling is inexpensive and even offers FREE calls to those who are also with the same carrier. And because your teen may not want to sit at a computer for all their calls, Wi-Fi capable cell phones allow them to use digital phone service via VOIP wherever there is an Internet connection.

Make your teen an active part of the process

Sometimes, kids don’t even realize how many minutes they are racking up over the course of a month. For this reason, a little financial education might be in order. Sit down with your teen and show them how and when they are making their calls. Teach them important lessons about money and responsibility. This will help keep your phone bill lower, but more importantly will instill in them important values they can use for the rest of their lives.

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