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If your child is getting their first cell phone or smart phone, you might want a cell phone contract to help lead your discussion about rules and expectations. You can find my printable smartphone contract below, your tween’s first cell phone contract here, and my teen internet talking tips and contract here.
How many cell phones do you have in your house? We have three – and they’re all smartphones. iPhones, specifically, but you knew that already.
The jump from regular cell phone ($10/month) to smartphone ($30/month) is a steep one. There was a lot of thought around it, and here’s what we came up with.
- We had an extra iPhone when Steve upgraded–if Michael was going to keep his regular cell phone, he would need a new one since it was falling apart. We already had an extra smartphone.
- Michael is going to get a smartphone within the next few years, like all of the other high schoolers he knows. I’d like to teach him the responsible way to use a smartphone sooner than later. It’s the way we feel about debit cards and a lot of other issues, as well. Teach them the right way before they learn the wrong way on their own.
- Michael already had an iPod Touch. That means he was managing two expensive pieces of technology (his cell phone and his iPod), which we didn’t think was a great idea for a kid. Eventually, one of them was going to turn up missing.
- Michael would help pay for his smartphone. Because his current allowance wouldn’t cover the price increase, we added on more chores to his weekly schedule. This way, he gets to keep some of his allowance and he also pays for some of the phone.
- We’re not afraid to take the phone away. In fact, it happens often. The phone is ours and it’s a privilege. If he violates any parts of our contract (see below), the phone is ours until we feel he has earned it back. It has been returned within a day and it has been taken for over a month.
I’m sharing our family’s smartphone contract with hopes that it’ll give you an idea or two for your own tween or teen. Michael came up with the ideas for this (he had to come up with this in order to get the smartphone) and I have edited it for the web.
To print this smartphone contract and use it for your tweens and teens, please click here.
Tomorrow, my bright and shiny new iPhone 5S will be at my doorstep and we will again have an extra iPhone–a 5. Will Michael get my “old” iPhone 5? Probably.
He’s responsible with his phone, he follows our rules and he’s got good grades. He’s playing football and managing his 13-year old life pretty darn well.
Does he need the 5?
No.
But sometimes it’s nice to do fun things for your kids when they show responsibility, right?
Does your child have a smartphone? What are some rules you have surrounding that situation?
You just saved me so much time! I was going to work up a contract for Julia’s new phone – thank you!
Yay! I’m happy I could help!
Totally stealing the contract idea. Brilliant!
It works great – especially when we have to say, “What did you write in your contract about that?”
my kids are way too young, but I will pass this on to my sisters!!
Can we make a contract with some of these rules for adults, too? LOL!!
Oh, yes!! I agree – some adults need reminding too!
We also did a contract and I like that it was something I could refer back to.
I absolutely love that idea. Totally printing it out. We’re headed to get my son a phone over the next couple of weeks.
Good luck!
If he’s been responsible thus far and the phone would just be sitting there anyway, why the heck not?!
Those were our thoughts, Liz! I know some people aren’t fans of kids having things like this, but it works for us.
This is genius – I love it! Sounds like you’ve got a great kiddo!
He’s pretty amazing :)
I love the idea of the contract. I’m trying to figure out how to instate that now that my kids have had smart phones for a while. We have rules but not like that and I do not pay for chores so I’d have to come up with something.
We have him update the contract when he breaks one of the rules – kind of like a reminder for him and a look to see if anything needs to be adjusted. It might be tough if you didn’t start out with one, though?
This is great! Thanks, Becca!!
I’ll definitely be printing this out for my 2 older kids. There really haven’t been any problems yet, but I’d love to have a visual “law” ;)
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Thank you for sharing! With so much to be concerned about in today’s world it is a relief and a privilege to be able to gain useful, reasonable, and useable suggestions! Please, keep them coming! Everyday is a new day of challenges when raising our future leaders! Have a blessed day!
Thank you, Julie :)
Of course my little one is still a long way off from this, but I love the concept. nice work. :)
Thanks, Allison!