How to set up a smartphone contract with your kids

Note: These rules were originally written by Janell Burly Hofmann for her son Gregory when she gave him an iPhone on Christmas 2012. I slightly modified them, but all credit goes to her.

I use this snapguide for annotations, changes and comments. For the original rules, please google "Gregory's iPhone contract"

Contract between [put in kid's name here] and [parent's names go here]

You are a good & responsible [age] year old [boy/girl] and you deserve this gift. But with the acceptance of this SmartPhone come rules and regulations. Please read through the following contract.

[Put in some nice words about your responsibilities as a parent here] Failure to comply with the following list will result in termination of your iPhone ownership.

1. It is my phone. I bought it. I pay for it. I am loaning it to you. Aren’t I the greatest?

2. Your parents will always know the password.

3. We, your parents, are always able to track the phone. In case it gets stolen or you get lost, ask for our help. We will locate it and find it. Never turn off the tracking functionality.

4. If it rings, answer it. It is a phone. Say hello, use your manners. Do not ever ignore a phone call if the screen reads “Mom” or “Dad”. Not ever.

5. Place the phone in the charger in the kitchen at [time] pm every school night & every weekend night at [time] pm. It will be charged at night. You can take it back in the morning after getting up.

6. It does not go to school with you. Have a conversation with the people you text in person. It’s a life skill. *Half days, field trips and after school activities will require special consideration.

7. If it falls into the toilet, smashes on the ground, or vanishes into thin air, you are responsible for the replacement & repairs. Mow a lawn, babysit, stash some money. It will happen, be prepared.

8. Do not use this technology to lie, fool, or deceive another human being. Do not involve yourself in conversations that are hurtful to others. Be a good friend, stay the hell out of the crossfire.

9. Do not text, email, or say anything through this device you would not say in person.

10. Do not text, email, or say anything to someone that you would not say out loud with their parents in the room. Censor yourself.

11. No porn. Search the web for information you would openly share with me. If you have a question about anything, ask a person – preferably your parents.

12. Turn it off, silence it, put it away in public. Especially in a restaurant, at the movies, or while speaking with another human being. You are not rude; do not allow the iPhone to change that.

13. Do not send or receive pictures of yours or anyone else’s private parts. Don’t laugh. Someday you will be tempted to do this. It is risky and could ruin your teenage/college/adult life.

14. Don’t take a zillion pictures and videos. There is no need to document everything. Live your experiences. They will be stored in your memory for eternity.

15. Leave your phone home sometimes and feel safe and secure in that decision. It is not alive or an extension of you. Learn to live without it.

16. Keep your eyes up. See the world happening around you. Stare out a window. Listen to the birds. Take a walk. Talk to a stranger. Wonder without googling.

17. You will mess up. I will take away your phone. We will sit down and talk about it. We will start over again. You & I, we are always learning. I am on your team. We are in this together.

18. This contract will be renegotiated every 6 months. In case you want to change something, tell us and we will discuss it with you.

Finally, print & sign the contract. Put it somewhere where you can always find it and hand a copy to your child.

And of course, hand him or her the new phone!