INSTRUCTIONS
For creating your own family cellphone contract
OPTIONAL RESOURCES:
Check out research-backed resources to continue learning about best practices for family phone-use and media rules.
CHECK OUT THE RESOURCES HERE
STEP 1:
With your child, review the “General Phone Usage” cards in the Family Rule Card Deck for ideas on different rules you might want to add to your contract
VIEW THE CARDS HERE
STEP 2:
You may complete this contract for each member of the the family (kids and parents included) or fill out one contract for the whole family.
Depending on who the contract is for, have that family member(s) write their name(s) in the opening sentence of the contract (page 3 of this PDF).
INSTRUCTIONS
For creating your own family cellphone contract
STEP 3: TIME RULES
With your child, color in the hour blocks to indicate when phones are allowed to be used. You may opt to color-code this chart For example:
GREEN: ALLOWED
I rules For example:
STEP 4: LOCATION RULES
On the house floor plan, mark down where phones are allowed to be used at home
Put a red X through the icon if phone use is not permitted in that space
Put a green check mark through the icon if phone use is permitted in that space
In the blue speech bubbles surrounding the floor plan, draw or write location-based rules for phone use in your home For example:
In the green speech bubble, draw or write a rule for phone use outside of your home For example:
STEP 5: OTHER RULES
In the purple speech bubbles, draw or write rules for phone actions, etiquette, and permissions For example:
STEP 6: MAKE IT OFFICIAL
Sign your names to make the rules official! Hooray! You have a Family Cellphone Contract.
STEP 7: ADD AN AMENDMENT (OPTIONAL)
If your child has access to texting, social media, games or AI tools on their phone, add the corresponding amendment to the contract found on pages 4-7 of this PDF With your child, write specific time, location, permission, and action rules in the speech bubbles Check out the Family Rule Card Deck for ideas for each of the categories
Sign your names at the bottom to make the amendment an official part of your Family Cellphone Contract!
