11 Essential Rules and Guidelines for Teen Digital Device Usage

No doubt electronic devices are useful and make our lives easier; they come with a serious flaw that especially affects the young users. First, kids get too engrossed in their devices. Second, they don’t know the proper use and their usage include more ill-use than beneficial use. And third, they make their lives more difficult than easier.

You’ll often find kids devoting all their energy and time over digital device usage. They play games either through gaming consoles or through other devices such as computer, cell phone, and tablets; visit social networking sites; use funny and entertaining apps; and do all kinds of silly stuffs using their smart phones or other advanced gadgets. This harms other important activities such as playing real life (outdoor) games, enjoying time with the family, and even the crucial things like having meal properly and doing homework.

However, if parents get a bit strict with their kids and set proper rules and regulations, things can be different. Below you have a list of essential rules and guidelines, by simply enforcing them at home can help you make your child more disciplined.

#1 No electronic device allowed unless the homework, self-study, assignments and other chores are done.

Kids generally neglect all the important things including homework, self-study and even the everyday chores for the sake of staying online on social sites, playing online games or for simply whiling away their precious time. If you make it a rule that there won’t be any electronic digitalization available unless more important things are done; your child will stay far more discipled and there will be no slack in studies and other important chores of life. Such a rule will also encourage kids to complete their homework and other important tasks for the sake of doing their favorite things.

#2 No device usage when spending time with family or guests

Kids need to learn the importance of being together with the family and the basic etiquettes of being a good host. Such rule will not only make kids less addicted to gadgets but will also inculcate in them good social habits.

#3 No gaming, texting, and chatting at dinner time

Kids don’t understand the value of concentrating on meals and often eat haphazardly that hardly does any good to health. Thus, cutting on gaming, texting, chatting and even Internet surfing on cell phones, tablets, and other gadgets will make your child eat better and learn dinner time etiquettes.

#4 Cut on digitalization and electronic sources of entertainment prior to the exams

Too much of entertainment is obviously not good and if this continues around the exam time, it definitely leads to poor performance.  But if you make a ‘no gadget prior to exams’ rule, it will help your child prepare well for exams and get good grades.

#5 Parents need to know what sites you use, and have your username and passwords for the accounts on all these sites.

Tell your child that you have right to know what he or she does online. Your child may visit a pornographic site or any other adult oriented site unfit for kids, thus, you need to keep a check on the sites that your child visits.  Ask your child to supply all the usernames and passwords that he or she uses or else you’ll disallow Internet usage.

#6 There’s time limit on everyday device use.

 Don’t let your child stay tuned to the devices all through the day. Just the way you set limit on TV viewing, set time limit for other electronic gadgets too.

#7 Night means time to say good bye to digitalization and friends online

Make sure your child doesn’t stay awake all night just to communicate with friends.  It will be best if you disallow cell phones, tablets and the likes for late night use.

#8 No you can’t carry your phone to school

Though most schools don’t allow cell phones or smart phones in the campus; your child may carry them secretly. Double check your child’s backpack and make is clear that phones are not to be carried to school at any cost at all.

#9 Computer and laptops won’t stay in your room

Keep the family computer in such a part of home from where you can easily have a look at what your child is doing. Tell your child to use them at the place where you have placed them. Be clear that you aren’t going to allow them in your child’s room.

#10 You can’t hide what you’re doing on the phone and tablet from mom and dad

So, your child keeps texting, chatting or playing games on the phone and you have not an iota of notion about what exactly is going on? Make it a deal with your child that you have right to check whatever is going on your child’s phone.

#11 You aren’t crossing the usage data limits and available call minutes and text numbers

Most kids get addicted to Internet games and app download. They even cross their available usage limits at times. Make it clear with your child that you won’t entertain any such over usage at all and if your child crossed the available usage data, text messages or call minutes, you’ll adjust the bill with your child’s monthly allowance!