How to Teach Your Child Telephone Etiquette

Can you remember the days when getting the opportunity to talk on the phone was a treasured privilege? Today, technology has skyrocketed to the point where talking on the phone is as common and taken for granted as taking a breath of air. Because it is so routine for us, we sometimes forget that there is special etiquette involved with conversing over the phone. We should be applying good phone etiquette during every call we make, and we should be teaching our children how to appropriately take phone calls and display good manners while engaged in phone conversations. There are many ways this can be achieved.

Take into consideration your child’s age and ability to understand proper phone etiquette. If your child is very young, you may introduce phone usage to them by allowing them to have special responsibilities such as answering the phone when you are busy cooking dinner and such.

Demonstrate good phone etiquette when teaching your child, go step by step so that they can fully understand the rules.

Place a phone script next to the phone to help your child until he/she can recite proper etiquette by memory.

Establish rules for using the phone, such as time limits, appropriate language etc.

Allow your child to make calls to friends and family, and practice using good phone manners.

Do not allow your child to use the telephone if your child uses it inappropriately.

Make certain your child understands that he/she is to make no other calls except to those he/she knows. Emphasize that prank calls are grounds for discipline, and that emergency numbers should never be dialed unless there is truly an emergency.

Supervise your child while he/she is using the telephone.

Immediately remove your child from the telephone when your child makes prank phone calls, uses bad language, or handles phone equipment incorrectly.

When your child does not use the telephone appropriately, explain exactly what he/she is doing wrong, what should have been done and why.

If you are not able to personally supervise your child while they are on the phone due to work or having to tend to your own chores or tasks, try to have an older sibling or someone else supervise your child.

Make certain baby-sitters and other adults who may be supervising your child are aware of your child’s abuse of the phone.

Make sure that you are setting a good example when you are on the phone, refrain from using bad language.

Try writing a contract with your child defining when and how the telephone will be used, and how you expect your child to behave when using it.

Require that your child ask your permission before using the phone. This is a great way to know how often your child is engaging in phone conversation, and with whom.

Monitor your monthly telephone bills, and pay special attention to numbers being dialed. If you see anything suspicious, be sure to communicate with your child.

Make certain that your child understands the consequences related to using the telephone inappropriately.

If your child can not use the phone appropriately, do not allow them to engage in telephone conversations until he/she can prove that they can use the phone correctly.

Discuss telephone manners as a family to ensure that everyone understands the rules and follows them together.

Make certain your child is aware of local and federal laws regarding the use of the telephone. Harassment and obscenities carry penalties and fines, along with false emergency calls.

Communicate with parents of your child’s friends who visit in your home, or with whom your child visits. Explain what the rules for phone usage in your home consist of, and ask that you are kept aware of your child’s behavior and phone usage in their home. Let parents know that their children will be require to adhere to your phone usage rules while in your home.

Limit your child’s associate with other children who are using the telephone inappropriately.

Confront those children involved with your child’s inappropriate use of the telephone. Explain your rules, and speak with their parents.

Talking on the telephone can be a safe and fun experience for everyone, however certain guidelines must be followed. Many younger children enjoy being able to talk to others over the phone, and should be encouraged to do so.