When your teenager is constantly monopolizing your phone line or causing you to miss calls, changing your policy for the home phone might be necessary for everyone's sanity. Whether you decide to get your teen his own phone or simply unplug the phone altogether, expect some resistance. If your teenager's phone use is disrupting your life, stop him from using the home phone and find other solutions that will keep everyone happy.
Step 1
Purchase an older style corded phone, and place the phone in a very public area of the house, such as the kitchen or living room. You'll find that if your teen can't take the phone into her room for more private conversations, she may be less likely to use it or use it for only short periods of time.
Step 2
Place the phone in your room, where you can monitor its use. Your teenager will find alternative ways of communication if he knows that your watchful eye is making sure that he keeps his phone usage in check. If necessary, keep the phone in a private place, where only you or your partner can access it.
Step 3
Purchase a separate phone line for your home that is only for teen use. If your biggest complaint with your teen's phone use is that it ties up the home line, adding another line to your home with a separate number is a minimal cost that will save you from arguments and fighting. Ask your teen to pay for her portion of the phone bill each month in exchange for setting up the line.
Step 4
Unplug the home phone at certain hours if you have a late-night teen talker who tends to chat with friends late at night. It is a simple procedure to unplug the cable from both the phone and the wall, then put it in a safe place until morning. This decision could be met with anger, as it removes any ability to use the phone for anyone in the house, but choosing to do so between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. could give your entire family some much needed rest.
Step 5
Buy your teenager a cell phone. He can use that as his primary mode of communication, and you won't have to disrupt your life by unplugging phones or moving them around the house. Just make sure your teen knows that he'll be responsible for the bills.
References
- 4 Troubled Teens: Unplugging Your Kids
- Teen Tips: A Practical Survival Guide for Parents With Kids 11-19; Tom McMahon; 2003
