Normally, cell phones come with a contract or user agreement. However, the contract 13-year-old Greg Hofman received with his new iPhone didn’t come from the company…it came from his mom.
In an effort to educate her son and send a message to all mobile device users, Janell Hofman wrote up an 18-point contract for him to abide by upon receiving the gift. The agreement, which she also posted on her blog, explains that without compliance, ownership of his iPhone would be terminated.
While Janell acknowledges that Greg is a “good and responsible 13-year-old boy,” she makes it clear in the agreement that she will always know the password, it will not go to school with him and he is not to text, email or say anything that he would not say in person, among other regulations.
“Oh my God. My first reaction was, why? Why did she really have to do this?” Greg Hofman told ‘Good Morning America.’
The blogger and mom of five admitted during the interview that the contract was somewhat for fun, but wants her son to use the technology responsibly and not fall victim to the same mistakes others have made with smart phones. Teen behavior expert, Josh Shipp, believes that more parents should place rules on iPhone and mobile use.
“You wouldn’t’ give your kid a car without making sure they had insurance,” said Shipp, who is the host of Lifetime’s ‘Teen Trouble.’ “And so giving them a cell phone or a computer without teaching them how to use it responsibly is irresponsible on the part of the parent.”
Read the complete article and the the rest of Hofman’s rules on ABC News’ website.
BMWK– Have you or would you make your child agree to a contract- of- use for a gift? What regulations would you add to her list?