There was a time when parents would introduce their tweens to the world of photography, music, art and other healthy activities necessary for their children's mental and physical growth. Parents would lovingly gift their kids with Polaroid cameras, music albums, photo albums or scrapbooks, tape recorders and radios to nurture their talents and bond their relationship. Following the trends of this age and time, you buy your children cell phones and they forget the world around them – head bent texting while going to school, on the phone in a family gathering or at dinner table, creating ruckus in the class with missed calls are few, but notable activities of a tween who is unfamiliar with cell phone etiquettes. Therefore, it is necessary for parents to groom their kids in cell phone manners, like they taught them table manners during their early childhood years.

Here is a list of Do’s and Don’ts of cell phone etiquettes for your tweens and teens:

Be nice not ice 

Teach your tween to use ‘Please’ (plz) and ‘Thank you’ (TY) while composing a text message. Remember, manners are always in style.

Class work sans texting! 

Tell your kids to switch their mobile phone to the silent mode when they enter their classroom. A ringing phone in middle of a lecture will not only disturb classmates, but can also give your child a detention.  

Similarly, they should be asked to keep their cell phones silent if you are attending a Sunday mass or any other religious gathering. A ringing phone during a religious sermon will bring you embarrassment.

Avoid taking calls in a family gathering

This is extremely impolite that your child start a conversation on his/her cell phone, when your family and relatives are gathered in for dinner. Ask your child to call back the person later, or – if the call is important – he/she should politely excuse and go into the next room to take the call.

Nothing beats a real conversation

Talking to the other person while making an eye contact is the best way to communicate and make the person understand your point of view. This cannot be achieved through a text message. A phone call may help you to a certain extent; but in both ways the other person cannot see your facial expressions and body language which make up 70% of your message.

Pay attention to the speaker 

Teach your kids to avoid being impolite to the person talking to them. Remove their earplugs, stop texting or whatever they are doing with their cell phone and pay complete attention to the other person.

Do not spread rumors

Teens have a habit of gossiping, bad mouthing and spreading rumors about others. This is a form of bullying. Texting is their main mode of spreading word around like fire. Teach your kid repercussions of bullying and keep a close eye on their cell phone activities.

Texting while driving is a big ‘NO’! 

While your teen is already driving a car, your tween is on his/her way to get behind the wheel in few years. Teach both of them the hazards of texting while driving. Tell them, it’s as important as wearing a seat belt while driving. Failure to follow will end up having a ticket or worse in an accident.

Texting is a privilege 

Make your tweens realize cell phone is their responsibility and texting is a privilege which can be taken away any time, if it is misused.

Don’t be too harsh with cell phone use 

Remember, children’s curiosity will lead them to unhealthy ways if they are strictly forbidden from something. It is suggested that you allow your tween to use a cell phone with strict instructions.