Two teenagers at home and one phone line--anyone have good rules for sharing the phone?

Question

I have two teenagers at home and one phone line. Does anyone have some bright ideas on how they can effectively share the phone? We're not going to add another line--they just have to learn to play nicely.

I realize this sounds kind of quaint with all the technology out there.
Before you suggest cell phones--one of the kids does have their own cell. However, our rule is that the phone is primarily for us to communicate with them. When they're home, the phone is off and on the kitchen counter. (This way we have a better handle on who they're talking to, and there's no texting at 1 a.m. under the covers.)

Your help is greatly appreciated!

Answer 1

Tell them to IM their friends. Obviously you have a computer and internet. It will hone their keyboard skills.

Answer 2

If you won't consider another phone line, your only option is to set up a phone schedule. They should be involved in this process. Have a meeting about it. You'll also have to determine how to handle incoming calls that come in when it's not someone's turn. Under what circumstances would your child be allowed to take that call? Be forewarned that they will likely use the tactic that it's an emergency or an important homework call, things like that. If you have total phone, where the phone beeps if there is another call coming in, this can cause wars too because the child on the phone will probably ignore the call, thus angering the other caller.

Once you work out the schedule, you can tell them if they continue fighting about it, NO ONE will be able to use the phone.

Here's another option: Why can't they both have cell phones? You can get pre-paid phones that have a monthly allowance. If they use up their time before the end of the month - oh well. If they have jobs, they can buy extra minutes for themselves or wait until the end of the month. If you don't want them talking on them after a certain time at night, both phones go on the kitchen counter.

I think your best option is a combination of the two: a schedule for each kid on the house phone. When it's not one kid's turn he or she has to decide if the call is important enough to use up minutes on their cell. The combo solution could help avoid using up minutes too soon.

Answer 3

Okay, just lay down some ground rules and stick to them. They need you to be firm in order to learn this lesson.
I'd set up a time schedule like you each get no more than 1 hour phone time in the evening after your homework is finished and before 9:00. Get a cordless phone that you can carry with you to make sure they don't sneak.
With the cell phones, find a phone service provider that allows parents total control. I'd get rid of the text messaging altogether if I were you, it's a bad habit. Some providers give the parents the ability to control and track all the calls and messages, the times they have been made and the amount that they are allowed to talk. (The Disney service has the parents set the time allotment for all calls made daily except for a call to home or a parent.) They might find this decidedly uncool, but they don't pay the bills do they? If you don't want to switch cell service, then set time limits yourself and take the phone away for a week when they go over.

Answer 4

My dad placed a phone limit on us. We were only allowed to talk on the phone for 10 minutes per call. Then again, you only have two, and he had 9, so, I would imagine a longer time limit would be good, like 20 minutes and then you must say good-bye or you will hang the phone up. He would too, if we went over our limit he would walk up and push down on the cradle to hang up the phone. This way they each get some time to gab, and like my Dad said, what is really so important that it cannot wait until tomorrow at school, or to go to the persons house and speak to them in person? It only takes a minute to see if they are home before you go.

Doing the same with mine, they complain about it, but hey, my house- my rules.

Answer 5

I have three teens and one phone line and I've never had a problem with this. If they want to spend time talking to a friend, they call long enough to see if the friend is home and available, then they go over to see them, or invite the friend to our house. Of course, they're all three boys, so they see no need to chat on the phone for a long time.

When my sister and I were teens, the rule was 20 minutes per call, no more than three calls a night, and we had a timer. So if we wanted to talk longer than that, we had to actually get together with our friends.

Answer 6

I don't know if this will help or not, but in my house it was the teen that paid the bill that month got phone 'rights' and the phone was not connected at any time other than when that teen was using it. You could decide to let the others use the phone, and it generally worked out as a barter in my house. I'm not saying it is the best answer, but it did work for us.

Answer 7

They should be old enough to have hooey-dooey jobs (yeah I just made that up) for enough money to pay for their own line. Maybe you could help pay the hook-up charge for a new line and they could learn the responsibilities of paying for it.
Tell them that you're helping out only once and if they fail it's gone for good. And tell them if you hear ANY arguments over it after they get it, it's gone.
They're teens they should be learning how to argue for their own rights to what they're paying for.

Answer 8

Well, you could buy them mobilephones, but if you still think that they have to learn to "play nicely", then you should talk with them and tell them that if they start to argue about that phone just ONE MORE TIME, you'll forbid them to use the phone! Or punish them, like - you are graunded (im not sure if i spelled that right), sometimes you have to be rough!
Hope I could help!

Hellos from Croatia...

Answer 9

set up hours for use... there is probably already a time when it is too late to be on the phone...
divide the hours however you see fit... then let the oldest pick their preferred times... only fair... do they have internet? tell them to use the IM and not talk on the phone at all until they can both agree on a solution

Answer 10

They have alotted time periods that they may be on the phone. And those times may be switched for variety.
After all, there are other members in the home as well.

Answer 11

Put a time limit on calls so that some1 else may use the phone.Say 15 minutes & let some1 else use it if they want to,,when that persons limit is up,,if someone wants the phone,,its their turn.Leave 15 minutes in between calls in case some1 is trying to reach you.