Social Skills

One of the things that can cause frustration as children become older is telephone etiquette.  Below is a list of manners that other families have used.  Have a family discussion and modify the rules to fit your household needs.

1.  Telephone conversations, unless an emergency (life/death situation) will last no longer than 10            minutes for all members of the household.

2.  When answering the phone, give a greeting and your name to let the caller know he/she has   reached the correct number.

3.  Don't yell for the person who is wanted by a caller.  "If my eyes you do not see, please don't try to talk to me."  Go and get the person.

4.  If you need to take a message, write it on the pad provided by the phone.

5.  Ask the caller for the correct spelling of his/her name.  Repeat back what you heard and wrote on the message pad to be sure it was correct.

6.  When someone else is on the phone, avoid making loud noises or disturbances.  Post the telephone rules by the phone.  Periodically evaluate how they are going by discussing at a family meeting. 

 Discipline With Purpose, Inc., 1997