Do you have questions about your phone, smartphone or wireless modem? Would you like to learn more? If you're like me, your phone has many capabilities you may not even be aware of. When I don't know how to do something on my phone, I usually hand it to my son or daughter, and they can help me out. For instance, the other day my Weather Widget disappeared. Why? I have no idea, but Cory fixed it for me.
U.S. Cellular offers FREE Device Workshops for those who don't have tech-savvy young people in their lives and for anyone who wants to know more about their phones, learn about the apps that are available, and learn about the ways mobile phones can keep families connected.
For families, U.S. Cellular has recently made this fully customizable Parent-Child Agreement available for free download. I was pretty excited about that when they posted it on Facebook - even though my kids are all grown up, and it's a bit late for us. I really wish we'd had something like that when the kids got cell phones. It focuses on safety and etiquette, and lets families remove, edit, and add their own guidelines. The point is that it gives parents a starting point for discussing the responsibility that comes with owning a mobile device and makes it easy for families to set the parameters for device usage and safety. It doesn't have to be all about rules either. You can include some fun things like making your kids promise to share the YouTube videos they find hilarious or send at least one text a day just to let mom know they love her. It's all up to you and what works for your family.
To go along with the Parent-Child Agreement, U.S. Cellular has been offering free Device Workshops that focus on helping families make the decision of when to get children their first phone along with ways that mobile phones can help families stay connected. Families can get tips on setting phone guidelines as well as share suggestions that may help other families. Of course, if you have some suggestions that worked for your kids and their cell phone usage, or things that you wish you'd thought to require or enforce, please feel free to share here. My kids may be past this age - though I still tell them not to text and drive - but I'm sure there are other parents who could benefit from your experience.
Check to see if there's an event near you or call your local U.S. Cellular store - 262-641-5000 for the one in Brookfield we've been to a few times. Remember that all U.S. Cellular Device Workshop are FREE, and you even earn 250 Belief Points just for going, so be sure to sign up to learn more about U.S. Cellular products and services for you and your family. Even if you can't make it to a Workshop, U.S. Cellular associates are always happy to answer any questions you have any time you walk into the store.
