PATHFINDER Parenting:

5.2. Telephonic and wireless device location

Pathfinders place telephonic and wireless devices in public rooms and usually only in the parents' private room(s). They do not place telephonic and wireless devices in their children's rooms. They make their children realize at an early age that telephonic and wireless devices are to be used primarily for family business and to contact relatives and/or friends and/or relatives out of town. They place telephonic and wireless devices only where business of the family is usually conducted and do not place them in places of recreation or entertainment. Telephonic and wireless devices are typically located within public access in Pathfinders' homes.

Natural consequences:

• If the telephonic and wireless devices are not conveniently located in the house, then it will not be readily accessible in case of emergencies or when vital business needs to be conducted by such a device.
• If the telephonic and wireless devices are located in the private rooms of the children, then the children might abuse their use.

Logical consequences:

• If you conduct prolonged conversations on telephonic and wireless devices in the public setting where they are located, then we will have to restrict your use of them by setting time limits
• If you are not able to behave yourself while I am speaking or using a telephonic or wireless device, then I will have to send you to your room until I am done with the device.

5.3. Telephonic and wireless device time considerations

Pathfinders role model appropriate length of calls and amount of texting on telephonic and wireless devices. They do not practice daily phone calls or texting sessions which last hours in length. They also role model that calls are not “made out” or “welcomed in” after the normal "bedtime" or before the normal "wake up time" of the family. Pathfinders role model telephone and texting sessions of reasonable length during the normal business hours of the family. They keep their calls and texting short enough to keep the lines free for other incoming calls or messages. Telephonic and wireless devices in Pathfinders' homes are utilized for reasonable lengths within reasonable hours.

Natural consequences:

• If you spend an inordinate time on the telephonic or wireless device talking or texting to someone, then you are tying up the home phone line preventing other people from reaching our house or preventing family members from making calls out.
• If you make telephone calls or are texting messages during hours other than normal awake times, then you will be tired the next day after you stayed up late to use the telephonic or wireless device

Logical consequences:

• If you make telephone calls or having texting sessions which last more than 15 minutes, then we will have to restrict your use of the telephonic or wireless device for the rest of that day and all of the next day.
• If you make calls or conduct texting sessions after your normal bedtime or before your normal wake up times, then we will have to restrict your use of the telephonic or wireless device the rest of that day and all of the next

5.4. Children's telephonic and wireless devices

Pathfinders do not buy landline phones or wireless devices for their children's private rooms or private use nor do they put in a separate line for them. Children are made to realize that the use of the home phone and other electronic devices are a shared experience in the family and are not given the opportunity to abuse this privilege by extended individual use of them in their own rooms. When the children are older and capable of earning their own money they might be given permission to purchase individual telephonic and wireless devices for their private or family use. Such privileges are utilized by Pathfinders with their children as logical consequences for other desired behaviors and conduct. Pathfinders are cautious in allowing children's telephonic and wireless devices so as not to isolate them from the rest of the family.