Screen time rules for kids + a free family contract

Good screen time rules are few, clear and agreed together. Here are twelve you can choose from, and a contract to turn them into something your family signs.

Rules to choose from

1. Screens come after the important things: sleep, homework, outside play, chores.
2. No screens at mealtimes.
3. No devices in bedrooms overnight. Charge them in the kitchen.
4. A screen-free hour before bed.
5. One screen at a time.
6. Ask before downloading anything new.
7. Shared rooms for younger children.
8. Agreed daily time, with a warning five minutes before the end.
9. Stop means stop. Ending on time earns trust for next time.
10. Quality first. Making and learning count more than scrolling.
11. Grown-ups follow the rules too, especially at meals and at bedtime.
12. We review the rules every month.

How to make rules stick

• Involve your child. Children keep rules they helped write.
• Explain why. "Sleep helps you grow and learn" beats "because I said so".
• Keep them short. Five to seven rules at most.
• Be consistent. Apply them the same way each day.
• Model them. Children copy what you do.

A family screen time contract

Copy this onto paper and fill in the blanks:

• We agree that screen time is for fun and learning, and that it comes after: ________
• On school days, my screen time is ________. At weekends it is ________.
• Screens are put away at ________ and charged in ________.
• I will stop when time is up, the first time I'm asked.
• If I want more time, I can earn it by: ________
• Grown-ups agree to: ________
• We will check these rules again on: ________

Signed by child and parent, with the date.

Make it earned

Fixed times are a good start. Many families then move to letting children earn extra time. See earn screen time, and check the screen time by age guide for a sensible total.