Why a written agreement helps
A contract works best when the child helps write it. Agreeing limits, device-free times and consequences in advance means nobody has to negotiate them at 9 pm. The checkboxes are starting points; change the wording so it sounds like your family.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests building a family media plan around each child’s age and needs instead of a single universal number, which is why the limits here are blank for you to fill in. The tool does not tell you what is right for your child.
Making it stick
- Review it on a date. Rules that never change get ignored; a monthly check-in lets both sides ask for adjustments.
- Follow it yourself. Parent commitments are part of the contract for a reason.
- Make the easy option the right one. Stillfeed is a free iPhone browser for Instagram and YouTube that removes Reels, Shorts and Explore before they load, so there is no endless feed to negotiate over. It works with X, Reddit, TikTok, Snapchat and LinkedIn too.
Worried about how much your teen is on social media? See teens and social media addiction, take the social media addiction test together, or read our phone addiction guide.
Not sure what a reasonable limit is at your child's age? The screen time by age checker compares their daily screen time with the published guidance and national averages.
Common questions
What should a family screen time contract include?
Clear limits for school days and weekends, device-free times (meals, bedtime) and places (bedrooms), what apps and content are allowed, what comes first (homework, chores), what happens if the agreement is broken, what the parents agree to as well, and a date to review it together.
How much screen time is right for my child?
There is no single number that fits every child. The limits in this generator are blank on purpose so you can set what suits your family. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a family media plan built around the child’s age and needs rather than one fixed figure.
Is the contract saved anywhere?
No. It is built in your browser and nothing is sent or stored. If you close the page it is gone, so print it or save it as a PDF first.
How do I save it as a PDF?
Choose Print, then pick “Save as PDF” as the destination in your browser’s print dialog.
What helps the agreement stick?
Agreeing the rules together, reviewing them on a set date, and making the easy option the right one: take the endless feeds off the phone and charge devices outside the bedroom. Our phone addiction guide has more.
