Free Printable: Family Tech Boundaries Agreement
Screens aren’t the enemy. But without a plan, they take over everything.
If your kid is constantly asking for more iPad time, if dinner feels like a battle over YouTube, or if you find yourself scrolling during bedtime stories—it might be time for a family reset.
This isn’t about guilt. It’s about clarity.
A Family Tech Agreement sets the tone for how you use screens in your home—not with shame, but with shared expectations.
Here’s how to make one that actually works—and keeps the peace.
📱 Step 1: Call a Family “Tech Talk”
Set the vibe right:
No scolding
No lectures
Just a quick chat about how we want screens to fit into our lives
Say something like:
“I want us to enjoy screens and spend time doing other stuff. Let’s make a family plan together.”
📌 Include your kid. Let them help make the rules. Buy-in starts with voice.
📝 Step 2: Set Simple, Positive Guidelines
Skip the long list of “don’ts.” Start with a few “we believe” statements:
We believe screens can be fun and we need breaks
We believe sleep, play, and family time come first
We believe tech should be safe, kind, and honest
Then set clear, age-appropriate boundaries:
Screen-free zones (e.g., bedrooms, dinner table)
Time windows for screens (e.g., after chores/homework)
How we handle requests for “just five more minutes”
📌 Keep it visual. Keep it short. Use icons for younger kids.
🖨️ Download the [Family Digital Rules Poster] and fill it out together.
🧠 Step 3: Build In Real Consequences + Rewards
Make the plan real:
Screens turn off at X time (automate if possible)
Earn time by doing chores, reading, playing outside
Lose time by breaking agreements (not as punishment, just as follow-through)
📌 Post it where everyone can see it. Then follow it yourself. That’s the kicker.
🧠 Dad Hack: Use Devices as Tools, Not Babysitters (Unless You Need To)
Sometimes, screens are survival. But most days, tech can do more than distract.
Try:
Audiobooks for car rides
Kid podcasts for quiet time
Creative apps for drawing or storytelling
Timer-based routines: “When the 15-minute timer goes off, we switch to something else.”
Screens can support your values. You just have to steer.
🖨️ Free Download: Family Digital Rules Poster
Includes:
Kid-friendly rules grid
Customizable screen-time windows
Screen-free zones and tech habits checklist
Bonus page with family “Tech Pledge”
[Download the poster →]
❓ FAQs
What if my kid refuses to follow the rules?
Make the agreement collaborative, not top-down. Let them decorate the poster. Give choices within limits. And be consistent.
What about teens?
Make it a conversation, not a command. Tie rules to values: trust, safety, freedom. Let them help shape the agreement—with consequences they agree to.
Do I need to stick to it 100%?
No. Life happens. Just keep returning to the plan when things slide. It’s a framework, not a prison.
🧪 What to Try This Week
Download and print the [Digital Rules Poster]
Call a 15-minute family tech talk—set 3 ground rules
Pick one screen-free zone to start this week
You don’t need to go full Luddite.
You just need a plan that fits your family—built with honesty, flexibility, and follow-through.
Tech isn’t going away. But how you use it? That’s completely up to you.
