Family Screen Time Agreement: A Template You Can Fill In Together
Rules that only live in a parent’s head get renegotiated every night. Here is what to put in a family screen time agreement, a template you can fill in together, and how to keep it working.
When screen time rules are never written down, every evening becomes a new discussion about what was said last time, and kids can feel the rules change depending on the day.
Write the rules down together. A short agreement gives everyone the same answer, and kids tend to take rules more seriously when they helped make them.
Why a Written Agreement Helps
An agreement moves the decision to a calm moment, instead of the end of a game. You talk it through once, write it down, and then the paper does the reminding.
It also works both ways. Your child knows what they can count on, and you have something to point to that you both agreed on.
What to Put in Your Agreement
Keep it short enough to fit on one page. These are the parts that matter most.
- How much time: the daily amount, and whether weekends are different.
- Which hours: when the computer is available, and when it is not.
- What counts: which games share the time, and what stays free for schoolwork.
- Finishing up: which warning means it is time to save and wrap up.
- Asking for more: how to ask, and what kinds of days might be a yes.
- Your side: what you promise too, such as giving fair warning and keeping your word.
- Review date: when you will sit down and change what is not working.
A Template You Can Copy
Copy this out, fill in the blanks together, and put it somewhere everyone can see it.
- Our family agreement: this agreement is between ________ and ________. We start on ________.
- School days: we get ____ minutes of games, between ____ and ____.
- Weekends and holidays: we get ____ minutes of games, between ____ and ____.
- What counts as games: ________.
- What does not count: schoolwork, and ________.
- Finishing up: when the ____-minute warning shows, I save and finish what I am doing.
- Asking for more time: I can ask once, politely. A good reason might be ________.
- What parents promise: we will give fair warning, not change the rules in the moment, and ________.
- If it is not working: we will talk about it on ________ and change it together.
- Signed: ________ and ________.
When the Agreement Stops Working
That is normal. Kids grow, school changes and a new game comes along. Treat the agreement as something you keep updating, not a test your child can fail.
At your review date, ask what has been working and what has felt unfair. Change one thing at a time, and write the new version down together.
How FynTime Keeps the Agreement on a Computer
The agreement is yours, and it works with or without any software. FynTime Keeper can do the timekeeping on a Windows PC or a Mac with Apple silicon, so nobody has to watch the clock.
- Daily limits: set the amounts you agreed, with different limits on different days.
- Allowed hours: set when the computer can be used.
- Shared game time: put games in one group so they draw from the same daily time.
- Fair warning: your child sees countdown warnings before time runs out.
- Asking for more: your child can ask from the FynTime icon in the taskbar, or the menu bar on a Mac, and you can add time from your phone.
- Nothing hidden: FynTime shows an icon on the computer, and it does not log keystrokes, take screenshots or read messages.
How to Write a Screen Time Agreement Together
- 1Pick a Calm Moment
Sit down when nobody is in the middle of a game, and explain that you want to agree the rules together.
- 2Ask Your Child First
Ask what feels fair and what matters most to them. Listen before you suggest any numbers.
- 3Fill In the Template
Agree the daily time, the hours, what counts, and how to ask for more.
- 4Add What You Promise
Include what you will do too, so the agreement goes both ways.
- 5Sign It and Pick a Review Date
Everyone signs, and you choose a date to look at it again.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a family screen time agreement include?
Keep it to one page: how much time, which hours, which games count, what happens when time is nearly up, how to ask for more, what parents promise, and a date to review it.
At what age can kids help write an agreement?
As soon as they can understand a daily limit. Younger kids can help choose between two options. Older kids can suggest the numbers and explain why.
Should parents sign it too?
Yes. Writing down what you promise, such as giving fair warning, shows the agreement goes both ways.
Do I need software to use a screen time agreement?
No. The agreement works on paper. Software such as FynTime Keeper can do the timekeeping on a Windows PC or a Mac with Apple silicon, so nobody has to watch the clock.
Try FynTime Keeper free
Set up the computer once. Manage everything from your phone after that.