Screen Time Agreements That Stick

Welcome! I’m so glad you’re here.

You found out about this Kit because you either attended a Screen Time Agreements That Stick Workshop or heard about the methodology some other way.

You can refer to the workshop’s slide deck if you’d like to see what was covered in it or you’d like a refresher of what you learned.

We talked a lot about screen use in the workshop but didn’t have time to address the question of how to determine when your child gets a phone.

Watch this video to get ideas about how to navigate that discussion so the problems you hear other families having don’t happen in your own home.

Summary

Clarity about when a child gets a phone doesn’t need to be tied to an arbitrary date or age. That causes stress because everyone’s trying to forecast whether the child will actually be ready.

Instead, the decision can be made in response to other conditions.

For example, one condition could be that if a child starts experiencing significant negative impact because they don’t have a phone. That can trigger a conversation about whether there are other strategies that could bridge the gap. If not, then it’s time to consider getting a phone and assessing what apps and access the child is ready for.

This gives everyone in the family peace of mind that the decision will be made in response to something important and they can stop thinking about it and worrying about it until that time comes.

Planning Your Family Meeting About Screens

Here’s a Google Doc to share with your whole family to make the most of your family meeting. (When the document appears, click the blue “Use Template” button at the upper right to create a copy that can be filled out onscreen.)Thank you for attending the workshop. I hope this kit serves you well.

I’ll be in touch by email. Unless you opt out, these additional resources I’ll be sending you will support you in avoiding the common pitfalls families experience when they begin using this methodology.

I’ve been a family conflict prevention and repair specialist for two decades. I’ve shared my expertise and the pioneering collaborative communication tools I’ve helped create with thousands of people through workshops for public school districts, private school consortiums, Fortune 500 companies and the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

I started doing this work because I vowed I wouldn’t have kids until I had tools to do things differently than my (well-intentioned and loving) parents did. I now have two sons who are 16 and 18 and who I have never put in a time out or intentionally punished in any way.

Parents usually feel judged — by their kids, their partners, their in-laws, other parents, and (the harshest critics of all) themselves. This is particularly true when it comes to screens. I help parents see what they are doing through a judgment-free lens, which results in robust, compassionate conflict transformation.