Every family uses screens differently. Some parents need 20 minutes of calm to cook dinner. Some kids love dance videos. Others would rather play spelling games. A family media plan isn't about strict rules—it's about creating clarity so screens support your goals instead of undermining them.
Here's a simple framework you can adapt for your family.
Step 1: Define Your Family's Goals for Screen Time
Start with why. Screens can be:
👉 Prompt: Which of these feel most important for your family right now? Write down your top 2–3 goals.
Step 2: Set Screen-Free Zones and Times
Kids thrive on consistency. Decide where and when screens don't belong.
Common zones:
- 🛏️ Bedrooms
- 🍽️ Dining table
- 🚗 Car seats for short rides
Common times:
- 🍽️ During meals
- 🌙 Before bed
- 🌳 During outdoor play
👉 Prompt: Which spaces in your home feel best as screen-free zones? Which times of day?
Step 3: Create Predictable Routines
When screen time is random, kids nag more. When it's predictable, they relax.
Examples of routines:
- • One video after lunch
- • Ten minutes of an app before dinner
- • A family movie on Saturday morning
👉 Prompt: What's one routine you could introduce this week to make screen time predictable?
Step 4: Decide on Content Rules
Not all content is created equal. Choose what fits your values.
✅ Green flags:
- • Personalized, educational, interest-based
- • Slow pacing, clear narration, no ads
- • Interactive or co-viewing friendly
🚫 Red flags:
- • Autoplay loops
- • Overstimulating, chaotic cartoons
- • Ad-heavy platforms
👉 Prompt: Make a "Yes" list (approved shows/apps) and a "No" list (off-limits). Post it somewhere visible.
Step 5: Plan for Endings and Transitions
The hardest part of screen time is often stopping. Avoid meltdowns by planning ahead.
Strategies:
- • Give 5-minute warnings or use a visual timer
- • End with a song or phrase: "That's all for now"
- • Transition to a next activity: snack, story, or outside play
👉 Prompt: What's one transition you can try after the next video?
Step 6: Model the Habits You Want to See
Children learn most by watching you.
Examples:
- • Narrate your own screen use: "I'm using my phone to check the recipe"
- • Put your phone down during meals
- • Show them that screens are tools, not constant companions
👉 Prompt: Where could you cut back on your own "background scrolling" so your child sees balance in action?
A Family Media Plan in Action
Sample: The Parkers
Goals: Use screens for learning and connection.
Screen-free zones: Bedrooms and dinner table.
Routine: One personalized video after lunch, one dance video before dinner.
Content rules: Yes to Hippo Polka, PBS shows, drawing apps. No to autoplay video feeds.
Transitions: Timer + "all done" song. Afterward, we play with blocks.
Parent modeling: Mom puts her phone on the counter during meals.
Your Family Media Plan Template
Print this. Post it on the fridge. Revise as your child grows.
What Comes Next
Your media plan is not a one-time fix. It's a living document. Review it every few months as your child grows and their needs shift. The goal isn't rigid perfection—it's balance, connection, and creativity.