Use the AAP Family Media Plan template as a starting point

The American Academy of Pediatrics provides a free, interactive Family Media Plan tool at healthychildren.org/mediauseplan. It walks your family through setting screen time limits, device-free zones, content guidelines, and online safety rules. Customize it to your family's values and print it.

Why It Works

The AAP template is designed by pediatricians and covers all the important areas that parents often overlook: sleep hygiene, physical activity balance, and distinguishing between active and passive screen time. Starting from a template is faster and more thorough than building from scratch.

Tips

• Complete the tool together as a family during a calm, unhurried time
• The tool is personalized by child — create separate plans for different ages
• Print the plan and post it where everyone can see it
• Schedule a quarterly review to update rules as children grow