Digital Balance Framework Worksheet
A comprehensive approach to age-appropriate technology boundaries for your family
Note: Your progress on checkboxes is saved automatically in your browser. You can print this worksheet when complete by clicking the print button.
This worksheet is designed to help your family establish healthy, age-appropriate technology boundaries. In today's digital world, finding balance is essential for children's mental, emotional, and social development. This framework provides practical guidance tailored to your child's developmental stage while respecting your family's unique values and needs.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), age-appropriate limits on screen time and digital media are crucial for healthy development. Recent research by Jonathan Haidt in "The Anxious Generation" highlights how excessive smartphone and social media use is strongly correlated with increased anxiety and depression in adolescents since around 2010.
| Family Member | Devices Used | Average Daily Screen Time | Primary Digital Activities |
|---|---|---|---|
| ________________________ | ________________________ | ________________________ | ________________________ |
| ________________________ | ________________________ | ________________________ | ________________________ |
| ________________________ | ________________________ | ________________________ | ________________________ |
| ________________________ | ________________________ | ________________________ | ________________________ |
Who primarily manages technology in your home? ________________________
Who enforces technology rules? ________________________
Check all that apply to your family:
Research shows these early years are critical for brain development, language acquisition, and social-emotional skills.
When selecting content for young children, look for:
Recommended Resources:
Children at this age are developing reading skills, critical thinking, and beginning to explore digital tools for learning.
Begin teaching:
Resource Connection: For implementing regular tech breaks, see our Tech-Free Tuesday Planner, which offers age-appropriate activity suggestions for elementary school children.
This critical transition period requires thoughtful boundaries as children develop greater independence.
Help your child develop:
Resource Connection: Consider using our Screen-Free Sunday Planner to establish deeper family connections and more extensive tech-free experiences.
Teens need guidance to develop healthy self-regulation as they prepare for adulthood.
Discuss and address:
For the most comprehensive approach to digital wellbeing in your family, we recommend using this Digital Balance Framework alongside our Family Internet Safety Agreement.
After completing the age-specific sections in this worksheet, visit our Family Internet Safety Agreement to establish concrete rules and boundaries. The age guidelines below will help you customize that agreement appropriately.
When setting up your Family Internet Safety Agreement, consider these age-specific adaptations:
Positive indicators of success:
Challenge areas to address:
For Parents:
For Children Ages 6-9:
For Tweens/Teens: