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Family phone agreement

A fill-in agreement for a parent and child to set the rules and responsibilities that come with a phone, and sign together.

When to use this template

Use when your child gets a phone (or to reset expectations on one they have). Completing it together sets shared, agreed rules rather than imposed ones.

Tone guidance

  • Frame it as trust and shared rules, not punishment.
  • Emphasise the 'you won't be in trouble for telling me' clause — it's the most important one.
  • Keep limits realistic so the agreement is actually kept.

Template

Our family phone agreement

This phone belongs to the family and [CHILD'S NAME] is trusted to use it well.

We agree that:
- The phone charges outside bedrooms overnight and is away at [E.G. MEALS, BEDROOMS OVERNIGHT].
- Screen time limits are: [LIMITS].
- New apps and downloads are approved by [WHO APPROVES NEW APPS].
- We are kind and respectful online, and never share personal information or images without asking a parent.
- Passwords are shared with a parent.
- If anything worrying, upsetting, or confusing happens, [CHILD'S NAME] will tell [WHO TO TELL] and will not be in trouble for doing so.

We'll review this agreement together as things change.

Child's signature: ____________________   Date: __________
Parent's signature: ___________________   Date: __________

Fields to replace

Before sending, swap every bracketed placeholder for your own details. If a field does not apply, delete the whole line.

  • Child's name[CHILD'S NAME]
  • Agreed screen-free times/places[E.G. MEALS, BEDROOMS OVERNIGHT]
  • Daily/weekly limits[LIMITS]
  • Rules about apps and downloads[WHO APPROVES NEW APPS]
  • What to do if something goes wrong[WHO TO TELL]

What to attach

  • Nothing needed — print, complete, and keep it somewhere visible.

What not to include

  • Rules you won't actually enforce — a broken agreement teaches the wrong lesson.
  • Surveillance framed as punishment; frame monitoring as safety and be honest about it.
Last reviewed: 2026-07-13Next review: 2026-10-13Reviewed against: UK safeguarding practice

This is practical educational content to support families. For case-specific concerns about a child's safety, contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or your local safeguarding team.