These are the questions families actually ask us — about bedtime, screen time, the plan, and where the phones go. Short answers, honest ones, and links to the longer pieces when you want more.
How long before bed should kids stop using screens?
About an hour. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no screens in the hour before bed, and no devices in the bedroom at all. The research backs it up: children who use a phone at bedtime have about twice the odds of getting too little sleep — and simply having a device in the bedroom, even unused, is linked to worse sleep. Read more in our phone-free bedtime article.
How much screen time should a child have?
It depends on age. The World Health Organization says: no screen time for children under 1; no sedentary screen time at age 1; no more than 1 hour a day at ages 2 to 4, and less is better. For ages 6 and up, the AAP’s 2026 guidance moved away from a single hour limit and toward the 5 Cs — Child, Content, Calm, Crowding Out, and Communication. The number matters less than what the screen is replacing. Our family media plan walks through how to decide together.
What is phubbing?
Phubbing is short for “phone snubbing” — when a phone interrupts time with someone else. Parental phubbing is the same thing between a parent and a child: glancing at a notification mid-conversation, or scrolling while your child is trying to tell you something. Researchers call the wider pattern “technoference.” The studies are gentle but clear: kids notice, and a small pause changes the moment. Read more in What Is Parental Phubbing?
Where do the phones go at dinner?
One visible spot, where everyone can see it. A basket by the door works. A charging station outside the bedrooms works too. The point is not hiding the phones — it is a small, visible pause everyone agrees to. Read more in our phone-free dinner article.
How do I make a family media plan?
In six steps: agree on your screen-free zones, pick your screen-free times, set the phone parking spot, write the plan together, let everyone sign it, and revisit it as kids grow. The AAP’s Family Media Plan tool walks through the same idea. Our full guide is How to Make a Family Media Plan in 6 Steps.
Is Your Phone Can Wait anti-phone?
No. We are not anti-phone. We are pro-family moments. Phones are useful, and nobody here is giving theirs up. The idea is smaller than that: protect a few moments — dinner, bedtime, the car ride, a walk — where the phone waits and the people come first. Read our manifesto for the whole picture.
How can I stay in the loop?
Join the waitlist and we will let you know when the first phone-free ritual is ready. The Presence Ritual Box — a simple box for the family’s phones, no lock, no electronics — is in development, and the mission comes first: the moments, then the product.
This page shares research and practical ideas for families. It is not medical advice. For guidance about your own family’s media use, the AAP’s family media plan resources are a good place to start.