Boundaries Without Being the Villain

Setting digital limits is about mentorship, not control:

• Reframe from police to mentor: Teach self-monitoring instead of imposing external rules.
• Create tech-free zones: Dinner table, bedrooms, and short car trips protect connection without total prohibition.
• Make the bedroom non-negotiable: Screens in the bedroom mean shorter, lighter sleep, so devices charge outside the room.
• Model what you preach: Your phone habits during conversations teach more than any rule you set.
• Narrate your own boundaries: Saying "I'm putting my phone away" normalizes intentional tech use for your child.