Jar LoftA plan to talk through
Make a screen time plan your family understands
Write down which apps the plan covers, when they can be used and what happens when time ends. Leave room for schoolwork and talk through the plan with your child.
By Jar Loft. Reviewed .
Choose the apps the plan covers
Start with the entertainment apps you want the agreement to cover. Separately list school apps and other necessary uses, such as contacting family. Check that the exceptions work on the device your child uses.
No app can decide what healthy use looks like for your family. Choose a plan you can explain, and leave room to change it.
Set a daily limit and bedtime
Use this worksheet as a conversation on paper or in your own notes. There is nothing to submit.
| Discuss | Our agreement |
|---|---|
| Restricted apps | Which entertainment apps does the plan cover? |
| School exceptions | Which apps need to stay available for school or necessary use? |
| Daily allowance | How much time is available without earning it? |
| Earned-minute reward | If we use learning rounds, how many minutes does a successful round earn? |
| Daily spending cap | What is the most time that can be used in a day? |
| Rest time | When do apps rest, including bedtime? |
| Review date | When will we talk about how the agreement is working? |
Decide how earned minutes fit
An allowance and a cap do different jobs. The allowance is available time; the cap is a ceiling on spending, including earned minutes. Agree on the reward and daily earning limit separately, so doing another round does not mean unlimited app access.
Example using Jar Loft's standard reward: a successful five-question round earns 10 minutes. The daily allowance is separate, and spending still follows the daily cap and bedtime. This is an example of product settings, not a recommended amount of screen time.
You can use a written family plan without Jar Loft. The discussion and clear rules are useful on their own.
Set YouTube time limits without confusing them with filters
Apple Screen Time can limit app use. YouTube Kids also has its own timer. For current instructions, read Apple's Screen Time app-limit guide and YouTube Kids timer help. Settings can change between OS and app versions.
Jar Loft restricts the apps you select and lets successful learning rounds earn access under your rules. It does not choose safe channels, inspect watched videos or offer Shorts-only controls. Time limits do not replace choosing suitable content and checking a service's age requirements.
Picture in Picture, videos in Messages and already-open browser tabs may keep playing after the lock returns. Close ongoing videos or tabs and check the lock after restarting or updating the device. Read the video and lock limitations before relying on it.
Review the plan together
On the agreed review date, ask which rules were clear and whether school exceptions worked. Adjust the agreement when your family's needs change.
Jar Loft never removes earned minutes as punishment. Minutes are used when spent, and Spend-jar minutes expire after seven days. Saving also follows the app's limits. Rewards do not guarantee fewer arguments or better wellbeing.
When you are ready, see how Jar Loft applies the plan. Jar Loft is coming to the App Store.