Family Agreement Guide

Family Agreement – A gentle guide for families

 

This page is here to help your family slow down, talk together, and think carefully about life online. It isn’t a test, a checklist, or a set of rules handed down from adults to children. It’s a shared conversation, where everyone’s thoughts and feelings matter.

Creating a Family Agreement is about connection as much as it is about safety. When we listen to one another, we build trust. When we agree on things together, boundaries feel clearer and kinder. Choose a time when you can sit comfortably, without rushing, and invite everyone to speak openly.

 

Let’s begin understanding your online world together

 

Start by looking at your home as a whole and listing all connected devices you use as a family. This might include phones, tablets, laptops, games consoles, smart TVs, smart watches, or smart speakers.

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Make it clear that your Family Agreement applies to all of these devices, not just the ones children use. This helps everyone see that online safety is something the whole family shares.

 

Next, talk about any rules you already have around technology. Some families might already have limits on screen time, devices in bedrooms, or certain apps. Decide together which of these feel helpful and should stay, and which might need to change.

 

Then, keep things light by asking what everyone enjoys most online. This reminds children that the agreement isn’t anti-technology. It’s about helping them enjoy it in a way that feels safe, balanced, and positive.

Finally, make a simple list of the games and apps everyone uses most. This gives you a clear picture of your digital world as a family.

 

Pixel’s Time Management Check-In – Finding balance

This section invites you to think about how technology makes you feel.

 

Talk together about what it feels like when you’ve been online for too long. Children might notice tired eyes, a busy mind, or feel a bit grumpy. Adults might notice distraction or difficulty switching off.

 

Explain gently that taking regular breaks helps our brains and bodies reset. Agree together that screens will stop at least two hours before bedtime so everyone has time to wind down and sleep well.

 

If anyone feels like they sometimes use technology too much, frame this kindly. The goal isn’t blame, it’s support. You might agree that if this happens, the family will help each other notice and take a break.

 

Fizz’s Sharing Safety Rules – Protecting ourselves online

 

Inspired by books, this section brings the lessons from Take Care Before You Share and Pixels Password Puzzle into real family life.

 

As you talk through these questions together, you’re helping children practise the same safe-sharing skills Fizz learns in the stories. Reading the books alongside this activity helps children understand why these rules matter, not just what they are.

 

Use the prompts below to guide calm, supportive conversations.

 

Privacy Settings — Fizz’s “Close the Gate” Lesson
In the story, Pixel's Password Puzzle, Fizz learns that sharing doesn’t mean sharing with everyone. Talk about privacy settings and explain that they’re like closing a garden gate to protect your space. This helps children see that privacy is about safety and choice, not secrecy.

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Passwords — Pixel’s Top Tip from the Story
Pixel reminds Fizz that strong passwords are like secret keys that only she should have.

 

Pixel's Top Tip: Use three random words only you would think of.

Practise making silly password phrases together to turn learning into a fun challenge.

 

Live Posts & Quick Sharing — Fizz’s “Think Ahead” Moment
 

In Take Care Before You Share, Fizz learns that things shared online can spread quickly, she realises it’s important to think first. Talk about live videos or disappearing messages and gently explore what children think happens after something is posted. Help them understand that even quick posts can last longer than we expect.

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The Family Sharing Check — Fizz’s Rule to Remember
Just like Fizz, agree on a simple rule you’ll use before posting anything:

• Is it kind?

• Is it true?

• Would we be happy for everyone to see it?
   

Reading the books first helps children connect these questions to real situations, making the rule easier to remember and use.

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Tip for families:
Keep the books nearby while you fill this out together. When children can see the same ideas in a story and in real life, the message feels clearer, safer, and easier to follow.

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Content – Making thoughtful choices

 

Here, you decide together how you will choose what to watch, play, and share.

Talk about how you will handle content that feels unreliable, misleading, or upsetting. Agree that it’s okay to question what you see and to check with a trusted adult.

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Discuss how you will avoid overspending on apps and games. You might decide that all purchases must be approved by a parent, or that you will set clear spending limits in advance.

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The aim is to help children understand that online choices have real-world impact, while still feeling supported rather than restricted.

 

Communicating online – Being kind and safe

 

This section focuses on relationships.

 

Talk about who it is okay to chat and play with online. Some families may decide this is only friends and family they know in real life, while others may feel comfortable with wider online communities under adult supervision.

Discuss how to stay safe when talking to others. This includes being polite, not sharing personal details, and trusting your instincts if something feels uncomfortable.

 

Also, talk about how to look out for friends online. Being a good digital citizen means stepping in, reporting concerns, or getting help if someone is being unkind or unsafe.

 

If things go wrong – Knowing what to do

 

This is one of the most important parts of your agreement.

Make sure everyone knows that if something online makes them feel worried, confused, or upset, they can always talk to a trusted adult without getting into trouble.

 

Agree clearly who that person will be in your family.

 

Take time to look together at where the block and report buttons are in your most-used apps and games, so children know how to use them if needed.

 

Be very clear that no one should ever share photos, personal information, or agree to meet someone they only know online. If this happens, the family will handle it together calmly and safely.

 

Final thought – Keeping your agreement alive

 

End your conversation by deciding what you will do if someone breaks the agreement. Try to focus on repair and learning rather than punishment.

 

Also, decide when you will review your Family Agreement. Families grow, technology changes, and your agreement can evolve with you.