Guides
Screens, phones, and the rules that are changing
For parents of 8 to 14-year-olds. What to say when screen time ends, how to agree the rules together, and what the law and the research actually say. Every guide is sourced and dated, and reviewed when things change.
The researchHow much screen time is too much? What the guidance says, age by ageThere's no single safe number. What UK and US guidance says at each age, the questions that matter more than minutes, and how to set limits a child keeps.
The researchWhat age should a child get a phone? What UK research saysMost UK children have a smartphone by 11. What parents think is the right age, what research says about timing, and how to tell if your child is ready.
What to sayHow to get kids off screens without a fight (and what to say to “five more minutes”)“Five more minutes!” is rarely about five minutes. How to get kids off screens without a fight: what to say, why it works, and how to make the next stop easier.
The researchScreens before bed: when should they go off, and how do you make it stick?UK advice is to keep screens out of the hour before bed, and research links devices in the bedroom to poorer sleep. How to make bedtime stick without a row.
How toHow to write a family screen time agreement that actually holdsWrite a screen time agreement with your child that actually holds: what to include, how to make it fair, why signing matters, and how to keep it working.
What's changingIs Roblox safe for kids? What changed in 2026Roblox now age-checks chat and puts under-16s in Kids and Select accounts. What that means at each age, the controls to switch on, and what's still on you.
How toWhatsApp age limit in the UK: what parents need to knowWhatsApp's minimum age in the UK is 13, and it isn't part of the under-16 social media ban. What that means for your child, and the settings to check first.
What's changingAI chatbots and children: what UK parents need to knowMost 11 to 16-year-olds now use AI chatbots, and a third of them say one feels like a friend. What the new UK rules cover, what they don't, and what to ask.
What's changingThe UK's under-16 social media ban: what's changing, and whenThe UK will ban social media for under-16s from spring 2027, with overnight curfews for 16 and 17-year-olds. What's decided, what isn't, and what to do now.
What's changingPhone-free schools in England: what the new rules mean for familiesSince September 2026, schools in England are expected to be phone-free all day, breaks and lunch included. What the rules say, and what changes at home.
The researchThe AAP's new screen time guidance: why there's no magic numberThe AAP's updated guidance swaps minute limits for the 5 C's and a family media plan. What it says for school-age children, and how to turn it into rules.
The researchChildren want to cut back too: what Ofcom's 2026 research says about kids and screensOfcom's 2026 research: 37% of 8 to 17-year-olds think they spend too much time on screens, and many teens already cut back. What it means for family rules.How we write these guides
Every guide starts with a short, direct answer, then shows its working. Facts come from primary sources, such as the government, regulators, medical bodies and peer-reviewed research, and each one is listed and dated at the end. What the law or the research says is kept separate from what Kairoo thinks, which always sits in a box marked as our view. We review a guide when the rules or the evidence change, and each page shows when it was last checked. Spot something out of date? Email hello@kairoo.family.