Why sleep and school need special rules
Notifications, videos and chats are designed to hold attention. In the evening, that can cut sleep short; at school, it can disrupt concentration. Clear times take a decision off children's shoulders that they find hard to make themselves.
Rules for bedtime
- A set time after which only allowed apps work
- A screen-free period before going to bed
- The smartphone spends the night outside the child's bedroom, for example at a charging station in the hallway
- A traditional alarm clock instead of the phone
- On weekends, a slightly later but still fixed time
Rules for school time
- During class, only apps needed for school
- Phone and messages to the family stay available
- Follow the school's rules and align them with your own
- After school, a screen-free period before leisure use begins
How to keep rules stable
Decide together
Ask your child which times they think are fair. Children are more likely to stick to rules they helped make.
Support with technology
Use Screen Time's Downtime or modes in a parental app so that not every evening turns into a discussion.
Have exceptions requested
A presentation, a meetup in the evening: with a request that gives a reason, the rule stays in place and the exception is a conscious one.
Be a role model
If parents also put their phones away in the evening, the rule doesn't feel like a punishment.
Putting it into practice with Kydly
In Kydly, you create Bedtime, School mode and free time as modes. The rules take effect on your child's iPhone even when it is temporarily offline; in that case, the most recently loaded rule stays active. Your child can ask for more time and give a reason, and you decide in your parent overview.
Frequently asked questions
When should the phone be put away in the evening?
A screen-free period before going to bed makes sense. How long it should be is best agreed on together and suited to your child's age.
Can my child use the phone as an alarm clock?
That's possible, but it often leads to the phone ending up in bed. A simple alarm clock is the easier solution.
What is a school mode?
A rule that only allows selected apps during class time. In Kydly, you can create such a mode.
Get to know Kydly
Try Kydly first with sample data in the demo, or download the app. The basic features for one parent and the first child are free.
Sources and further information
This guide is published by the provider of the Kydly app. It does not replace individual legal, medical or educational advice. Information about Kydly describes the app as of the date stated; the Privacy Policy, the Terms of Use and the terms Apple displays before purchase are binding. Legal documents (privacy policy, terms of use, legal notice) are available in German and English.