Family time, screens and the things that make home fun

Start the wind-down earlier, keep the steps in the same order every night and prepare one thing for tomorrow as part of the routine. Starting earlier works better than rushing.

Only what changes this week: the calendar, an action tray for papers, outgoing items and perhaps the meal plan. Things you need occasionally belong in a binder instead.

Usually new pajamas, a holiday book, hot chocolate, a film and a small snack. One shared box for the family keeps it simple and puts the focus on doing things together.

A common rule of thumb is the child’s age plus one, but what matters is your space, budget and how many children you and your helpers can supervise comfortably.

The AAP’s current guidance focuses less on a single number and more on quality and context: real-world interaction matters most for babies, and at every age screens should not crowd out sleep, play, reading and family time. A family media plan, shared devices and screen-free bedrooms and mealtimes are good places to start.

Keep a rainy day box of things saved for indoor days, such as building materials, a craft kit, dress-up and new library books, and a jar of quick activity ideas to pull from.

Many families use three jars, save, spend and share, often starting with about a third in each and moving more into savings as children get older. Pay on the same day each week.

Keep it to fifteen minutes on the same day each week: appreciations, the week ahead, one problem to solve and something fun to plan. Let children take turns leading.