Making FamTiVi work for you

Every household can be so different, it is difficult to prescribe just one way to use FamTiVi. Some kids will have the ability to stay off of certain devices, and other kids will be running away from FamTiVi quickly if they have another option for the full YouTube experience.

Because there can be such a large range of scenarios across homes, I will describe the most extreme case (the case of my two boys), and how we managed to get FamTiVi to work for them.

1. Device Assessment

First, assess all possible devices in your home that have YouTube on them:

• Which screens do your kids have free, unmonitored access to?
• For those devices, you will need to establish clear physical and digital boundaries so they cannot be accessed without intentional permission.
• Tablets and phones running the dedicated FamTiVi app can be kept in common family areas (like the living room or kitchen) rather than private bedrooms.

2. Involving Kids in Topic Curation

When children feel ownership over what is being scheduled, resistance fades:

• Sit down together and explore YouTube channels related to their real-world curiosities (e.g., how stop-motion animation works, youth sports drills, or building birdhouses).
• Build a custom Topic around their chosen passion.
• Show them the weekly schedule so they know exactly when their favorite shows will air.

3. Predictable Routines Beat Constant Battles

The greatest benefit of scheduled viewing is that the software enforces the boundary, not the parent:

• When the showtime ends, the TV stream ends naturally.
• Parents are freed from having to be the “bad guy” who rips a tablet away in the middle of an autoplaying recommendation.
• Over time, children develop a healthier relationship with technology: screens are tools for intentional discovery, not endless background stimulation.