FAQ
Everything people ask before buying. If your question isn't here, email us — we answer everything.
The workbook
What exactly do I get?
Two PDFs, delivered instantly by email. A fillable version you can type into and save, and a print-at-home version sized for US Letter. 31 pages each.
What ages does it work for?
3 to 14. Age-band notes run through the whole workbook — toddlers, elementary-age kids and teens need different handling, and the book says so at each step rather than pretending one approach fits all.
How long does it take?
Four weeks, a page or two at a time. It's sequenced deliberately: week one is only about screen-free zones and times, and the actual limits don't start until week two. Doing everything at once is the most common way this fails.
Do I have to ban screens?
No. This isn't a detox and there's no cold-turkey phase. Screens stay in your house — they just stop being the default answer to every gap in the day.
Will it work with a teenager?
There's a teen track running through the whole book: different scripts, different consequences, and a section on renegotiating rather than dictating. It is genuinely harder at 14 than at 6, and the workbook is honest about that rather than promising otherwise.
What if my partner isn't on board?
There's a section on exactly this, including a short script for the alignment conversation. Kids find gaps between parents quickly, so it's worth handling before you start rather than after.
What's actually inside?
A family screen audit, a fillable Family Media Agreement, a word-for-word family meeting script, a launch-day plan, a phrase bank of 20 lines for meltdowns and negotiations, 48 screen-free activities sorted by age, a week-by-week playbook, a 28-day tracker, and a one-page quick-reference sheet for the fridge.
Files and delivery
How do I get the files?
A download link is emailed to you within seconds of checkout. No account to create. If it hasn't arrived, check your spam folder first, then email us and we'll send it directly.
Do I need special software?
No. Any free PDF reader works — Adobe Acrobat Reader, Apple Preview, or the reader built into your phone. For the fillable version, open it in a proper PDF reader rather than a browser tab, or your answers may not save.
Can I use it on more than one device?
Yes. Download it as many times as you need and open it on any device you own. It's one household's copy.
Can I print it?
As often as you like. The print version is sized for US Letter, and the worksheets are designed to work printed on their own — useful when a page gets scribbled on or you want a second copy of the agreement.
Is it a physical book?
No. It's a digital download, which is why it's instant and why it costs less than a printed workbook would.
Payment and refunds
Is this a subscription?
No. One payment, yours permanently.
Is my purchase refundable?
Yes — 30 days, no questions, no files to return. Work the plan, and if it doesn't change your evenings, email us for a full refund.
Why 30 days when the plan takes four weeks?
Deliberately. You get to finish the entire plan and still have time to decide it wasn't worth it.
The serious bit
Is this medical or psychological advice?
No. Ballast publishes general parenting guidance built on well-established behavioural principles. It isn't medical, psychological or clinical advice, and it isn't a substitute for professional care. If you have concerns about your child's development, behavior or well-being — or if screen use is one part of a wider struggle — talk to your pediatrician or a child psychologist.
Still have a question?
Email us. We read everything and we'd rather answer before you buy than after.