Screen Bucks for Managing Screen Time
The Struggle is Real, Right?
When our kids jump on their video games, phones, computers, movies or other devices/screens, our heart cringes a little and we wish they were doing something productive or at least healthy or fun. But while our heart is bugging us, our exhausted brain and body is just happy to have a break from the whining or the noise or the attention.
But as we well know from our own time management issues, a “little while” on a screen very quickly multiplies into a lot of time, and even the most wholesome of content on a screen isn’t a healthy or happy way to do life. When screen time takes over, we eventually we see it in our kids’ attitudes, discontentment, and health.
If you’re like me, you may feel that a line has been crossed, and we can’t go back to the good ole days. But we can. It takes a lot of intention, may require creativity, and probably isn’t going to go over well at first, but it’s possible. So, if you are like us, and feel like screens are taking over your kids’ childhood, here is one idea to help us get started reclaiming a healthier balance. It took me ten minutes, index cards, and a marker to create Screen Bucks for my kids (the stickers were just to make them cute :). I have to tell you, when I am faithful to enforce and monitor this plan, it’s totally been working! It’s simple, but it has so many benefits!
Concept
The concept is simple… Kids EARN screen time by completing projects, chores, responsibilities, or activities that you choose. If they want screen time, they do the task and earn the minutes. They can accumulate minutes during the day to use any time that day. Roll over minutes can be used on the weekend. Of course, we parents always have the prerogative to confiscate bucks, if poor attitudes or behaviors warrant it.
Benefits of Limiting
In an effort to earn their screen bucks, the kids are spending a lot of time each day doing tasks that are good for them or good for the family. Some tasks help me (dishwasher, laundry, vacuuming). Some tasks help them (typing, piano, reading, act of kindness). Some tasks are just fun (playing outside, crafting, building). But all of them keep them busy in a healthy way!
This shift in how their time is being spent throughout the day has truly affected my kids’ overall attitude and contentment level. It has also caused them to be away from screens for a long enough chunk of time that instead of spending their bucks immediately, they often get wrapped up in playing together or get into another activity. Because the kids worked for the screen bucks, they value their screen time more and no longer talk and respond like they are entitled to it. I should also add that the whining and moping around has greatly decreased as a result of this system!
Ideas
Each task can be worth whatever works for you and your family! Most of our tasks turned out to be worth 15 minutes. For us, this has been a magic number, because it’s enough time to matter but not enough time satisfy them. So they are motivated to earn more. And every time they are busy earning bucks, they are…. well,…. busy doing something worthwhile!
Because we homeschool, getting through a school day with a good work ethic and attitude is HUGE to all of our well beings, so I chose to make having a great school day worth 1 hour of screen time. I also made their morning routine worth 30 minutes, because if they are motivated to get up and ready, then not only will our school day get off to a better start, but they will also have the gumption to do other things in the morning that are not related to screens.
Because we don’t allow screen time before the school day ends, my kids have been choosing to get up earlier in the morning to earn bucks, so their bucks will be ready to spend when school is over.
Ready?
Have I convinced you yet? There really is so much to gain and nothing to lose by trying! Stay firm on your end, enforce the plan, and monitor time. I think you’ll like the change!
