We know how much our kids love their screen time — television, iPads, phones, video games. It seems like a lot of time that is all they want to do.
I love the idea of having our kids earn their screen time in exchange for chores and reading. So, I made a chart with corresponding amounts of time they can earn for each thing they do. This can be to earn all of their screen time or it can be used to earn bonus screen time. (<– This is the way we use it.)
Each chore gets harder and is worth more time. So kids have the option to do something really hard and get all their screen time at once, or do simpler things that will take them longer since they have more to do. I love that they have the control over it.
You can also set a daily limit. If they go over the daily limit they can carry over credit to the next day. If you have a really ambitious kiddo they may want to spend one day a week doing as much as they can so they can relax and have their screen the rest of the week.
Screen Time Credit Checklist
As you can see, some chores may be difficult for younger children so they will need to do the ones with lesser values.
If you want a checklist version you and your kids can use to track each chore and how much screen time they’ve got for the week, I’ve got one. Just click here to download and print.
If you like it, I’d love for you to share it with your friends on Pinterest or Facebook.
Head over here to get a free Mrs. Meyers cleaning set to get you started!
Liz is a just a mom trying to keep it real about how little she sleeps, how often she gets puked on and how much she loves them. You can find her here every day writing about real-mom moments.
Maryellen says
i tried to print the earn screen time checklist but the site kept crashing?
Melissa says
Thank you so much!
Riki22 says
Great post about creative ways to manage kids’ screen time by encouraging them to earn it through chores and reading! It’s an excellent strategy to teach responsibility and time management. By the way, if you’re looking for skilled developers to build or enhance your apps, consider hiring Objective-C developers from PNN Soft by https://pnnsoft.com/programming-technologies/objective-c-app-development. They offer top-notch services to ensure your projects are expertly crafted and efficiently managed. Their expertise can significantly boost your app development process.
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Nancy says
This is such a clever idea! I’m totally gonna try this out with my kids. Hopefully, it’ll get them to do some chores without complaining too much! Thanks for sharing!
EVA ANN says
I am always looking for ways to balance screen time with other activities. This chore-for-screen-time chart seems like a fun and effective way to get my kids motivated. Definitely gonna try this out!
AI Clothes Change says
This is a great idea! I’ve been struggling with my kids’ screen time. I’ll download the checklist and try having them earn bonus time through chores.
Jessie says
This idea is brilliant for balancing screen time with responsibility. The tiered chore system teaches kids the value of effort while giving them control. Our family uses a daily limit too, and rolling over unused credits stops weekend battles. The downloadable chart would make tracking easier—thanks for sharing practical solutions that don’t feel punitive!
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