My kids haven’t been watching much TV lately but they play a lot of games on the ipad or their old leapsters. Right now they’re really into playing Life on the ipad. That was one of my favorite games as a kid, so I get it. Fun game. But is it so great that you should play it two hours a day? No, not really.
If you’re like me you may want to limit your child’s screen time (ipad, video games, TV, etc). You could just use a timer and a set amount of time each day or you could do something a bit more fun.
Enter the Screen Time Express tickets. Earn these by completing your daily tasks without whining or complaining (see the free printable chore chart). How you use them is up to you! Hand them out daily or weekly. Give as many as you like. As long as you’re consistent with enforcing no screen time when they run out of tickets this system will work well!
Laminate them if you want or just print and cut. There’s a place for a name so you can be sure they aren’t being traded as a commodity. Unless you’re fine with that!
Do you have kids that complain they’re bored and don’t know what to do? Post a list of ideas! Often they just need a little reminding of all the great things they CAN do instead of playing games or watching TV. Here’s a fun list to get you started:
- artwork
- write a story
- play a board game
- make a fort
- ride a bike
- make an obstacle course
- clean your room
- make something for someone
- build something with supplies from the recycle bin
- read a book
- quiz yourself with flashcards
- learn something new
- play with toys
- hunt for bugs
- act out a story
- build a scupture with clay
- help a neighbor
- build with legos
- cook something
- make a map
There are so many great things to do! I’m sure if you sat down with your kid(s) to brainstorm they could come up with 100 possible fun things they like to do!
How do you limit screen time at your house?
Great post! We do all those things on the list 🙂 My kids don’t have any gadgets yet so its not all that difficult to get them away from the TV, in fact my son will usually turn it off because he thinks it is boring!
Are you going to have to earn your screen time tickets?
You can add to your list “Skype Grandma and Grandpa”
last 5 is best
act out a story
build a scupture with clay
help a neighbor
build with legos
cook something
make a map
You're a funny guy, Dad.
This is an AWESOME post!! Love love love! Will be sharing over on Creative Geekery! So glad we connected! 🙂 XO, ellie
Great!!!!
I don’t have this problem because I am way to cheap to buy my kids any electronics but they are obsessed with the Brady Bunch reruns on TV right now. They can watch like 5 episodes back to back if I let them. I just turn it off and if they turn it back on I yell at them! Not as much fun as those cute tickets but it works ( sometimes)
I am having trouble printing it, any suggestions?
Never mind it is something wrong with my printer, I just tried to print something else and it didn’t work, even though I had printed something just before yours, I will try again tomorrow, maybe my printer needs a rest, lol.
the download file is not working for me…says it is damaged?
Love these! Printed them out to use in tadem with the chore chart. Thank you for making them printable.
Biolongo-Detox | Käsekessel Forum
My Daughter not take part in physical games. i am much worried about her. she just play the whole day on tab .
thanks for this my kid mostly play games on tab i buy some toys for him but he is no interested in toy’s.
in most countries kids leave physical game because of Mobile Parents must ask him to play physical games also it’s good for health.
same problem with my kids i don’t what i do and how to ask him to leave this.
The children of this era should pay attention to not only online games but also to physical games. If they want to become healthy.
its a very good suggestion. Thanks
my kid too play games and watching cartoons on mobile.
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