Decided to put this in post form as it was too lengthy for my side bars...
Screen Tickets: In order to limit screen time and also to teach my kids how to budget, I came up with screentime tickets. Each week each child receives a ziploc bag containing 4 cartoon tickets (30 min each), 3 movie tickets (1 hr each), 3 computer tickets (20 min each), and 5 game tickets (30 min each for Leapster/video games). Each child then must turn in a screen ticket when she wants to redeem it and is in charge of picking the program or website etc of choice. Other children are allowed to watch along if they wish. Screen tickets cannot be used until all school work and chores are completed. You can use up all your screen tickets in one day, but you might regret it! (Great for budgeting...) This is also a great thing to have for discipline with older children. We discipline by removing tickets for bad behavior. If a child has remaining tickets after each week, they can turn each in for a certain amount of money (you choose). Tickets are replenished each week. This too removes fighting over programming and gives them "control" over limiting their screentime!
Play Chart: This is the chart for those of you who have kids who constantly fight over what to play with or whose in charge! Make a chart with 1/2 hour block squares big enough to accommodate an "activity card" for each space. Make however many activity cards you like including some of the most fun things to do or play with in your house and put these cards in an envelope that will be attached to the back of the chart. Using Velcro dots once again to make the cards removable and replaceable, have each child alternate picking activities to post on the chart to fill up the amount of time you have for their free playtime. (My kids have a lot of this since we homeschool). Each child who picks is then in charge of that activity for 25 minutes (set a timer). Then the extra 5 mintues is spent cleaning up and getting ready for child #2's activity. This is also the solution to the "get one thing out at a time dilemma!"
Memory Verse Chart: We use this with homeschooling. Kids get to put a star sticker up for each verse memorized. Give kids a special treat after 7 verses are memorzied for incentive.
Behavior Chart: Make a castle or pirate ship (etc) that is the goal on a big poster board. Make seven steps to reach this goal using characters for each child. Use sticky Velcro dots to move around easily. Make a set of house rules. If you break more than 5 rules a day, you don't move up a step. If you break less than 5 rules a day, you move up 1 step. If you break no rules, you move up 2 steps! When you reach the GOAL you get to draw an idea card out of the PRIZE BOX (a box with several 3 x 5 cards listing prizes or fun rewards). This really works! Behavior Chart: Make a castle or pirate ship (etc) that is the goal on a big poster board. Make seven steps to reach this goal using characters for each child. Use sticky Velcro dots to move around easily. Make a set of house rules. If you break more than 5 rules a day, you don't move up a step. If you break less than 5 rules a day, you move up 1 step. If you break no rules, you move up 2 steps! When you reach the GOAL you get to draw an idea card out of the PRIZE BOX (a box with several 3 x 5 cards listing prizes or fun rewards). This really works!
Screen Tickets: In order to limit screen time and also to teach my kids how to budget, I came up with screentime tickets. Each week each child receives a ziploc bag containing 4 cartoon tickets (30 min each), 3 movie tickets (1 hr each), 3 computer tickets (20 min each), and 5 game tickets (30 min each for Leapster/video games). Each child then must turn in a screen ticket when she wants to redeem it and is in charge of picking the program or website etc of choice. Other children are allowed to watch along if they wish. Screen tickets cannot be used until all school work and chores are completed. You can use up all your screen tickets in one day, but you might regret it! (Great for budgeting...) This is also a great thing to have for discipline with older children. We discipline by removing tickets for bad behavior. If a child has remaining tickets after each week, they can turn each in for a certain amount of money (you choose). Tickets are replenished each week. This too removes fighting over programming and gives them "control" over limiting their screentime!
Play Chart: This is the chart for those of you who have kids who constantly fight over what to play with or whose in charge! Make a chart with 1/2 hour block squares big enough to accommodate an "activity card" for each space. Make however many activity cards you like including some of the most fun things to do or play with in your house and put these cards in an envelope that will be attached to the back of the chart. Using Velcro dots once again to make the cards removable and replaceable, have each child alternate picking activities to post on the chart to fill up the amount of time you have for their free playtime. (My kids have a lot of this since we homeschool). Each child who picks is then in charge of that activity for 25 minutes (set a timer). Then the extra 5 mintues is spent cleaning up and getting ready for child #2's activity. This is also the solution to the "get one thing out at a time dilemma!"
Memory Verse Chart: We use this with homeschooling. Kids get to put a star sticker up for each verse memorized. Give kids a special treat after 7 verses are memorzied for incentive.
Behavior Chart: Make a castle or pirate ship (etc) that is the goal on a big poster board. Make seven steps to reach this goal using characters for each child. Use sticky Velcro dots to move around easily. Make a set of house rules. If you break more than 5 rules a day, you don't move up a step. If you break less than 5 rules a day, you move up 1 step. If you break no rules, you move up 2 steps! When you reach the GOAL you get to draw an idea card out of the PRIZE BOX (a box with several 3 x 5 cards listing prizes or fun rewards). This really works! Behavior Chart: Make a castle or pirate ship (etc) that is the goal on a big poster board. Make seven steps to reach this goal using characters for each child. Use sticky Velcro dots to move around easily. Make a set of house rules. If you break more than 5 rules a day, you don't move up a step. If you break less than 5 rules a day, you move up 1 step. If you break no rules, you move up 2 steps! When you reach the GOAL you get to draw an idea card out of the PRIZE BOX (a box with several 3 x 5 cards listing prizes or fun rewards). This really works!
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