I am no parenting expert. I make mistakes. Sometimes I'm
tough when my kids need nurturing. Sometimes I'm gentle when I should be
strict.
But when my husband's iPad became my oldest son's
infatuation, I knew an intervention was necessary. We've tried two strategies
to limit my oldest son's time with electronic devices.
Click on either of the charts below to download them free from Google Drive.
Strategy #1
The first approach was to award him a set amount of
minutes every day. We chose 35 minutes, with the occasional option for him to gain 10 extra minutes. I created a chart which (like mercury
in a thermometer) depleted as minutes were used. Before he could use any
electronic minutes he had to eat breakfast, get dressed, and do his chores. Time
was deducted for any outbursts (throwing a fit or being hurtful).
Strategy #2
Our second approach was to have our oldest son earn
minutes by completing chores, being a helper, and demonstrating positive
behaviors toward others. The minutes he earns today, he can use tomorrow. Our
chart is populated with a long list of ideas for him (e.g. get the mail, set
the table, complete your homework without being
asked, write 6 sentences about your day, make someone feel special by doing something, try a
new food, etc.). Most of the activities are worth 5 minutes, but a select few are worth 10.
Whatever he does, we check on the list. At the end of the
day, we add up the minutes earned and write the number at the bottom of the
chart, clearing the checkmarks for the next day.
Each of these strategies has worked for us but I like
Strategy #2 best right now because he's mature and responsible enough to
determine his own fate by earning minutes.
Both charts were printed, slipped inside a heavyweight
sleeve protector with adhesive magnet tape on the back, and hung on our
refrigerator with a dry-erase marker clipped to it.
