Man, if you want to list things that are polarizing in the parenting world, right near the top you’ll probably find debates about screen time.

This wasn’t really a thing when I was a kid, millennial that I am.

I didn’t get my first cell phone until I was a teenager, and it did little more than make calls and send painfully slow T9 text messages. Childhood for me involved dial-up internet, Saturday morning cartoons, and wearing out our Disney VHS tapes. Regulating screen time basically meant my parents asking, “Haven’t you watched that movie enough times already?”

These days it’s completely different.

Everywhere you look there are conversations, blogs, opinions, and criticisms about how much screen time our children are getting.

And honestly…what even counts?

Sometimes my kids use their tablets for games. Sometimes they watch YouTube. Sometimes we’re watching a movie together in the living room. Sometimes they’re on the computer playing chess or looking something up for school.

They even use screens in the classroom now because they’re an educational tool.

This has actually been a hot topic between me and my partner ever since we combined our households.

He feels very strongly that the children are addicted to screens and that we should severely limit their screen time.

I don’t really see it as a huge problem because, yes, they enjoy their devices, but they’re also doing well in school, they’re never late, they play outside almost every day, and during the school year they’re out of the house for seven hours a day anyway.

So we’ve had more than a few conversations about it.

Don’t even get me started on the discussions where he says the kids need less screen time, and I respond with, “Okay…then we’ll limit ours too.”

For some reason that’s usually where the conversation ends.

Because if we’re being honest, I think adults are just as attached to our screens as kids are. But that’s probably a whole different blog post.

Anyway, with summer vacation here, I’ve been thinking a lot about the whole screen time conversation, and I’ve decided we’re going to try something different.

Not because I think screens are evil.

Not because I think my kids are addicted.

But because I think a little more balance would probably do all of us some good.

So here’s the plan.

1. Decide What Actually Counts as Screen Time

The first thing I had to decide was what kind of screen time I actually wanted to limit.

My kids have tablets, video games, computers, and of course we have the family TV.

After thinking about it, I’ve decided our limits are going to apply specifically to handheld devices.

Tablets and old cell phones.

The things that most often get used for sitting and endlessly scrolling through YouTube Shorts.

I’ve noticed that when they’ve spent hours watching short-form videos, it’s harder for them to settle into a full-length movie.

Every time I suggest a Disney movie night, someone complains they’re bored, wanders away halfway through, or asks if they can go watch YouTube instead.

The last time we played Disney’s Scene It? they didn’t even know who the Cheshire Cat was.

I felt like I had somehow failed as a Disney-loving mom.

So this summer?

Less YouTube.

More Disney.

2. Devices Must Be Signed In and Out

Once I decided to limit screen time each day, I immediately ran into another problem.

We have three children.

Each one has their own device.

How on earth was I supposed to keep track of who had used how much time?

The easiest solution would have been to have one scheduled “tablet time” every day.

But they’re all different kids.

They’re not all going to want to use their devices at the same time, and honestly, I don’t think they should have to.

Maybe one child wants to watch TV while another wants to use a tablet.

So here’s my solution.

All of the handheld devices will stay in one central location.

Whenever someone wants to use one, they’ll sign it out by writing down the time they started. When they’re finished, they’ll write down the time they returned it.

Not only does it help me keep track of screen time, but it also gives them a little practice telling time, estimating time, and managing it themselves.

I created a simple printable sign-out sheet that I can hang in the kitchen.

My plan is to laminate it and use dry erase markers so we can reuse it all summer.

Although…

Knowing that I was a fairly sneaky kid myself, I’m already wondering how long it’ll take before someone decides to “adjust” the numbers.

We’ll see.

3. Extra Screen Time Can Be Earned

Just like the kids can earn spending money by doing chores, they’ll also be able to earn extra screen time.

Along with the sign-out sheet, I’ve created a list of age-appropriate jobs and how many bonus minutes each one is worth.

Things like:

• Loading or unloading the dishwasher
• Sweeping the kitchen floor
• Tidying the yard
• Feeding the chickens
• Picking up toys

Simple jobs that don’t require a lot of supervision.

And, perhaps more importantly, jobs that are the least likely to create even more work for me afterward.

If my eight-year-old suddenly announced she wanted to clean the bathroom, I can already picture bubbles everywhere and mirrors somehow becoming dirtier than when she started.

We’ll save that adventure for another day.

Besides encouraging responsibility, this also reinforces time management and even a little basic math as they add up the minutes they’ve earned.

I’d call that a win.

Will It Work?

Honestly?

I have no idea.

Maybe the sign-out sheet will last all summer.

Maybe someone will “forget” to write down an extra half hour.

Maybe earning screen time will become the best motivation I’ve ever stumbled across.

Or maybe we’ll scrap the whole thing after two weeks and try something else.

That’s parenting.

I’ve learned that very few things are all-or-nothing.

I don’t think screens are evil, and I don’t think children should spend every waking hour staring at one either.

Technology is part of their world, just like it’s part of ours.

They use it to learn, to create, to connect with friends, and yes, sometimes just to relax.

My goal isn’t to eliminate screens.

My goal is to make sure they’re choosing plenty of other things too.

I want them building forts.

Riding bikes.

Reading books.

Catching frogs.

Playing board games.

Watching a Disney movie all the way through without feeling like they need YouTube Shorts every five minutes.

If this little experiment helps us find a bit more balance this summer, I’ll call it a success.

And if it doesn’t?

We’ll make some adjustments and keep trying.

Because if there’s one thing parenting has taught me, it’s that almost nothing works forever.

And that’s okay.

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Let’s Chat!

I’m curious…what does screen time look like in your house?

Do you have strict limits? No limits? Somewhere in the middle?

I’d love to hear what’s working (or not working!) for your family, so leave a comment below. Parenting is one of those things where we can all learn from each other.

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Free Printable: Screen Time Sign-Out Sheet

If you’d like to try this system with your own family, I’ve created the same Screen Time Sign-Out Sheet and Bonus Screen Time Chore Chart we’re using at home.

Simply print them out, laminate them if you’d like, and use a dry erase marker to track screen time all summer long.

Looking for the complete system? The full Kids Screen Time Management Kit is also available in my Etsy shop and includes printable rules, bonus coupons, a parent guide, and more.

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Keep Reading

If you enjoyed this post, you might also like these articles:

How I’m Planning to Survive Summer Vacation With 4 Kids
My realistic plan for making it through summer with four kids, a newborn, and (hopefully) my sanity intact.

How I Encourage My Children to Read (Even When They’d Rather Be on a Screen!)
The simple things we’ve done to help raise kids who genuinely enjoy reading, without turning books into a chore.

Before I Was Your Mom
A personal reflection on identity, motherhood, and how becoming a parent changes you in ways you never expected.

Things I Wish I Knew With My First Baby
The advice I wish someone had given me before bringing home my first newborn.

There’s always something new happening around here, so feel free to browse the blog for more stories, parenting tips, bookish content, and a few honest glimpses into the beautiful chaos of everyday family life.