A couple of years ago, I made a chart that my oldest son, then three years old, would use to keep track of his television time. He was allowed to watch two, half-hour shows each day and one movie each week. Whenever he watched a show or movie, he would color in a square on his chart that coincided with the current day and type of screen time.
This system worked wonderfully until his younger brother became old enough to also want to choose his own shows. At that point, we tweaked the system so that each child was allowed to choose one show each day that both children watched, and together we would choose one movie each week.
Again, our idea worked for awhile. However, I began to grow concerned about the amount of screen time they were getting since they were following the “TV Time” rules but were now playing video games for short periods each day in addition to the original screen time. I have since developed a new, easy to follow system to keep track of all types of screen time.
I have one, small coffee can for each child. On each coffee can, I had my children attach twenty-one clothes pins. Each clothes pin represents thirty minutes of screen time, and they begin each week with all twenty-one. Each time a child watches a show or chooses to play a video game (with a timer set for thirty minutes), a clothes pin is removed. If he watches a movie, three clothes pins are removed, one for each thirty minute increment. Each child may use up to five clothes pins each day. However, once the pins are gone, they do not receive any more until the next week begins.
The first week we implemented this system, the pins were gone before the last day of the week had arrived. They were forced to endure an entire day with no screen time (which was actually a wonderful day!). This is our second week. We have two days left, and there are still twelve pins on each can!!
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Written by Laura on January 27, 2012
Meal times used to be very stressful in our home. Like many parents, we had resorted to dessert bribes and a you-must-try-it policy. However, after speaking with a friend, who happens to be a published nutritionist, we have taken different approach to meal times.
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Written by Laura on September 7, 2011
Last night, my two little boys finished their season of “Summer Soccer”. Both children made great improvements throughout the eight weeks of practices and games, and my older son, especially, was a bit sad that it was ending. However, I have to admit that I was glad to see the season come to a close only because it meant an end to the drama that developed on my older son’s team
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Written by Laura on August 4, 2011
My younger son always seems to be the odd man out. Whenever we have friends over, the older kids play together, and Elliot is left either begging to be part of the group or giving up and playing by himself. I don’t know if it is the age, since he is usually the youngest child, or simply a result of having an odd number of children in the house. No matter what the reason, I always feel sor
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Written by Laura on June 24, 2011
After having taken several long trips in the car recently, I have come up with a list of “Travel Do’s and Don’t’s” which I will try to remember for any future travel plans with small children.
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Written by Laura on May 25, 2011
While on an eight-hour drive back home from Connecticut, my oldest child was entertained for hours (literally “four” hours) with nothing but a laminated card, a dry-erase marker, and the scenery around him. He was playing a game where he was supposed to find as many red trucks, yellow cars, horses, tractors, air planes, and motorcycles ...
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Written by Laura on May 18, 2011
On a recent trip to Connecticut, my family was able to take advantage of a state park facility that was new to us. In Rocky Hill, just outside of Hartford, Connecticut, is a dome-shaped building with lots of prehistoric surprises inside.
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Written by Laura on April 29, 2011
My two little boys are friends with a little girl who lives down the street. I babysit her on occasion because neither her mother nor father have family that live nearby. Her mother and I also have a friendship that has allowed us both to take part in many of the milestones each of our children have achieved. Unfortunately, since both of their families live some quite some distance away, they
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Written by Laura on April 22, 2011
Last week, I was on the phone with a business associate. We were trying to have a professional conversation. I should have known better. In fact, it would be pretty safe to say that any conversation I attempt to have the on the phone, professional or not, typically involves two little boys following me around the house, asking me questions, complaining, fighting, and otherwise carrying on.
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Written by Laura on April 15, 2011
I have two little boys; a five-year-old and a three-year-old. At times, they get along wonderfully. At others, however, you would think that World War III has broken out in our home. Although they don’t typically fight physically with each other, the arguing, screaming, and yelling is enough for any parent to command a cease-fire.
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Written by Laura on April 13, 2011
Our goal is to give you the tools and confidence to teach your preschooler the joy of reading and writing.
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