“Goodbye school, hello summer!” – Unknown
It’s that time of year again!
For kids, it’ time for a rest from teachers and homework. (And for teachers, a well-earned break from pupils!)
But while school can wait until Autumn, the chores won’t.
In fact, the summer is the perfect opportunity to motivate your kids to do chores…by earning bonus screen time.
Motivation, rights and privileges.. oh my!
Fact #1: Most kids will do almost anything for screen time.
Fact #2: Many kids today view screen time as a right.
As a result, parents can run into massive resistance (crying, whining, tantrums, and more!) from their kids when they try to establish sensible screen time limits.
One way to help defuse screen time tensions is to re-frame it as a privilege to be earned.
By making it something to be earned – rather than an entitlement – you can use screen time as a motivational tool to build healthy habits, break bad ones, and encourage good deeds.
How to teach your kids to earn screen time
There are at least two ways to implement the ‘Earn Your Screen Time’ approach.
- Let your kids earn ANY screen time for the day by doing good deeds and chores. When they have earned enough screen time points, your child can then ‘unlock’ an agreed amount of screen time for the day. (And carry over the extra for another day).
- Let your kids earn BONUS screen time doing good deeds and chores. When finished, the bonus screen time is added to your child’s daily screen time allowance. (Daily Screen Time Allowance = daily digital play time limit for any given day, for example, 2 hours).
With either system, we recommend setting a maximum limit on screen time for the day (with the ability to carry forward any extra minutes – or points – to the next day).
As a result, rather than feeling deprived of screen time, your kids will use their creativity, organisational and reasoning skills to earn it. (The best parenting hack ever!)
And this helps teach them valuable life lessons like self-regulation and delayed gratification.
Top 10 summer chores for screen time rewards
So what’s the perfect application of bonus screen time? The chore list!
And with the sun shining, it’s a brilliant time to get on top of those outdoor chores.
But don’t go it alone. Recruit your handy helpers to lend a hand.
Here are our top 10 summer chores for screen time rewards for kids.
#1 Take out the trash
Families produce a heap of trash.
6,351 pounds a year to be precise. (Roughly the weight of an adult elephant).
That’s A LOT of trips to the end of the driveway with a refuse sack or trash can.
Thankfully, it’s a chore kids of all ages can lend a hand with.
So, next time the trash needs taking out, you know who to ask!
Suitable for: Tweens and Teens.
Bonus Screen Time Value: 5 minutes.
#2 Sweep the porch
Ah, the humble porch.
The first thing guests see when they visit…
…the last thing on your mind when it comes to cleaning.
Don’t worry… your kids can help you with that.
Set them to work with a dustpan and brush and it’ll be sparkling in no time.
Suitable for: Tweens and Teens.
Bonus Screen Time Value: 10 minutes.
RELATED: Seeking screen-free activities to keep the kids entertained?
#3 Clean outdoor furniture
What do outdoor furniture and kids have in common?
That, however hard you try to keep them clean, they always end up covered in muck.
No, really! But from this moment forward, your outdoor furniture will be fit for a king!
Hand your kids a bucket and sponge, point them in the direction of the patio furniture, and relax with your favourite bevvy. (Just not on the outdoor furniture until it’s clean, obviously).
Suitable for: Tweens and Teens.
Bonus Screen Time Value: 15 minutes.
#4 Wash the car
The car’s another thing that wears the outdoors with pride!
Seriously, the family car keeps a record of everywhere it’s been…on its paint!
If you want to keep on top of the grime, you’re going to need to wash it weekly.
Fortunately, there is someone young and spry who can help, and it only costs screen time!
One more job for the bucket and sponge. (Though, if you ❤ your car, use the right sponge!).
Suitable for: Tweens and Teens.
Bonus Screen Time Value: 20 minutes.
#5 Weed the garden
What’s worse than weeds? Weeding!
Sure, some satisfaction can be derived by pulling them up by the roots…
But, after 30 seconds, that satisfaction is replaced by the realisation that spending time on your hands and knees is only great for… youngsters who are lower to the ground!
(Or tots who’ve not yet figured out walking).
Quick, locate the trusty trowel, thrust it in your child’s hand and point to the dandelions.
Suitable for: Tweens and Teens.
Bonus Screen Time Value: 25 minutes. (small lawns = 15 mins).
#6 Mow the lawn
Lawns don’t tend themselves (which, come to think of it, is very unsatisfactory).
Of all the regular household chores, mowing the lawn is one of the most tedious.
And it’s regular activity during the summer months. (Like baseball, only rain stops play).
But, because the mower is the closest thing your teen will get to a car for years, they enjoy it!
[If you have a ride-on mower, you can probably charge local kids to mow your lawn! :-)].
Suitable for: Teens only.
Bonus Screen Time Value: 30 minutes. (Small lawns = 15 mins).
#7 Turn your compost
It sounds like there’s nothing to it! I mean, how hard can it be?
Really, really hard as it turns out!
Which is why you want to get your kids to do it.
But be warned, they may only do this once!
And be sure to watch out for hedgehogs and grass snakes!
Suitable for: Teens only.
Bonus Screen Time Value: 45 minutes. (Small compost = 15 mins).
#8 Jetwash the patio
It’s not a jet wash. It’s a futuristic plasma rifle!
(At least, that’s how you sell it to your kids).
And to top it off, it involves getting wet and mucky!
You can write your name in the grime and see exactly where you’ve been!
(Well, your kid’s can. You can sit down and take a well-earned break).
But seriously, jet washes are powerful, so eye protection is an absolute must.
(As is some sensible supervision – no bevvy’s this time).
Suitable for: Teens only* (*with supervision).
Bonus Screen Time Value: 45 minutes. (Small patio = 20 mins).
RELATED: Seeking screen-free activities to keep the kids entertained?
#9 Tidy the shed
When did you last tidy the shed? (HINT: When you first moved in doesn’t count).
For some people (often men), the shed is a sacred place.
But for many, it’s the place where you store outdoor stuff and spiders.
A place you don’t want to spend much time.
Just as well then, because you don’t have to! Get the kids to give the shed a spring clean.
Suitable for: Tweens* and Teens. (*with supervision).
Bonus Screen Time Value: 45 minutes.
#10 Paint the fence
Ah yes, the true art of ‘fencing’!
To stay looking smart, a fence requires painting or staining.
It’s a tough job, whoever has to do it.
And it requires some pre-planning – paint, brushes and dry weather.
You handle the pre-planning. Get your kids to do the hard-graft!
Suitable for: Tweens* and Teens. (*with supervision).
Bonus Screen Time Value: 1 hour.
So there you have it! 10 summer chores you can scratch from your to-do list…
and give them to your kids!
Of course, there are many more! Check out the Habyts Activity Finder for inspiration.
What summer chores don’t feel like chores? Any? Share with us in the comments below.