Recently I was inspired by an article a friend posted on Facebook about a mother who limits screen time by essentially giving her kids unlimited screen time. It’s all accomplished with a list and once that list is completed they are free to stare at a screen all day long if they like.
The list is comprised of 4 or 5 “must dos” each day such as reading, keeping a tidy room, making one’s bed, homework and to engage in something creative for at least 45 minutes. Her children also have to complete one chore each day. The idea was that through these daily expectations, her kids might get wrapped up in some of the items on the list and that screen time may not even happen at all some days.
I decided to create our own modified version of this approach (with the help of my girls) and for the most part it is working for us. To be honest we don’t spend a ton of time on screens but I thought it might be a good way to encourage team work around the house and to instill a sense of routine and accomplishment each day. I love a good list and my girls seem to as well.
Not long after creating their list I began to ask myself why should this apply to just my girls?
Although I tend to not be the most consistent person in the world, I do appreciate some routine in my life. I have created some daily rituals that I truly appreciate and thought a few more were in order.
And so my own list was created. It’s a short and simple list, just the way I like things. My only rule was to choose things that brought me complete joy.
I have titled my list Just a Little Bit because I have found that if I don’t put any expectations on the items on my list other than to “just do a little bit of…..” , I tend to enjoy them more and find that sometimes I will spend a bit more time doing them than if I had a specific time limit or goal. Even if I only spend just 10 minutes in the garden or knitting just a few rows, it all adds up in the end. A little bit of something can lead to a lot. And with all of the other things that need to fit into a day, doing just a little bit of something feels more achievable and less overwhelming.
Today I set out with the intention of doing just a little bit of weeding. Before I knew it an hour had flown by and I had the entire front garden weed free!
I have been keeping to my list almost every day and even though we went away this past weekend I was able to keep to all but one item since most of them are portable.
I like how all of the items on my list are both enjoyable and lead to an accomplishment of some sort. Although I guess you can argue that all things enjoyable lead to joy and happiness which is a fine sort of accomplishment in my book.
My list is as follows.
Every day try to do just a little bit of…..
Knitting
Reading (a book)
Writing
Playing music (piano and/or ukelele)
Gardening
What are you doing just a little bit of each day?
Side note: My garden is happier than ever this summer!
What a lovely idea. I think I’ll make one of my own!
I read a similar blog about kids and lists before screen time…..wonderful idea…..and
I especially like your list …. low pressure and yet comes with a sense of accomplishment…..trying it myself….
Have a joyful day!
Vivian
I love this list idea for myself! Thanks for sharing.
This is a good idea. Vaguely related: I’m struggling with organization, and feeling overwhelmed by all the little things that have been left undone in the past three years since the birth of our daughter. The house isn’t the way I want it, the things aren’t the way I want them, and I’m not even sure where to start.
Maybe with just a little bit, instead of feeling like the whole things needs to be done stat. . . .
I’ve tried various things in the recent years to limit screentime (TV & computer), & finally found something that really works well for us. My boys, both teenagers now, can earn hash marks/chicken scratch (written on a piece of paper on the fridge) for performing all their chores w/o being asked. They can earn extra points from extra chores or extra curricular learning. They are expected to maintain proper hygiene, make their bed & put their dirty clothes in the hamper, clean the kitchen, & put away their schooling materials when they are done every single day. Each hash mark is worth 15 mins screentime & they can use their time in increments of an hour at a time, once their chores & schooling are done. When an hour is used I scratch it off. Fridays are bathroom cleaning & vacuuming day. Each boy cleans a bathroom & vacuums half the house, & that is worth 30 mins or 2 hash marks. They can use screentime & earn the points right back by watching TED-Ed, TED Talks, TEDx, science channels on Youtube, or documentaries that I have placed in their Netflix Watch Instantly Queue. They also get points for doing IXL or Khan, going for a walk, or jumping on the trampoline. They are both highly motivated to earn points so that they can play games on the computer.
I use the alarm feature on my phone to limit my own screentime & stay on task. I have different sounding alarms for different tasks during the day. Example: 6am Wake-Up & Weigh 6:30am Lemon Tea-Vitamins & Walk 7:30am Super Green Smoothie & Tidy Kitchen … 9am Coffee & Internet 11am Housework/Chores … 6:30pm Fold Laundry/Watch Movie/Boardgames … 8:30pm Tidy House & Evening Prep 9:30pm Read in Bed 10pm Bedtime. Do I read at other times during the day? Sure. I use the alarms as a guideline or gentle reminder.
Love your screen time method you use for your boys. Thanks for sharing!!
This is a great exercise Amy and sounds to me a lot like moving meditation. You know how your body longs for the smell of the pine needles or the cushy feel on the trail after you’ve been in the forest? If you do these things you love a little bit but often, your body has the memory of pulling weeds and the melody of the music flowing through it all the time. What a happy place to dwell. Thank you for the reminder.
My subconscious list: sit outside and look at the trees (I have a difficult time just sitting), make my kids laugh at least once a day (tickle wrestle, t-rex attack, whatever works), spend time noticing beauty (sunrise, sunset, full moon), playing piano or ukulele (me too) and tidying the house.
Love this! The whole thing-both for myself and for the kids!!