Technology Tickets {and Free Printables}

We’ve been trying something new around here.

Saul and I have noticed that two of our kids are…how should I say it…..T.V. addicts.

In an effort to help them manage their time spent “watching” rather than “doing”, we initiated Technology Tickets.  The concept is that each child receives a set amount of technology time (T.V., Video Games, Computer) each week.  They ask permission to use a ticket, we set the timer, and once the timer goes off so does the T.V.  Without whining. 



Here are the rules I typed up, so that Saul and I would be consistent, and so the kids couldn’t try to trick him into changing it up.  Not that they’ve ever done something like that before….



I created a color coded set of tickets for each of them.  We’ve color coded the kids since the boys were born.  Isaac is always blue, Nate is green, and Elaina is pink.  Olivia’s color is up for debate still…usually purple though.



I printed, laminated, and cut out 3 sets for each of them.



I cut a small envelope in half to hold each set of tickets, and then attached it to our bulletin board with push pins.





Here’s a glance at the whole set up.  At the top are the extra tickets  for us to hand out as we want.  To the side is a blue card envelope that holds the tickets as they are used. 

Want to print your own?

Click here to print the Rules
Click here to print the Tickets

One thing that I am really liking about this system is that I have more accountability with not allowing them so much T.V. time.  I was starting to realize that  I would allow it more than I should have, in order to get things done around the house.  I’m pretty sure that I will still have those days, where the rules go out the window, and I allow a “Free Day” and we all sit in front of the T.V. stuffing our faces with popcorn.  But for the most part, I think this is a great new routine for our family.

I’ll keep you posted on how it’s going.

How about you?  How do you manage your kids' T.V. time?