You want to keep your child’s screen time in check during summer break. This Summer Screen Time Rules printable is a great way to help your kids earn screen time. It’s a fun game while also keeping screen time to a minimum.
Complete with coupons they can use to redeem screen time, your little ones will have a healthier relationship with TV, computers, and video gaming while having fun outdoors this summer.
A clear daily checklist for earning screen time is a game changer for navigating time spent on screens throughout the summer.
Summer Screen Time Rules: Free Checklist Printable
Most of us find being strict about screen time challenging, especially during summer break. Without rules, it can be easy for a child to spend nearly all day on mobile devices, including phones, tablets, and gaming devices.
Look, I get it. Parenting is hard. You have stuff to get done. I fully admit that I’ve used the television as a babysitter one time too many.
The trouble is that all kids, especially kids with special needs, tend to have strong reactions and meltdowns when they have to get off screen time. As much as I love the peace and quiet (and a chance to get something done) when my kids are watching TV, I don’t love the battle when I say their time is up.
This coupon system won’t fix everything. Expect some battles when you first implement it. Your kids will test the waters and see if they can push your boundaries. If you continue to set clear rules and instructions from day one, your preschooler or elementary schooler will learn that screen time needs to be earned.
In addition to encouraging discipline in your child, you’re also teaching them about having a good structure and daily routine.
Kids’ Summer Break Daily Chores & Routines
Instead of using threats to get your child off their screens, give them tasks to complete.
In the free printable Summer Screen Time Rules printable, your child or children need to finish tasks daily, such as:
- Making their bed
- Brush their teeth
- Clean their room
- Read a book
- Play outside
- Help with meal prep, such as making lunch
- Write or draw
Within the printable, you’ll find five pages that include:
- Pre-filled Summer Screen Time Rules that include a screen time chart and tasks for children when they wake up, a chore list, and a to-do list for the morning and the afternoon
- A blank Summer Screen Time Rules template to customize your child’s summer screen time checklist
- Six Screen Time Coupons to redeem screen time on tablets, mobile phones, and TV
How To Use The Summer Screen Time Rules With Coupons Printable
The best way to use the Summer Screen Time Rules is to print them out and laminate them. This way, you can easily mark off the checklist items with a dry-wipe pen or water-based markers as your child completes their tasks or chores.
You can also laminate the Screen Time Coupons to use them multiple times or for multiple kids.
Alternatively, you can print it out using a home or local print shop printer and add it to a clipboard. Then, you can use a pencil or water-based pen to mark the items off the list.
Free PDF Printable – Summer Screen Time Coupons
Add your name and email here for free screen time coupons and instructions.
However you choose to use this printable, your child will learn that being responsible with their time is for their benefit. This is not a punishment but a fun way to ensure they make the best of their summer break.
Yes. I agree with summer screen time rules.
Yes, screen time rules can be a good idea for children when applied thoughtfully. They help promote healthy habits by ensuring that screen use doesn’t interfere with sleep, physical activity, social interactions, and other important developmental activities. By setting limits, parents can encourage balance, expose children to a variety of experiences, and protect them from potential negative effects of excessive screen time, such as disrupted attention spans or exposure to inappropriate content.
Yes Screen time rules are so important! This is great for summer and also as a homeschool mom some of these ideas would be great so all downtime is not screens.
I love this idea. Since I am a “seasoned” person (over 75!), I did not have to worry about screen time with my own kids. Grandkids are older now and I do not see them often enough. We play games when they are here so I don’t have that problem with them either. Having said all that, I love this idea. I did use something similar when I was teaching so the kids could earn time on the computer for educational games.
I think this is a wonderful idea. I plan to share with my daughter who has 5 year old twin. They don’t have a lot of screen time, but this idea could just make it all better.
What a great resource for parents! I agree 100% that screen time rules are a good idea.
I think screen time rules for children are an excellent idea. I never had to worry about that with my children. For most of their childhood (they’re approaching 50 now), we had a tiny, tiny black and white television with maybe five channels, and that was the only screen available. They pretty much would rather either play outside or read a book when they were little. My son does a lot of screen time now, and his kids do as well. But still to this day, my daughter seldom watches television unless it’s a special occasion, and her children have always had rules when it came to screen time. A world of difference in their demeanor, physical health, and mental acuity.
I agree with the summer screen time rules. Our children need to have some structure to their days.
Yes, I agree. The kids should be out in the sunshine.
Rules for screen time is such an important topic. My children are grown with children of their own, but I see the grandsons on their screen a lot! I think earning screen time by accomplishing some other tasks is a great idea.
YES! I definitely think Screen Time Rules are important – year round! I am passing the info on to my son and DIL for my grand kids. I always try to engage my 8 yo grandson to do other activities when at my house. I like the idea of “earning” screen time by getting other things done first. Sometimes my grandson wants to have his tablet at the table during a meal and that is a definite NO at our house. Thanks for the helpful article!
I also just want to say I enjoyed looking around this website. I was interested in the 13 Ways to Support Foster Care without being a Foster Parent. At my age I could not consider being a Foster Parent, but Thank you for those ideas and resources. I will look into them further. Our family had 6 children, growing up our parents were involved with an organization called FISH – Friends in Service to Humanity and we would take in children in need from time to time that would stay with us temporarily. It has always been close in my mind and heart <3 <3
Yes, I think that screen time rules can be an important tool to help families manage their time better. It’s easy to get sucked in by a screen whether you are a child or an adult. We should focus on the things we need to do for our families and loved ones before losing ourselves to the digital content. When my children were growing up, I had a cling from Family Life Today that I would put on the tv screen, that said something like Turn off the TV or similar. My adult kids remember it, too!
I totally agree with having rules for screen time. I feel a lot of children would have benefited from limiting screen time of any kind. There would be so many fewer problems with anxiety and socialization of young people. I am so glad I only had to restrict TV and the beginning of video games for my children. Parenting has so many more aspects to control today than I had.
Screen time rules are important for ALL ages, not just children!
Yes, I agree that screen time should be limited. Kids should be encouraged to play outside, and with other kids. This is important for their development. They learn and grow through play, things they learn no other way. Play is kids “work”.
I think this is great. I love the resources that you have available.
I think this is a great printable and would have come in handy when I had littles.
I agree with setting screen time rules! I’m a good old days mom when we only had TV. My daughter loved to play outside, and we were fortunate to live in a neighborhood with many kids. We had the reverse problem. We would have to get our kids inside when it was too hot or too cold to be outside. There really wasn’t much for kids to watch on TV so my daughter loved books and board games. Prayers going out to all the parents today who have to deal with screens.