Hi everyone! I need some advice on setting up better daily routines at home. I have two kids aged 6 and 8 and I’m trying to figure out how to balance their tablet and TV time with helping around the house.
Right now things feel pretty chaotic and I want to get more organized. Do your kids have specific times when they can use phones or play games? How long do you let them watch shows each day?
Also wondering about giving kids jobs to do around the house. Do you pay them allowance for cleaning their rooms or helping with dishes? What kind of tasks work well for kids this age?
I’ve seen some apps and charts online but not sure which ones actually work. Would love to hear what has worked for your family. Thanks for any tips!
My 5-year-old just started helping around the house and I’m still figuring this out. We’ve been doing timer races to put toys away - she loves it some days, fights it others. I give her 30 minutes of screen time after she helps with something simple. Do your kids actually ask to do chores now or do you still remind them constantly? How long before it became routine for everyone?
My daughter does way better when I don’t tie chores to screen time. It felt too much like bribing her. I turn tasks into mini competitions, like beating the timer or racing to sort socks. She gets 45 minutes of screen time on weekdays after homework and maybe two hours on weekends. For allowance, she gets a few bucks weekly just for being part of the family, then earns extra cash doing yard work or organizing closets.
I totally understand the struggle! A while back, we were in the same boat. What worked for us was creating a simple chart that tracks tasks for screen time. They earn time on the tablet by doing little jobs, like tidying up toys or helping with dishes. On weekdays, they can get about an hour if they finish their tasks, and a bit more on weekends. As for allowance, they get a small amount just for being part of the family, and then they can earn a little extra for bigger jobs like folding laundry. Regular chores are just part of our family routine and don’t come with payment. It took some getting used to, but now they often remind each other about their chores!
Oh, the chaos stage! I remember those days. Set device hours worked way better than daily negotiations. We did 45 minutes on weekdays (after everything’s done) and relaxed weekends.
Surprisingly, my kids actually liked clear rules once they adjusted. No more constant ‘can I have my tablet?’ - they already knew.
At 6 and 8, they’re perfect for simple chores: putting away laundry, wiping bathroom sinks, feeding pets. I don’t pay for basics like cleaning rooms - that’s just part of living here. But they can earn extra cash for bigger projects.
Honestly, some weeks everything falls apart and we reset. The key is finding something you can stick with long-term, even when life gets crazy.
We do 30 minutes on school days, an hour on weekends. Kids have to finish homework and one chore before screens. They make beds, load the dishwasher, and keep rooms clean. I don’t pay for basic stuff, but they can earn money for bigger jobs like vacuuming.
I remember those days. Set device hours worked way better than daily negotiations. We did 45 minutes on weekdays (after everything’s done) and relaxed weekends.