These suggestions come from Jamie Jo Wright, writing for crosswalk.com.
First, Trade Reading for Playing
The general rule is that children need to read for every minute they want to spend on their devices. It’s a 1:1 ratio. One hour of screentime means they need to have banked one hour of reading time. The only exception to this rule is that it does not include any virtual schooling or video chatting with family members.
To keep track, Wright suggests having the kids hash mark a chart for every fifteen minutes they’ve read. When they do their screen time, they cross off the appropriate amount of hash marks.
Next, Double Weekend Freebies
Two weekends a month is “free time” for the kids. During those times they don’t have to earn any screen time. They can go unfettered into the world of the electronic device without any questions about their reading time or telling them to get off their devices.
There should be a few caveats. The specific weekends need to be mutually agreed upon. And ground rules can still apply. The simple ones like no phones during dinner, no phones after bedtime, no phones during church, etc.
And finally, Weekday Round-Ups
Rather than confiscating your children’s phones when you don’t want them being used, get one of the many apps available that provide parental control, allowing you to lock down the device after a specific time, permitting only educational sites and apps after designated times.