This summer many parents will deal with kids whining and begging for more screen time. Ugh! What a dud of a summer issue to deal with. Well, let's figure out some strategies so we can all make it through in one piece.
1 - FAMILY MEETING
First, make a plan! Yep, sit your adorable family down for a FAMILY MEETING. Decide together what the screen time limits will be this summer -- what days, what time of day, what length of time, who gets things first or second, etc. Decide as many things as you can think of. If you have different age kids, it's ok to differentiate the limits. Now, once you have that, discuss the CONSEQUENCES for poor decisions about breaking the agreed upon rules. You should write all of these out and post them in a public place. As you go through the summer do another FAMILY MEETING to check in on how the rules are going and make adjustments as needed. It's great to model for your family how rules can evolve!
2 - ENERGY DRAIN
Second, remember that one of our Love and Logic® concepts is ENERGY DRAIN. Doesn't it drain your energy to repeatedly hear the same requests for things you've already said no to? For going beyond screen time limits that the family has agreed on already? With Energy Drain you can simply put a smile on your face and get some chores or other activities done instead of getting mad. Need the windows washed? Weeds pulled? Or maybe a foot massage or the porch swept? That's what energy replacement is all about, it's "you drain me... you need to fill me up again..."
Just remember that the chores or tasks they perform to put energy back in you are not their normal chores, they are extra. For energy replacement ideas look at the list on my website: HERE. Keep in mind that Energy Drains can be incorporated into the consequences portion of your Family Meeting document in Step 1 above.
3 - EMPATHY
Lastly, when our kids start coming at us with "I'm bored" and "There's nothing to do" and possibly start fighting with siblings, it's really helpful to remember one fundamental skill -- EMPATHY. Give them lots of love and empathy when they are complaining about being bored. Don't engage in their whining, just love them and use our Brain Dead one liner: "I knooooooow." Let them know you're confident they will figure something out.
1 - FAMILY MEETING
First, make a plan! Yep, sit your adorable family down for a FAMILY MEETING. Decide together what the screen time limits will be this summer -- what days, what time of day, what length of time, who gets things first or second, etc. Decide as many things as you can think of. If you have different age kids, it's ok to differentiate the limits. Now, once you have that, discuss the CONSEQUENCES for poor decisions about breaking the agreed upon rules. You should write all of these out and post them in a public place. As you go through the summer do another FAMILY MEETING to check in on how the rules are going and make adjustments as needed. It's great to model for your family how rules can evolve!
2 - ENERGY DRAIN
Second, remember that one of our Love and Logic® concepts is ENERGY DRAIN. Doesn't it drain your energy to repeatedly hear the same requests for things you've already said no to? For going beyond screen time limits that the family has agreed on already? With Energy Drain you can simply put a smile on your face and get some chores or other activities done instead of getting mad. Need the windows washed? Weeds pulled? Or maybe a foot massage or the porch swept? That's what energy replacement is all about, it's "you drain me... you need to fill me up again..."
Just remember that the chores or tasks they perform to put energy back in you are not their normal chores, they are extra. For energy replacement ideas look at the list on my website: HERE. Keep in mind that Energy Drains can be incorporated into the consequences portion of your Family Meeting document in Step 1 above.
3 - EMPATHY
Lastly, when our kids start coming at us with "I'm bored" and "There's nothing to do" and possibly start fighting with siblings, it's really helpful to remember one fundamental skill -- EMPATHY. Give them lots of love and empathy when they are complaining about being bored. Don't engage in their whining, just love them and use our Brain Dead one liner: "I knooooooow." Let them know you're confident they will figure something out.