Let your kids earn screen time with chores
Updated:
“No” starts arguments. “Yes, after you finish this” starts a deal. Earned screen time gives kids a fair, predictable way to get more minutes — and gives you less to argue about.
🎬 Video: Tasks that earn time
Printable chore chart → if you'd like to start on paper first.
How it works in child-time
- You create tasks in the dashboard (Tasks → New task): “Read 20 pages”, “Tidy your room”, “30 push-ups”. Each one gives a set number of minutes.
- Your child sees the tasks on their computer and marks one as done — with a photo if you ask for it.
- You approve in the dashboard or with one tap in Telegram. The minutes are added to today's time right away.
Keep it fair and under control
- Needs approval — on by default; turn it off for tasks you trust, and minutes are added instantly.
- Photo required — the child attaches a photo as proof.
- Times per day, days and hours — a task can be available, say, once a day on weekdays after 4 pm.
- Daily cap on earned time — set a maximum your child can earn per day, so tasks don't turn into unlimited gaming.
- Rewards — counters and badges for streaks (like “100 push-ups this month”), with optional bonus minutes.
Ideas that work
- Reading: 20 pages → +20 minutes
- Homework done before 6 pm → +15 minutes
- Sports or a walk outside → +30 minutes
- Helping at home: dishes, laundry, tidying → +10–20 minutes
- A built-in word game for learning languages → minutes for a good score
When your child is close to their limit, the program on their computer suggests completing a task instead of arguing about “five more minutes”.
Related guides: Parental controls for a school laptop · Homework before video games: how to make the rule stick · How to see which apps your child uses on the computer