B. B. R. C

[silas1325]

I have four kids whose ages range from 8 to 16 and it can be hard to check on each one to make sure they’re starting their day off right; not just mindlessly hopping on screens and shirking responsibilities. They each have unique needs and duties but I’ve narrowed it down to 4 things they ALL need to get done before they’re allowed on screens: Breakfast, Brush teeth, Read a book, do a Chore - aka B.B.R.C.
It’s really not much to ask but you’d be amazed how often they’d weasel out of one or more of these on the daily. It really helped me (and them, I think) to shorten these requirements into a simple 4 syllable concept. It saves on nag time and doesn’t garner the argument fodder of a required task because they don’t have to do it - only if they want screens

 

[katrina2017]

@silas1325 Great tip and I like the simplicity. We homeschool so everything is off until school work and chores are accomplished. We like themed days too

 

[richard334]

@silas1325 No screen time until a certain time of the day

 

[totallylovedbygod]

@silas1325 We do this too -- 5 kids ages 6mo to 11y. Must eat breakfast, get dressed, do school work and a chore before screen time.

 

[adnane]

@totallylovedbygod What kind of chore does your 6mo have to do

 

[johann88]

@adnane You know what they say:

Sleep when the baby sleeps.
Fold laundry when the baby folds laundry.

 

[ajewelinhiscrown]

@adnane dying

 

[ronaldus]

@silas1325 Smart! How much reading is “read a book”?

 

[silas1325]

@ronaldus 20 min minimum for all. Seems like enough time to check in and catch up with a character. Sometimes I use timers, sometimes I just trust them to keep track. The older ones tend to read for longer without realizing.