My children would watch television or play video games 24/7 if they could.  The television can be so addictive!  Since, I don’t want my children watching television continuously, we have set up a system to limit their television time.  I purchased the product TimeScout Monitor from Family Safe Media and installed it on one of the televisions.  This tv also has the video game console connected to it.  Each child is given an “access card.”  The cards can have time added or deleted and the child uses the card to “swipe on” the television set. 

There have been advantages and disadvantages of using this type of system.

Advantages

  • It is easy to add and delete time to the child’s card.  Time can be added for completion of chores, good behavior, etc. and deleted for bad behavior.
  • Once the time runs out, the television turns off.   I don’t even have to nag them to turn off the television, they know when their time is up.
  • The system works the best for my youngest son and video games.  He is allowed a limited amount of time each day for video games.  When the televsion turns off, the game is over.
  • The system gives warning beeps before turning off.  A video game can easily be saved an ended in this amount of time.
  • Each child gets their own card and can control their own time.

Disadvantages

  • When all three children want to watch the same program at the same time, whose card does the time come from?  It is hard to keep track of whose turn it should be to swipe their card.
  • If you have a child with no time on their card and another child wants to watch a program, you must find a different area for them to play or do work in.

This system seems to work best when it just controls video game play and not television watching.  It has worked well for our family, but we have to keep diligent on time management on the cards.

 

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