[OnAMission]

We have four ages 4-9, and homeschool and dh works 75+ hours per week. We have done different things at different times. Right now, I allow up to 1.5 hours of tv watching per day (we don’t have computers, iPads, or video games available). No screen on Saturday because that is the day dh is home and we do family stuff. And rarely Sunday just because we have other stuff we do on Sundays (like play with neighbors!). They can either agree on one movie, or more often, they choose 2-3 short (25 min) shows. I have to approve the show, and it has almost always been Wild Kratts lately.

We have a few rules with tv time: school must be done (there are exceptions, but this is the default); bedrooms and living room must be picked up; it must be after lunch; and no complaining — everybody takes turns picking, if you don’t want to watch go somewhere else; if people don’t behave well later in the day then future tv privileges might be revoked. Periodically we will have a screen free week or two just to reset. My kids are super sensitive to both amount and content. So we watch minimal veggie tales, dr Seuss, and various other shows because they just don’t behave well afterwards. The content in those shows is fine but maybe they are just too fast-paced or colorful or something?

Other times we have had assigned days of the week for who can pick. That worked well because it was so predictable. Again, no complaining because everyone has a chance to pick.