Screen Time Coupons

Written and photographed by Tori of Lil’ Mrs. Tori

With summer in full swing at our house, I’ve been working one-on-one with B to keep his learning on track. We focus on handwriting, numbers, and reading comprehension to get him ready for kindergarten. Some days he gives me a real challenge — he’s wonderful with his teachers, but at home it’s a different story. B absolutely loves games, so I created screen time coupons as a motivating reward for finishing his lessons.

How the Screen Time Coupons Work

We’d always set limits on screen time, but now B has to earn his playtime. Each coupon is worth up to 30 minutes of screen use. He earns one coupon per completed activity. If he runs out of coupons, he can choose to do an extra worksheet, practice writing, or help with a few small chores to earn more. This system gives him something tangible to turn in and makes expectations clear.

Printing and Using the Coupons

Printing the coupons is simple. I recommend using cardstock so they feel sturdy; I also laminated ours for extra durability. There are many ways to adapt the idea — some parents distribute a set number of coupons each week and let their child decide when to use them. For us, the coupons have helped us weave short learning sessions into our days while keeping a healthy limit on screen time.

The coupons are flexible and customizable. Decide the rules that fit your family: how many minutes each coupon is worth, which activities earn coupons, and whether coupons can be saved or combined. This straightforward tool encourages consistency, rewards effort, and helps children understand balance between learning and play.