Dad’s List Of Tasks Kids Must Do Before Screen Time Goes Viral
Tired of struggling to get your child to spend less time on screens and more time doing what you think they should be with their time? Screen time is an issue all parents try to navigate. All parents have been there at some point, but according to Scary Mommy, one dad seems to have come up with a pretty good way to deal with it and he’s going viral for sharing it on TikTok.
Richard Wadsworth, a psychiatrist and father of seven, recently posted a video of his teen son lifting weights and telling him that he woke up at 6:30 in the morning to get his sweat sesh in before school. The thing is, he’s not forcing his kid to get up early to exercise, it’s just one of the things he has to do before he’s allowed any screen time.
Wadsworth explains that he has a checklist that his kids need to complete before they get their phone or tablet, which includes:
- Clean their room – “All clothes in drawers or hung up. No garbage. Bed made. Toys put away”
- Do their chores
- Homework or read for at least 15 minutes
- Exercise – Walk, run or jog a mile on the treadmill, or another workout like basketball, climbing or lifting weights for 20 minutes
- Be ready for the next day – “Lunch made, shoes, jacket located in proper place for the next day”
- Toilets – “Are the toilets in the house flushed?”
- Laundry – “Is your laundry done?”
So the choice is up to the kids, if they want screen time, they know exactly what’s expected of them before they get it. Wadsworth points out that screen use is linked with increased rates of depression and anxiety in kids, so keeping a close eye on your kids’ screen use and having clear rules is a good thing. “We should not be giving our kids unlimited access to screens,” he explains. “Just as you would regulate the amount of candy and sugar that they ate, hopefully, you should also be regulating the amount of screen time that they have.”
This may be an unpopular opinion, but the screen time rules are pretty similar in our house. My co-host Maney always gets on me and calls me “mean mommy,” but my kids need structure. The only difference is that we don’t require exercise. I think my kids have that covered on their own, but I would never want to give them “body issues.” I think this dad is just trying to get his kids to “move,” so maybe a better rule would be 20 minutes of outdoor time instead. But hey, they’re not my kids!
This isn’t the only dad-sharing screen hacks. Another dad shared how to “child proof” your iPhone!
5 Life Lessons From Coaching Youth Sports
The Meaning of Hard Work
There’s no better feeling than working tirelessly for something you really want, and then accomplishing it. Especially if you are an underdog. You learn to enjoy the struggle. It makes the reward that much sweeter. The most valuable lesson from this piece is that once you dedicate yourself to putting in whatever it takes, this becomes a mindset. No win comes for free. You aren’t entitled to playing time. Both of those must be earned. There’s nothing wrong with reminding yourself of that while preaching to your kids about how to get playing time.
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The Importance of Exercise
Your definition of exercise might be a sweaty cardio workout in the gym. But as a coach, exercise has a broad meaning. Certainly, getting yourself outside with a team and teaching them the importance of stretching and preparing your body is essential to physical success. Coaching a sport like football, for example, your two hours a day on the field are laser-focused on just that. There, you are giving yourself some mental exercise, taking a break from all the other work, stress, or life-circumstances. You can forget everything else when you hit the field, court, or rink.
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Treat Everyone The Same, But Coach Them Differently
Whether you manage a soccer team or a sales team, you’re leading a collection of individuals. What makes your top performer tick is not the same as what makes a lesser player (or employee) with potential, tick. This lesson centers around relationship-building and listening. How you run your team is about you, and how your players apply these guidelines is about them.
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Nobody Is Going Pro At 10 Years Old...
…Nor are they getting a full scholarship offer to a top NCAA college at this age. You may see things in your kid or another on the team where your experience makes you think a certain player has a shot at the big time. But that time is not right now. Your coaching duty is to give the best experience possible to your players. How does creating an entire game plan around one super-talented 10-year old give the other 20 kids a fair chance? How does it give them a memorable experience? Or something to build off for next year. Or confidence. Again, those refereeing your games are most likely high school or college kids themselves. They’re just trying to work and earn some money. Again, cut them some slack.
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You Matter
Your tone in addressing your players, the refs, and the other team matters, too. Be cognizant of how you deliver your messages. You may have an incredibly impactful point to make, but if you don’t articulate it correctly, and cater to your audience, it can be useless. Coaching youth sports is about the overall experience, not the final score, and not the final record. Your stats don’t matter, your voice does.
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