Bob

One of the greatest inventions of the modern age perhaps: Bob. It is a device you plug into the TV or video game console that you can program for a certain amount of time per day for each of your children. Each child has a code that they have to use before the device will turn on (we plugged it into the Wii) and Bob automatically shuts down the system after the alloted time is over. No negotiating, no whining.... It is truly a great invention. We just got it this week because even with best intentions of limiting "screen time" we are not so good at monitoring it. We tell them a half hour, but then get busy doing something else (usually work in the AM and dinner prep in the PM) and the half hour quickly turns into 40 minutes or 45 minutes or 60 minutes. Or we are talked into "just let me finish this game of football, Mom". So now Jake gets 30 min/day, Tanner gets 15 minutes. If they choose to use it first thing in the AM or after school, it doesn't matter. Once the time is up, it's up. It's great. Wish I'd thought of that.... Welcome to our family, Bob.