Screen Time Printable for Winter Break: 12 Days of Christmas

It’s a constant issue: how do you manage your child’s screen time? This winter break, use a screen time printable to set reasonable limits.

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“Can I play on the tablet?”

“Can I watch Paw Patrol?

How many times a day do you hear these questions?!

With Winter Break approaching, you want your children to do something besides play on the iPad all day. But you don’t want the battles.

Enter the Screen Time Printable for Winter Break. This checks all the boxes and will make winter break better.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links; read more here.

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Screen Time Printable

This printable will save your life.  It puts the responsibility on your child.

We used a similar printable over summer break and it worked like a charm.

When your child asks, “Can I have screen time.” you can answer, “I don’t know. Can you? What does your chart say?”

Scroll down to read more about the printable.

You can grab this free screen time printable below. It’s my free gift to email subscribers.

You can unsubscribe at any time but I think you’ll want to stay for the freebies, tips, and deals.

Like all the printables on this website, this is for your personal home use or individual classroom use only.

How to Use the Screen Time Printable

Using this printable is pretty easy.

Manage Screen Time During Winter Break

If you want to reduce screen time during winter break, try these three steps:

  1. Set your screen time rules.
  2. Make screen time part of the routine.
  3. Plan non-screen activities.

Step 1 – Set Your Screen Time Rules

Decide for your family what are your priorities:

  • Is there are a certain number of minutes your child is allowed to watch?
  • Are there games they can and cannot play?
  • Which shows and movies are okay?

Make sure to consider your family’s screen time rules ahead of time to avoid battles later.

Step 2 – Make Screen Time Part of the Routine

Grab our free Winter Break Routine printable. Screen time is part of the routine.

We let our kids have screen time in the morning but there is a cap on it. It is their incentive for staying in their beds until their Okay to Wake clock turns green.

My children also know they get screen time when dad is done with work and makes dinner while I work. Having a predictable routine for when screen time is allowed helps end the battles.

3 – Plan Some Fun Activities

Planning some activities ahead of time allow your children to be occupied without screens.

Now you’re probably super busy with the holidays and don’t have time and energy to come up with 5,000 crafts. Plus, play is their job, not yours.

But can you think through activities you know your children love?

These activities tend to create a good flow to the day or can interrupt the hard moments that spiral into endless screen time.

Think about activities like:

  • Fort Building
  • Indoor Scavenger Hunts
  • Simple Baking Projects (i.e. mixes are okay)
  • Popsicle Stick & Plastic Cups Stem Towers
  • Decorate Giant Boxes

You know your children best. What activities propel them into a creative space?

Order those supplies now!

Winter Break Screen Time Rules

In order to use the screen time printable, you also need to make sure you have these things in place:

  1. Morning routine
  2. Daily chore
  3. Learning time
  4. Playing outside
  5. Creating something

Ultimate Routines Printable Pack

Morning Routine

Make sure you have a morning routine for your child.  Check out the Ultimate Routines Printable Pack and see if it’s a good fit for your child.

Define what your expectations are for your child. If my kids are dress, fed, and have brushed their teeth, we’re good to go on winter break.

If you have time and energy, you can work on the morning routine so your child will be more independent when break is over.

Daily Chore

If your child doesn’t already have a daily chore, it’s a good time to start one. Check out this post for ideas about what chores are appropriate for your child.

Keep it simple and for goodness sake, don’t criticize (i.e. offer any helpful hints) or micromanage.  I’ve made that mistake and it kills motivation.

Try something as easy as wipe the table after meals, and done is good enough. You’re building a habit so don’t expect mastery.

Learning Time

Learning time can be simple. Your child can:

Playing Outside

If playing outside is not an option for your child, substitute another appropriate activity choice for your location and situation.

We have a fenced backyard so even on most rainy Portland, OR days, my children are able to get outside.  We will also back our cars out of the garage and sit and supervise as the children ride their scooters or jump on our trampoline.

So be creative.

Create Something

Creating something can be building with Legos or blocks, making a craft project, or another creation. You can encourage your child to do an activity that will keep him or her busy for a while (see hack #3 above).

Conclusion

The last thing you need now is to monitor your child’s screen time constantly. Shift some responsibility to your child and enjoy a more relaxing winter break.

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