Tokens
My toddler has been playing a lot of video games lately. And I have Mario (and Luigi) to blame for it.
While I do play with him, I want to be conscious of his screen time. And mine, too. So I introduced him to this token system I have read about somewhere.
Basically, to be able to play, he needs tokens. I just recycled some old arcade tokens and coins. To earn one, he needs to do a good deed. Simple things like reading books or practicing his algebra. No pressure. Each token is equivalent to 30 minutes of playing time. I allow him to play from Thursday night to Sunday. For now, he’s limited to using 4-5 tokens per day.
And so it begins. He started asking me to read him his books again. So I’d give him a token for every book he read.
There was one time I gave him a book and told him to read it aloud. He looked puzzled then started browsing through the pages. And then I remembered, he doesn’t know how to read yet. “So funny Daddy!”, he burst into laughter.
Now, he’s more eager to clean up his toys. He practices writing and drawing more. He finishes his food and milk often. He helps setting up the table. He puts on his clothes by himself. He sleeps earlier.
Of course, I don’t give him a token every time he does these things. Not knowing when he’ll receive one makes him more excited.
I don’t know if this reward system has any downsides or if it can be sustained. However, for now, it works.
Could he be too young to learn the value of effort or the joy of earning something? Nevertheless, I think it’s a positive habit for him. It helps in limiting screen time and teaches him to be more independent and responsible.
For me, it feels like a small victory. Parenting is hard, and times like this remind me that I’m doing a good-enough job. Sometimes, patience and a little creativity lead to meaningful progress.
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