TimeNest

40 ways kids can earn screen time

Reading, creative, helping and outdoor ideas, each with a suggested reward in minutes. Copy them, print them, or put them straight into TimeNest.

By the TimeNest team · Updated 11 November 2026

How earning worksPick a few activities, decide what each is worth in minutes, and let your child earn extra screen time by doing them. Short tasks earn 5 to 10 minutes, bigger efforts 20 to 45. Below are 40 ideas you can copy.

Why letting kids earn screen time works

When screen time is only ever taken away, it becomes a battle. When kids can earn it, it becomes a goal. Earning gives them a sense of control, rewards effort, and quietly builds habits like reading, tidying and practising. The key is to keep the rewards fair, the rules clear, and the daily limit in place so earned time is a bonus, not unlimited.

Reading and learning ideas

Read a chapter, then a 3 question quizWorth 15 min
Finish a whole book this weekWorth 45 min
Watch a science video and answer questionsWorth 15 min
Learn 10 new words in another languageWorth 10 min
Beat yesterday's maths scoreWorth 10 min
Explain a new fact at dinnerWorth 5 min
Read aloud to a younger siblingWorth 15 min
Write a book review in 5 sentencesWorth 15 min
Learn the capital of 10 countriesWorth 10 min
Practise times tables for 15 minutesWorth 10 min

Creative ideas

Draw your favourite animalWorth 15 min
Build something from Lego and photograph itWorth 20 min
Write and illustrate a short comicWorth 25 min
Make a card for a grandparentWorth 15 min
Design your dream bedroom on paperWorth 15 min
Build a cardboard rocket or robotWorth 30 min
Write a poem about todayWorth 10 min
Paint a rock for the gardenWorth 15 min
Make up a song and record itWorth 15 min
Bake something simple with a parentWorth 30 min

Helping at home ideas

Make your bed before schoolWorth 5 min
Tidy your room in 10 minutesWorth 10 min
Set and clear the tableWorth 5 min
Fold the washingWorth 10 min
Water the plantsWorth 5 min
Help cook dinnerWorth 20 min
Pack your school bag the night beforeWorth 5 min
Feed the petWorth 5 min
Sort the recyclingWorth 5 min
Wash the car with a parentWorth 20 min

Active and outdoors ideas

20 minutes of outdoor playWorth 15 min
Practise a sport for 30 minutesWorth 20 min
Go for a family walkWorth 15 min
Plant a seed and check it every dayWorth 10 min
Find and name 5 birds or treesWorth 15 min
Ride your bike around the blockWorth 15 min
Do a 10 minute stretch or yoga videoWorth 10 min
Skip rope 100 timesWorth 10 min
Help in the gardenWorth 20 min
Play a board game with the familyWorth 15 min

Tips for a fair earn system

  • Cap it. Limit how much can be earned each day, for example 30 to 60 minutes.
  • Check it. A quick quiz for reading, or a photo for chores, keeps it honest.
  • Match the age. Younger kids need quick wins. Older kids can earn more for bigger projects.
  • Mix it up. Change the activities every week or two so it stays fun.

Do it automatically with TimeNest

In TimeNest you create these activities in a minute: photograph book pages and add a quiz, paste a YouTube link with questions, or ask for a photo of a drawing or chore. When your child passes the quiz or you approve the photo, the bonus minutes are added straight away.

Let your kids earn their screen time

Free on the App Store. Reading quizzes, video lessons and photo tasks built in.

Download on theApp Store

Questions parents ask

How many minutes should a chore earn?

Small chores like making the bed often earn 5 minutes, while bigger efforts like helping cook dinner or finishing a book earn 20 to 45. Keep a daily cap so earned time stays a bonus.

Should kids earn screen time for homework?

Many families treat homework as expected rather than rewarded, and use earned time for extra reading, practice or helping at home. Choose what fits your family.

How do I know they really did it?

Use a short quiz for reading and videos, and a photo for drawings and chores. TimeNest checks quiz answers and lets you approve photos with one tap.