Question 1

What is ScreenTickr?

Accepted Answer

ScreenTickr is a weekly reward chart where the currency is screen time. You choose a few everyday tasks, like getting ready for school or going to bed, and give each one a few minutes. Your child earns those minutes by doing the tasks. It suits families with children aged about 4 to 10, where screen time has become a daily negotiation. It is not a chore chart for paid work.

Question 2

How does my child earn screen time?

Accepted Answer

Your child earns a task's minutes each time it is marked Done. A task marked Failed earns nothing, and Thumbs Down, for when behaviour warrants a real consequence, takes minutes away. Minutes build up over the week, so when your child asks for screens, the board shows how much they have earned. Each child has their own board, with tasks and minutes to suit their age.

Question 3

Can ScreenTickr limit screen time on an iPad or Android tablet?

Accepted Answer

ScreenTickr does not lock devices or block apps, and nothing is installed on your child's tablet. It works out how much screen time your child has earned. To have the screen stop, keep a low daily limit in Apple Screen Time or Google Family Link, then hand out earned minutes as your child spends them: approve an Ask for More Time request, or add Bonus time. For a TV, a kitchen timer does the same job.

Question 4

Will ScreenTickr help with getting ready for school and bedtime?

Accepted Answer

Yes, mornings and bedtime are what ScreenTickr was built around. Put the steps you remind your child about most on the board, such as getting dressed, brushing teeth and being in bed on time, and give each one 5 to 10 minutes. When the routine is done, the minutes appear on the board. When it is not, there is less to argue about, because the minutes were not earned.

Question 5

How do I set up my first board?

Accepted Answer

Sign up, add your children, then build a weekly template of tasks and pick a start date. The setup wizard walks you through each step and suggests tasks to choose from. Start with three or four tasks, the ones you remind your child about most, and keep them for a few weeks before changing anything, so your child can build a consistent routine. Most families finish setting up in one evening, including the conversation with the children.

Question 6

Is ScreenTickr free?

Accepted Answer

ScreenTickr is free while in early access, with no payment required and no card needed to sign up. We are working with early users before introducing paid plans, so what we eventually charge for is shaped by what families use. If you are using ScreenTickr today, you are helping decide that. You can stop whenever you like, and there is nothing to cancel.

Question 7

Do I need to download an app?

Accepted Answer

There is nothing to download. ScreenTickr runs in the browser on any phone, tablet or computer, and you can print a board for the fridge. Children do not need an account or a login. If you want your child to see their progress, share a read-only link with them. Only a parent can create, edit or mark tasks.

Question 8

What information do you hold about my family?

Accepted Answer

We store your name and email address to run your account, and the first name you give each child. We do not sell personal information. To have your data deleted, or to get a copy, email support@screentickr.com. The privacy policy sets out what is collected, which providers process it, how long it is kept, and that backups may remain for a limited period.

Screen time rewards FAQ: cost, setup and your family's data

Routines first, screens after