My New Best Friend

Meet BOB.

"BOB helps parents monitor and manage the time their children spend using in-home media. BOB is an easy to use, small device that sits next to a TV, video-game system or computer. The power cord from one of these devices plugs into the back of BOB and is locked in place. Then, BOB plugs into an electrical outlet. After set up – a process that takes about three minutes – the machine monitors the amount of time a child spends using that media device."

In our house we have rules about "Screen Time". Our kids get 5 minutes a day per year of their age. (A 12 year old would get 60 minutes, for instance.)

What I have learned is that kids (at least my kids) have a very distorted perception of time. BOB has totally taken me out of the loop of reminding them when their screen time is up. The TV just goes off, like magic!

We may have a mutiny later, but for now I love it.