Token-economy method — recommended by behavioral therapists

The screen time kids earn—and actually respect

Assign tasks, approve completions in one tap, and watch earned minutes build. The structured system behavioral therapists already use.

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One child free. No credit card needed to start.

What TimeCred does

Screen time as a currency, not a punishment

Most tools restrict. TimeCred builds. Instead of taking screen time away, kids work toward it. That shift changes the whole dynamic.

Parents assign tasks with time values

Create chores, homework, reading sessions, or any activity. Assign a minute value to each. Set one-off or recurring schedules. Auto-approve low-stakes tasks so you are not the bottleneck.

Kids complete tasks and mark them done

Kids see their task list on their device. They mark tasks complete, optionally add a photo. You approve with one tap and the earned minutes land in their spendable balance immediately.

Minutes tick down during device use

The balance is the budget. Kids see it count down during screen time. When it reaches zero, the session ends. No argument. The rule is the system, not the parent.

The token-economy model has decades of research backing in behavioral therapy. TimeCred applies it to the screen-time problem parents face every day.

The earn-and-spend loop

How the system runs, day to day

1

Parent sets up the task list

You create tasks once. Assign a screen-time value in minutes (20 min for reading, 15 for chores, 30 for finishing homework). Mark recurring tasks so they appear every day without re-entry. For neurodivergent kids, you can break large tasks into smaller steps with partial credits.

Recurring tasks Custom time values Sub-tasks
2

Kids work through their list

Kids see a clean card view on their device showing today's tasks and exactly how many minutes each one is worth. They complete a task, tap "Mark done", and optionally snap a photo if you required proof. The motivation is visible: they can see their balance growing.

Kid-facing view Optional photo proof Live balance preview
3

One-tap parent approval

You get a notification. Open the app, review the task, tap Approve. Minutes land in the balance immediately. Low-stakes recurring tasks like "make bed" can be set to auto-approve so the system stays out of your way for the easy ones.

Push notifications Auto-approve option Photo review
4

Earned time ticks down during use

The balance is the clock. Kids see their remaining minutes as they use their device. When the balance hits zero, the session ends. No parent has to say a word. The system holds the boundary, and kids learn that working more means playing more.

Honor-system tracking Streak bonuses Daily reporting

Built for the real household

Every family dynamic, covered

Co-parenting households

One rulebook, two homes

Both parents see the same task list and the same balance. Approvals from either home count. Tasks assigned at Mom's show up at Dad's. The system holds consistent expectations regardless of where the kids are sleeping tonight.

  • Shared parent accounts with equal visibility
  • Balance carries across home transitions
  • Kids cannot play parents against each other

Shared household view

Clean bedroom

Lucas · Approved by Dad

+20 min

Practice piano 15 min

Lucas · Pending Mom

Pending

Walk the dog

Lucas · Auto-approved

+10 min
Lucas's balance 30 min available

Kid task view

Read for 10 minutes

+10 min
Get my book
Find a quiet spot
Read for 10 minutes

Today: 25 of 65 min earned

Neurodivergent kids

Built for how ADHD actually works

Token economies are a core technique in behavior therapy for ADHD and autism spectrum kids. TimeCred puts the same structured reward system parents hear about in therapy sessions directly on the family's devices. Break tasks into small steps. Make the reward immediate and visible. Remove the ambiguity that causes friction.

  • Break any task into manageable sub-steps
  • Immediate visible reward on approval
  • No surprise rule changes — the system is consistent

Why TimeCred is different

Restriction teaches avoidance. Earning teaches habits.

Approach Restriction-only tools TimeCred

How screen time is managed

The core mechanic

 Daily cap set by parent, taken away as punishment Earned minute by minute through completed tasks

Child's experience

What it feels like from their side

 Arbitrary limit, parent as gatekeeper Clear cause-and-effect, child in control of outcome

Behavior over time

What kids learn

 To argue with or work around the limit To complete tasks to get what they want

Therapeutic alignment

What therapists recommend

Co-parenting support

Two households, one rulebook

 Device-level, can't sync across homes Shared account, consistent across both homes

Neurodivergent fit

ADHD / autism spectrum

 Punishment-adjacent; escalates dysregulation Token economy method; reduces conflict at transition

The negotiation isn't happening because you set a limit. It's happening because the limit feels arbitrary. Give kids a system they understand and control, and the negotiation stops.

Pricing

Start with one child, free

See how the earn-and-spend system works in your household before adding anything paid.

Free

$0 / month
  • One child account
  • Unlimited tasks and approvals
  • Honor-system tracking
  • Balance and streak tracking
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For families

Family

$5 – $10 / month
  • Multiple children
  • Co-parent shared access
  • Automatic enforcement (coming soon)
  • Weekly reporting dashboard
Start my free plan first

Pricing details for the Family plan will be set before launch. Sign up free now to follow along.

The argument about screen time is optional.

TimeCred gives kids a fair system and parents a tool that holds the boundary without the daily confrontation. Start with one child, free.

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One child free. No credit card needed.