Why sudden endings backfire
Turning off a show or game mid-way feels unfair to a child — they had no warning and no chance to finish. A visual timer makes the agreement visible from the start: this much screen time, and here's how much is left.
How to use a timer for screen time
- Agree on the length together before the screen goes on.
- Start Munch Buddy on a second device, or before handing over the tablet, so the timer stays visible.
- Give a heads-up halfway: “Look, the jar is half full.”
- When the buddy calls, screens go off — every time. Consistency is what makes it work.
A timer that isn't another screen to fight over
Munch Buddy has no games, ads, coins or streaks — nothing that competes with the end of screen time. It's a calm countdown with a friendly buddy, then it's done.
