How much summer screen time

[Anonymous]

Two kids ages 9 and 6. I had hoped to be relaxed with screen time this summer but it’s not working. I’ve noticed behavior changes, tons of arguing over what to watch, and they seem just lethargic and grumpy all the time. What is a reasonable way to monitor and limit screen time?

[Anonymous]

I don’t know how much is too much for your kids. Mine watch 30 min to 1 hour twice a day (after lunch) and after dinner. It works for them and I don’t think it’s too much. Kids are 6 and 8 (almost 7 and 9)

[Anonymous]

Lots for us on the weeks kids aren’t in camp.

[Anonymous]

Same as during school - 30 min weekday, 60 min weekend. Watching a moving as a family is extra.

l noticed if l let him have more he’s just in a crap mood.

We enforce by adult setting a timer.

[Anonymous]

Mine had pretty much unlimited screen time. Parents had priority access. They had to take turns and not argue. “Those who don’t share eon’t get to share” applied to screens, games, toys, etc. If one threw a fuss about not getting their way, they lost turns for the rest of the day.

I disagree with prevailing DCUM attitudes that screens are inherently bad for kids. I think they’re just another type of media and what matters is the content you use on the media. I think screens today can open up the world in exciting ways for kids and be wonderful learning opportunities. I also see nothing wrong in using screens for sheer entertainment.

[Anonymous]

Same as during the school year - none except to Facetime with distant relatives or look things up we're curious about, and unlimited on flights longer than two hours.

[Anonymous]

Op here

Their screen time is probably closer to 6 hours, it’s definitely out of control.

[Anonymous]

For the arguing over what to watch, we have a system, like alternating days or AM/PM for who gets to choose. We used say you have to agree on what to watch, but my DD is more stubborn than my DS and it ended up being pretty unfair to my DS because he always gave in to his sister's choice.

[Anonymous]

30 minutes if that

[Anonymous]

We do certain things are required and after that, unlimited time.

Usually it's something productive (one has a tutor, one has a job)

one chore around the house

at least an hour of exercise or outside non-screen time

Anything else we ask, then ok to do whatever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here

Their screen time is probably closer to 6 hours, it’s definitely out of control.

6 hours is absolutely out of control. That's 42 hours per week. 420 hours across 10 weeks. 17.5 full days spent watching mind numbing screens and learning nothing. Think of the social opportunities they're missing or what they could learn in that time. They could learn to draw, you could teach them to cook, they could play outside or learn to garden or learn about nature, learn a new sport. The possibilities are endless.

[Anonymous]

Mine get 2 hours per week for movie night

[Anonymous]

30 minutes a day (tv or tablet) and a full movie night once a week.

Our 8.5 yr old does swimming practice after sports camp every day plus 30 minutes of school workbook and reading. That’s a full day. If he wasn’t so busy, he would be begging for more screen time

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Same as during school - 30 min weekday, 60 min weekend. Watching a moving as a family is extra.

l noticed if l let him have more he’s just in a crap mood.

We enforce by adult setting a timer.

Same for us, kids are 9 and 11.

[Anonymous]

1 cartoon per day, so 20-30 minutes. It just gets turned off or put away after. TV might be on during day but it's not anything they're interested in or actively watching.