Screen time limits

[Anonymous]

For those who allow screentime, what is or was your limit for a first grader doing non academic things on a tablet or iPad? We are thinking 20 minutes daily after homework and chores.

[Anonymous]

We did 15 minutes once or twice on the weekends only. A few times a year, a family movie on Friday night.

[Anonymous]

When my kids were in first, they basically had unlimited screen time. I think screens are just another form of media and that what matters is the content. While there is definitely some dangerous content online that kids need to be protected from, and a lot of junky fluff, screens also offer some amazing opportunities to open the world to kids.

While the only limitations on time were that they had to take care of their responsibilities (homework, chores, etc.), I did control content. This was before tablets and iPads, so the TV and computer were in central locations. We (often, but not always, as a family) watched a lot of PBS Kids and kids movies. It was common to have the TV on in the background while they snacked, played, etc. They had a binder of computer games and occasionally I would do something on the Internet with them.

On the other hand, they still participated in after-school activities, frequently played in the school playground before coming home or in the backyard at home, did crafts and puzzles, played games and with toys, read a LOT both individually and together as a family activity, went on outings, were excellent students, etc.

[Anonymous]

0 for iPad. 20-30 min a few days a week of TV show with sibling

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When my kids were in first, they basically had unlimited screen time. I think screens are just another form of media and that what matters is the content. While there is definitely some dangerous content online that kids need to be protected from, and a lot of junky fluff, screens also offer some amazing opportunities to open the world to kids.

While the only limitations on time were that they had to take care of their responsibilities (homework, chores, etc.), I did control content. This was before tablets and iPads, so the TV and computer were in central locations. We (often, but not always, as a family) watched a lot of PBS Kids and kids movies. It was common to have the TV on in the background while they snacked, played, etc. They had a binder of computer games and occasionally I would do something on the Internet with them.

On the other hand, they still participated in after-school activities, frequently played in the school playground before coming home or in the backyard at home, did crafts and puzzles, played games and with toys, read a LOT both individually and together as a family activity, went on outings, were excellent students, etc.

That’s amazing. For us, there literally aren’t enough hours in the day to do all those things and still get enough sleep. And there would be even less time if we allowed them an hour or two of screens.

[Anonymous]

We allowed a fair chunk of time (an hourish) on weekends (and days without school), and no screen time on weekdays. It's the same rule we have now in third, and we've all been happy with it.

[Anonymous]

5 and 8 year old boys get 20 minutes a day.

[Anonymous]

I have a tween now. I never did a set amount of minutes. A friend with an older child did and told me the downside was he expected that amount every day. To the detriment of other things some days. Like he’d be at Grandmas but would ask what time they were leaving so he could get his 30 mins in before bed.
Because of her advice I just did situation based.
If a car trip was longer than 30 mins she could have tablet in car. If at home and homework was done, she could watch a show or Disney movie/or similar. Weekends were usually out and about so it’s not like she was on it for hours on the weekends either.

[Anonymous]

No screens until your kid can do 100 pushups, run a 6 minute mile, read a book of 300 pages, garden, and cook you dinner and clean the kitchen. Get those accomplished first before you hand over a screen.

[Anonymous]

No screen time on pads during school week (some TV might be allowed....kids youtube on some days where there is no homework/activities), they get two hours on their pads Saturday and Sunday. 7 and 8 yo.

[Anonymous]

It’s been easy to be zero screen during the week so far, with weekend screen time once or twice a month, but my child is only in 2nd grade. I assume at some point we will have to get him a video game or let him watch tv, but my goal is hold out as long as possible. He gets to play Number Munchers twice a week and he thinks it’s the greatest thing ever. Boy, wait until I introduce Oregon Trail!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When my kids were in first, they basically had unlimited screen time. I think screens are just another form of media and that what matters is the content. While there is definitely some dangerous content online that kids need to be protected from, and a lot of junky fluff, screens also offer some amazing opportunities to open the world to kids.

While the only limitations on time were that they had to take care of their responsibilities (homework, chores, etc.), I did control content. This was before tablets and iPads, so the TV and computer were in central locations. We (often, but not always, as a family) watched a lot of PBS Kids and kids movies. It was common to have the TV on in the background while they snacked, played, etc. They had a binder of computer games and occasionally I would do something on the Internet with them.

On the other hand, they still participated in after-school activities, frequently played in the school playground before coming home or in the backyard at home, did crafts and puzzles, played games and with toys, read a LOT both individually and together as a family activity, went on outings, were excellent students, etc.

Screen parenting then and now are totally different animals.

I haven’t time limited my youngest, but I model not being glued to the screen and doing other things. So far he self regulates pretty well. We have family rules about no screens at the table and stuff like that. I also keep a list of “things to look up” because I found screens snuck in with the immediacy of getting an answer. Once a day we’ll review the list and sort into we have a book for that, let’s find it at the library, and let’s look tonight. I think screen time rules can be pretty variable but the common element in success is modeling use of and having lots of alternatives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When my kids were in first, they basically had unlimited screen time. I think screens are just another form of media and that what matters is the content. While there is definitely some dangerous content online that kids need to be protected from, and a lot of junky fluff, screens also offer some amazing opportunities to open the world to kids.

While the only limitations on time were that they had to take care of their responsibilities (homework, chores, etc.), I did control content. This was before tablets and iPads, so the TV and computer were in central locations. We (often, but not always, as a family) watched a lot of PBS Kids and kids movies. It was common to have the TV on in the background while they snacked, played, etc. They had a binder of computer games and occasionally I would do something on the Internet with them.

On the other hand, they still participated in after-school activities, frequently played in the school playground before coming home or in the backyard at home, did crafts and puzzles, played games and with toys, read a LOT both individually and together as a family activity, went on outings, were excellent students, etc.

Screen parenting then and now are totally different animals.

I haven’t time limited my youngest, but I model not being glued to the screen and doing other things. So far he self regulates pretty well. We have family rules about no screens at the table and stuff like that. I also keep a list of “things to look up” because I found screens snuck in with the immediacy of getting an answer. Once a day we’ll review the list and sort into we have a book for that, let’s find it at the library, and let’s look tonight. I think screen time rules can be pretty variable but the common element in success is modeling use of and having lots of alternatives.

Keeping a list is a great idea. There are still families out there, mine included, that stick to a single TV in a public location and a family computer in a central location. Of course this is easier if you only have one child.