9yr old snuck Nintendo into his room

[Anonymous]

I’d take it away for 2 days. Letting him know if it happens again it will be longer. 1 week then to a month. I’d also take it to work so he couldn’t find it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d take it away for 2 days. Letting him know if it happens again it will be longer. 1 week then to a month. I’d also take it to work so he couldn’t find it.

Only because he snuck it.

Unless he is missing sleep or running late for camp/summer school/practice, screen limits over the summer seem intense. I understand if he has behavior issues related to gaming - but if he’s a good kid maybe ease up until school starts.

[Anonymous]

I think the 9 am “start time” is fine. OP doesn’t want her son cutting his sleep short so he can play more video games.

I would take the Switch away for a week as punishment.

[Anonymous]

I would just remind kid about the rules. No punishment. Electronic devices are addictive. They are designed to be that way. Think of all the adults who are on their phone first thing. It’s not his fault. You should download the Switch Parental Controls app and set the device wake up time to 9 am. Problem solved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do you expect him to do between 6:30 and 9? I get wanting to limit it, but explain what the options are.

Is it really that mysterious? I bet the kid has things like books, art supplies, pb and j to make, a Rubics cube, maybe even a soccer ball and a yard. My kids were even allowed to watch cartoons early. (Like op we had a no video games early policy bc unlike any of the other enjoyable options the kids would wake up too early to game.)

If a kid has tons of options but the only thing that brings them joy is a video game that means there is a problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would just remind kid about the rules. No punishment. Electronic devices are addictive. They are designed to be that way. Think of all the adults who are on their phone first thing. It’s not his fault. You should download the Switch Parental Controls app and set the device wake up time to 9 am. Problem solved.

NP. That’s a great suggestion. We do this on our tablet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you expect him to do between 6:30 and 9? I get wanting to limit it, but explain what the options are.

Is it really that mysterious? I bet the kid has things like books, art supplies, pb and j to make, a Rubics cube, maybe even a soccer ball and a yard. My kids were even allowed to watch cartoons early. (Like op we had a no video games early policy bc unlike any of the other enjoyable options the kids would wake up too early to game.)

If a kid has tons of options but the only thing that brings them joy is a video game that means there is a problem.

You really want your kid playing soccer outside at 6:30? I say move screentime to earlier and turn it off when you are all together.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you expect him to do between 6:30 and 9? I get wanting to limit it, but explain what the options are.

Is it really that mysterious? I bet the kid has things like books, art supplies, pb and j to make, a Rubics cube, maybe even a soccer ball and a yard. My kids were even allowed to watch cartoons early. (Like op we had a no video games early policy bc unlike any of the other enjoyable options the kids would wake up too early to game.)

If a kid has tons of options but the only thing that brings them joy is a video game that means there is a problem.

You really want your kid playing soccer outside at 6:30? I say move screentime to earlier and turn it off when you are all together.

And then you wonder why your kid is overtired.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are too strict. Why does he have to wait until 9?

My kid would wake up VERY early with the promise of screentime. When we yanked that, if he woke up early, he'd go back to sleep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are too strict. Why does he have to wait until 9?

My kid would wake up VERY early with the promise of screentime. When we yanked that, if he woke up early, he'd go back to sleep.

THIS.
My kid fell asleep at school one time when he was this age, because he’d gotten up super early (we have no idea how early) to play on his tablet.
The 9am start time worked for us too. When you take it away, it’s amazing how they are suddenly able to sleep in the morning. And now that mine are older, at night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He’s shown you he can’t make good decisions. It would be gone (trunk of my car or attic) x 1 month then perhaps sparingly taken out afterwards for the next few months but only if he had stopped moping about it and was on best behavior when it was time to stop, not whining or asking for more time.

Kids are allowed to have emotions, even if the emotion is about a consequence that they deserve.

[Anonymous]

Allowed to have emotions is not the same as being allowed to exhibit those emotions in front of other people.