Screen detox-did it improve behavior?

[Anonymous]

There are getting to be a lot of trolls on this board.
We don’t do screens on weekdays. It’s pretty unlimited on weekends. DH likes playing video games with the kids, and my 16 year old is big into coding and cybersecurity, so he gets his laptop on the weekends.

We started no screens on weekdays when my oldest was 7 for similar issues, OP. I wouldn’t say that it had a tremendous effect on his behavior, but it was one less battle.

I would say that it took close to a year before my oldest accepted that there were no screens during the week. It wasn’t the easy transition other people are describing. But then again, nothing ever is with him .

[Anonymous]

I find these to threads fascinating. My kids are elementary age and get screen time for roughly 45 minutes to one hour each day before dinner. They can watch shows or play games like scrabble go and my older one can text with pre approved people who for now are all cousins and grandparents. Occasionally they can watch YouTube but since I supervise that it’s not always possible.

As far as I can tell we are pretty conservative compared to my kids friends. There might be one family that really does no screens during the week but I know they allow some video games. Most kids have much more access and I can’t believe the number who have their own phones already.

My younger one will count the minutes until screen time sometimes but he whines a lot. I will say dramatically limiting YouTube did help with behavior. We blocked channels for a while and eventually just decided we were going to have to supervise it. There’s some crazy stuff on there, even when you just think it’s videos of people playing video games.

[Anonymous]

I can tell a dramatic difference if my kids have been on a lot or off. They sort of come alive when we get rid of screens. Their anger and irrability increased when they were prolonged on a screen.

[Anonymous]

I don’t really have limits with my kids screen time but I guess I would impose some if they were obsessed with it or acting out. They’ve never really cared about it that much. My kids also have to use the computer for at least 30 minutes a week for their homework so it’s interesting that some don’t let their kids have screen time during the week.