How much screen time/ tv time do your kids get a day on weekdays?

[Anonymous]

Kids only got phones in 8th grade, now 14 and 15. 2 hrs total max a day, but that includes bus ride time, music listening time. 30 min max phone time before HW. Phones done and charging downstairs - no bedrooms - by 9pm.

[Anonymous]

We have no expectation that there will be screens on weekdays. Occasionally there is just extra free time or adults are working on something and the kids will play Mario together or do some math game on ipad. So generally none, 2 or 3 times a month 20 min or so. I don't know how there would be time for more!

[Anonymous]

None Sunday night to Friday afternoon. We do a family movie on Friday or Saturday night.

[Anonymous]

Wow I guess we're outliers on DCUM even though the national average is supposedly much higher. I let each of my kids pick a TV show or play a video game for the same amount of time (about 20-22 minutes) each day. They get about 45 minutes if they watch each other's too. On the weekends we also let them wake up early and watch cartoons so we can sleep an extra hour.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Zero. My kids read or play when they don’t have activities or homework. I don’t get the comments about needing downtime. Can’t they read or play during their downtime? I read to the kids most nights before bed even though the older can read. That’s her downtime I guess.

During the week we essentially are screen free except my DD8 may play a few math games after submitting her RSM homework. My kids are happy to play, read, build things, etc. They have been playing outside a lot as the weather has been so nice.

On the weekends they occasionally have a movie night or watch a few episodes of a show but it's not guaranteed or expected. I will say that my DD has and a few competitions on Sunday afternoons that require alot of focus and attention and afterwards she really appreciates watching a few episodes of a favorite show after having dinner and showering. I could make her read or play but I think she benefits from taking some time to just chill and watch tv. I think that's what some parents mean by downtime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Zero. My kids read or play when they don’t have activities or homework. I don’t get the comments about needing downtime. Can’t they read or play during their downtime? I read to the kids most nights before bed even though the older can read. That’s her downtime I guess.

During the week we essentially are screen free except my DD8 may play a few math games after submitting her RSM homework. My kids are happy to play, read, build things, etc. They have been playing outside a lot as the weather has been so nice.

On the weekends they occasionally have a movie night or watch a few episodes of a show but it's not guaranteed or expected. I will say that my DD has and a few competitions on Sunday afternoons that require alot of focus and attention and afterwards she really appreciates watching a few episodes of a favorite show after having dinner and showering. I could make her read or play but I think she benefits from taking some time to just chill and watch tv. I think that's what some parents mean by downtime.

I agree with this but also think parents confuse entertainment with relaxation. Most screen time is entertainment in place of other possibilities for entertainment. And that is a shame. It's not actually for a kid to chill, its because they are bored or boring. If you treat screens as the twice a week time to do nothing together, like you are, i think you avoid that issue.