Screen Time

[Anonymous]

I have 4th graders and they get one hour a day during the week and 2 hours a day on weekends. But they must finish their homework first. They can also lose the time based on behavior. They do some of their homework on the laptop so homework is not included in screen time. I think this is pretty lenient but it is still a constant battle getting them off the screens which I’m getting really tired of so I don’t know what the correct answer is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I don't personally know a single parent who lets their kids have literally unlimited screen time. I have heard of them but all the parents I know are constantly agonizing about what to do and re-calibrating from time to time.

It doesn't seem like unlimited screen time would work for anyone but I am weirdly afraid of asking her friends' parents directly. I'm afraid of coming off as judgmental. And honestly, it doesn't matter if her friends get unlimited time because there is no way we are going that route. It just wouldn't work for our family.

If you approach it with humility, no reason to be scared. Just say you’re seeking input because daughter insists she does not get enough time and you are trying to get a sense for what other parents are doing.

[Anonymous]

Very similar to you, OP, though we do allow occasional weeknight TV if it's good quality programming and with the family. So we'll watch a nature or science program together, for instance. Often we do this if she's doing some kind of science study at school that she's exited about -- we'll look to see if NatGeo or similar have something in the subject and watch that.

DH will also occasionally play Minecraft with her outside designated screen time. Since they are playing together and it's bonding time, we bend the rules a bit.

I view solo iPad time very differently from screen time with others. I think handheld devices are the main cause of screen addiction. I've noticed it in myself.

[Anonymous]

Ok thanks for answering a question that is 5 years old at this point. I’m sure OP has been breathlessly waiting on this information.