Raising kids the low-tech way

[Anonymous]

We’re going to buy the kids a Tin Can phone for Christmas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can’t access the article, but I’m trying to raise my kids similar how I was raised- I don’t restrict tv. We have iPads that only come out for long drives (3-4+ hours), plane travel, or if a kid is sick and needs to be confined to their room. My oldest is 7 and so far I’ve been able to avoid buying video games, though that’s getting harder as my son grows.

My 7 year old does have some homework on the iPad a couple of times a week, so it’s a bit unavoidable but I’m ok with it for schoolwork.

Now I need to work on my using my own home around the kids.

I am firmly against kids having access to iPads and iPhones.

Why do they need iPads for long drives or plane travels? I don’t restrict TV either but we don’t use iPads or computer games in the car or plane. My 10 year old has been taking a four hour flight about twice a year as an unaccompanied minor since she was seven years old. And before that she’s been flying with family. I’m not anti-tech in school but there’s no reason to use iPads when traveling. At the airport there are so many little kids with iPads. They aren’t present to where they are or what they’re doing because their eyes never leave the screen.

We packed an activity set for the plane when she started flying alone. The first time I asked her if there were other kids sitting next to her. She said yes, a 9 year old but she was on her phone the whole flight. It was a missed opportunity for two kids to get to know each other, to talk about their trips.

We don’t use iPads on long car rides either. You have a captive audience with your young kids to play games, listen to music together and just talk. With iPads they probably don’t even look out the windows.

I don’t have a problem with teens having a phone with travel but under the age of 13 there’s no reason to have screens while traveling.

You have a unicorn.

This is how I raised my daughters who are now 16 and have phones. When they were kids we didn’t even own an iPad so they didn’t know what they were missing.

We travelled a lot to see family in other states as well as internationally and they were fine playing games, chatting, coloring, playing with stickers etc.

It’s so sad to see so many young children completely zoned out on iPads these days.

[Anonymous]

I don’t stress over it too much. I think so much of screen addiction is genetic. One of my kids will stare at a screen happily all day. The other gets bored after 5 minutes and wanders off, usually to go do something dangerous. I don’t know if arbitrary limits would fix that.

Are you doing well in school? Getting some exercise and outdoor time? Seeing friends? Overall happy? Then I don’t care if you use screen time in between.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can’t access the article, but I’m trying to raise my kids similar how I was raised- I don’t restrict tv. We have iPads that only come out for long drives (3-4+ hours), plane travel, or if a kid is sick and needs to be confined to their room. My oldest is 7 and so far I’ve been able to avoid buying video games, though that’s getting harder as my son grows.

My 7 year old does have some homework on the iPad a couple of times a week, so it’s a bit unavoidable but I’m ok with it for schoolwork.

Now I need to work on my using my own home around the kids.

I am firmly against kids having access to iPads and iPhones.

Why do they need iPads for long drives or plane travels? I don’t restrict TV either but we don’t use iPads or computer games in the car or plane. My 10 year old has been taking a four hour flight about twice a year as an unaccompanied minor since she was seven years old. And before that she’s been flying with family. I’m not anti-tech in school but there’s no reason to use iPads when traveling. At the airport there are so many little kids with iPads. They aren’t present to where they are or what they’re doing because their eyes never leave the screen.

We packed an activity set for the plane when she started flying alone. The first time I asked her if there were other kids sitting next to her. She said yes, a 9 year old but she was on her phone the whole flight. It was a missed opportunity for two kids to get to know each other, to talk about their trips.

We don’t use iPads on long car rides either. You have a captive audience with your young kids to play games, listen to music together and just talk. With iPads they probably don’t even look out the windows.

I don’t have a problem with teens having a phone with travel but under the age of 13 there’s no reason to have screens while traveling.

Why are you here on screens if you don't believe in it? Set a good example and do zero tech.

Read more carefully. This was just about traveling. When you’re out and about there are people to talk to things to look at we don’t need them. We have video games and iPads at home when there’s nothing to do but we just bring them when we are going somewhere.

Plus what do I as a grown up have to do with with a six year old.? Different stages of development.

This is bonkers and totally backwards to me. No screens on an airplane because there are people to talk to and things to look at? For hours stuck on an airplane?!? But you have video games and iPads at home when there’s “nothing to do?” Play, run around, dig in the dirt outside, help mom with a chore, play more, have a friend over, color…

We are very low screens - we let them use our old iPads/kindles on airplane for about half the flight, and we let them watch a ton of TV when they (or we!) are sick. But day-to-day - no screens.

They are looking at others to give them free babysitting and entertain their kids. I don't want to talk to your child on a flight, except if there is a good reason - they are seated by me alone, you are ill, etc. Your kid, your responsibility.

Oh what a miserable a-hole you sound like. Who is looking for a babysitter? I know our kids are fine leaving iPads and video games at home. They’ll be there when we get back. If there’s a movie in the plane whoever wants to watch it can watch it. We have some nice conversations with people waiting for a flight, we bring the young ones to a play area, and we’re able to sit without looking down at a screen.

If you’re talking about children flying alone they sit in back with the flight attendants together.

Toddlers are seen glued to iPhones or iPads everywhere. Shopping, taking a walk in a carriage, restaurants, playgrounds, everywhere and missing out on developing social skills.

Who cares if kids are on screens. You rant while on a screen. You name call on a screen. That speaks volumes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can’t access the article, but I’m trying to raise my kids similar how I was raised- I don’t restrict tv. We have iPads that only come out for long drives (3-4+ hours), plane travel, or if a kid is sick and needs to be confined to their room. My oldest is 7 and so far I’ve been able to avoid buying video games, though that’s getting harder as my son grows.

My 7 year old does have some homework on the iPad a couple of times a week, so it’s a bit unavoidable but I’m ok with it for schoolwork.

Now I need to work on my using my own home around the kids.

I am firmly against kids having access to iPads and iPhones.

Why do they need iPads for long drives or plane travels? I don’t restrict TV either but we don’t use iPads or computer games in the car or plane. My 10 year old has been taking a four hour flight about twice a year as an unaccompanied minor since she was seven years old. And before that she’s been flying with family. I’m not anti-tech in school but there’s no reason to use iPads when traveling. At the airport there are so many little kids with iPads. They aren’t present to where they are or what they’re doing because their eyes never leave the screen.

We packed an activity set for the plane when she started flying alone. The first time I asked her if there were other kids sitting next to her. She said yes, a 9 year old but she was on her phone the whole flight. It was a missed opportunity for two kids to get to know each other, to talk about their trips.

We don’t use iPads on long car rides either. You have a captive audience with your young kids to play games, listen to music together and just talk. With iPads they probably don’t even look out the windows.

I don’t have a problem with teens having a phone with travel but under the age of 13 there’s no reason to have screens while traveling.

Why are you here on screens if you don't believe in it? Set a good example and do zero tech.

Read more carefully. This was just about traveling. When you’re out and about there are people to talk to things to look at we don’t need them. We have video games and iPads at home when there’s nothing to do but we just bring them when we are going somewhere.

Plus what do I as a grown up have to do with with a six year old.? Different stages of development.

This is bonkers and totally backwards to me. No screens on an airplane because there are people to talk to and things to look at? For hours stuck on an airplane?!? But you have video games and iPads at home when there’s “nothing to do?” Play, run around, dig in the dirt outside, help mom with a chore, play more, have a friend over, color…

We are very low screens - we let them use our old iPads/kindles on airplane for about half the flight, and we let them watch a ton of TV when they (or we!) are sick. But day-to-day - no screens.

They are looking at others to give them free babysitting and entertain their kids. I don't want to talk to your child on a flight, except if there is a good reason - they are seated by me alone, you are ill, etc. Your kid, your responsibility.

Oh what a miserable a-hole you sound like. Who is looking for a babysitter? I know our kids are fine leaving iPads and video games at home. They’ll be there when we get back. If there’s a movie in the plane whoever wants to watch it can watch it. We have some nice conversations with people waiting for a flight, we bring the young ones to a play area, and we’re able to sit without looking down at a screen.

If you’re talking about children flying alone they sit in back with the flight attendants together.

Toddlers are seen glued to iPhones or iPads everywhere. Shopping, taking a walk in a carriage, restaurants, playgrounds, everywhere and missing out on developing social skills.

Who cares if kids are on screens. You rant while on a screen. You name call on a screen. That speaks volumes.

I don’t care if adults are on screens. It’s about children. You have a real problem of you can’t understand why a two year old should not be out with an iPhone attached to her hand. Read up on it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t stress over it too much. I think so much of screen addiction is genetic. One of my kids will stare at a screen happily all day. The other gets bored after 5 minutes and wanders off, usually to go do something dangerous. I don’t know if arbitrary limits would fix that.

Are you doing well in school? Getting some exercise and outdoor time? Seeing friends? Overall happy? Then I don’t care if you use screen time in between.

+100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can’t access the article, but I’m trying to raise my kids similar how I was raised- I don’t restrict tv. We have iPads that only come out for long drives (3-4+ hours), plane travel, or if a kid is sick and needs to be confined to their room. My oldest is 7 and so far I’ve been able to avoid buying video games, though that’s getting harder as my son grows.

My 7 year old does have some homework on the iPad a couple of times a week, so it’s a bit unavoidable but I’m ok with it for schoolwork.

Now I need to work on my using my own home around the kids.

I am firmly against kids having access to iPads and iPhones.

Why do they need iPads for long drives or plane travels? I don’t restrict TV either but we don’t use iPads or computer games in the car or plane. My 10 year old has been taking a four hour flight about twice a year as an unaccompanied minor since she was seven years old. And before that she’s been flying with family. I’m not anti-tech in school but there’s no reason to use iPads when traveling. At the airport there are so many little kids with iPads. They aren’t present to where they are or what they’re doing because their eyes never leave the screen.

We packed an activity set for the plane when she started flying alone. The first time I asked her if there were other kids sitting next to her. She said yes, a 9 year old but she was on her phone the whole flight. It was a missed opportunity for two kids to get to know each other, to talk about their trips.

We don’t use iPads on long car rides either. You have a captive audience with your young kids to play games, listen to music together and just talk. With iPads they probably don’t even look out the windows.

I don’t have a problem with teens having a phone with travel but under the age of 13 there’s no reason to have screens while traveling.

Why are you here on screens if you don't believe in it? Set a good example and do zero tech.

Read more carefully. This was just about traveling. When you’re out and about there are people to talk to things to look at we don’t need them. We have video games and iPads at home when there’s nothing to do but we just bring them when we are going somewhere.

Plus what do I as a grown up have to do with with a six year old.? Different stages of development.

This is bonkers and totally backwards to me. No screens on an airplane because there are people to talk to and things to look at? For hours stuck on an airplane?!? But you have video games and iPads at home when there’s “nothing to do?” Play, run around, dig in the dirt outside, help mom with a chore, play more, have a friend over, color…

We are very low screens - we let them use our old iPads/kindles on airplane for about half the flight, and we let them watch a ton of TV when they (or we!) are sick. But day-to-day - no screens.

They are looking at others to give them free babysitting and entertain their kids. I don't want to talk to your child on a flight, except if there is a good reason - they are seated by me alone, you are ill, etc. Your kid, your responsibility.

Oh what a miserable a-hole you sound like. Who is looking for a babysitter? I know our kids are fine leaving iPads and video games at home. They’ll be there when we get back. If there’s a movie in the plane whoever wants to watch it can watch it. We have some nice conversations with people waiting for a flight, we bring the young ones to a play area, and we’re able to sit without looking down at a screen.

If you’re talking about children flying alone they sit in back with the flight attendants together.

Toddlers are seen glued to iPhones or iPads everywhere. Shopping, taking a walk in a carriage, restaurants, playgrounds, everywhere and missing out on developing social skills.

Who cares if kids are on screens. You rant while on a screen. You name call on a screen. That speaks volumes.

I don’t care if adults are on screens. It’s about children. You have a real problem of you can’t understand why a two year old should not be out with an iPhone attached to her hand. Read up on it.

Will they grow up to be miserable judgmental adults addicted to their phones? Like you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are they in school yet? Screens are ubiquitous - and wait until MS and HS- all homework is done on the computer

One can opt out of that.

No, they cannot.

+1 Not in most public schools. Laptops are used in class. Homework is assigned and submitted on laptop. Even books and articles/short stories are often provided only in electronic copy form. Cheaper that way and less copy paper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can’t access the article, but I’m trying to raise my kids similar how I was raised- I don’t restrict tv. We have iPads that only come out for long drives (3-4+ hours), plane travel, or if a kid is sick and needs to be confined to their room. My oldest is 7 and so far I’ve been able to avoid buying video games, though that’s getting harder as my son grows.

My 7 year old does have some homework on the iPad a couple of times a week, so it’s a bit unavoidable but I’m ok with it for schoolwork.

Now I need to work on my using my own home around the kids.

I am firmly against kids having access to iPads and iPhones.

Why do they need iPads for long drives or plane travels? I don’t restrict TV either but we don’t use iPads or computer games in the car or plane. My 10 year old has been taking a four hour flight about twice a year as an unaccompanied minor since she was seven years old. And before that she’s been flying with family. I’m not anti-tech in school but there’s no reason to use iPads when traveling. At the airport there are so many little kids with iPads. They aren’t present to where they are or what they’re doing because their eyes never leave the screen.

We packed an activity set for the plane when she started flying alone. The first time I asked her if there were other kids sitting next to her. She said yes, a 9 year old but she was on her phone the whole flight. It was a missed opportunity for two kids to get to know each other, to talk about their trips.

We don’t use iPads on long car rides either. You have a captive audience with your young kids to play games, listen to music together and just talk. With iPads they probably don’t even look out the windows.

I don’t have a problem with teens having a phone with travel but under the age of 13 there’s no reason to have screens while traveling.

You have a unicorn.

There are lots of ways to keep kids engaged while traveling other than screens. We do allow our kids to watch movies on flights if the plane has a screen in the seatback, but we never give our kids screens on car rides, and they never get any interactive content or apps anywhere. With the traffic around here my kids are in the car for 1-2 hours a day, and we listen to music and audiobooks while they look out the windows. They don’t even think to ask for screens. Of course they also go to a no-tech school, which helps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"https://www.thebalanceproject.life/"

Some families are trying a lower tech (not zero tech) and lower screens (think: less video gaming, phones, and computers) approach to raising children.

We are not involved with that org, but we are doing this in our own way for our kids.

this is the stupidest post have ever read.

you are describing 99/9% of parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are they in school yet? Screens are ubiquitous - and wait until MS and HS- all homework is done on the computer

Speak for your own school. Our middle school does homework science, math and English on paper and pencils. The amount of paper v screen in the other classes is a healthy ratio.

Some work is on the computer and on paper. The real concern is high school and social media. At least our school has not allowed the students to carry their phones around during the school day, not even lunch. The amount of phones opening in the afternoon must be in the thousands.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid doesn't spend 7.5 hours on screens so I guess we're already balanced.

Not at home maybe- but they often do at school. You can’t escape it- especially once they get to middle school. It’s forced on us- there is no screen light option in public school!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can’t access the article, but I’m trying to raise my kids similar how I was raised- I don’t restrict tv. We have iPads that only come out for long drives (3-4+ hours), plane travel, or if a kid is sick and needs to be confined to their room. My oldest is 7 and so far I’ve been able to avoid buying video games, though that’s getting harder as my son grows.

My 7 year old does have some homework on the iPad a couple of times a week, so it’s a bit unavoidable but I’m ok with it for schoolwork.

Now I need to work on my using my own home around the kids.

I am firmly against kids having access to iPads and iPhones.

Why do they need iPads for long drives or plane travels? I don’t restrict TV either but we don’t use iPads or computer games in the car or plane. My 10 year old has been taking a four hour flight about twice a year as an unaccompanied minor since she was seven years old. And before that she’s been flying with family. I’m not anti-tech in school but there’s no reason to use iPads when traveling. At the airport there are so many little kids with iPads. They aren’t present to where they are or what they’re doing because their eyes never leave the screen.

We packed an activity set for the plane when she started flying alone. The first time I asked her if there were other kids sitting next to her. She said yes, a 9 year old but she was on her phone the whole flight. It was a missed opportunity for two kids to get to know each other, to talk about their trips.

We don’t use iPads on long car rides either. You have a captive audience with your young kids to play games, listen to music together and just talk. With iPads they probably don’t even look out the windows.

I don’t have a problem with teens having a phone with travel but under the age of 13 there’s no reason to have screens while traveling.

You have a unicorn.

We dont use screens in the car either. We listen to music, talk, play games, or *GASP* be bored.

[Anonymous]

People saying “You have a unicorn” are right that it’s rare for kids to be low-screen. But they are wrong that it’s nearly impossible and based mostly on kid’s temperament. Way more kids could be the unicorn if the parents just made some harder choices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People saying “You have a unicorn” are right that it’s rare for kids to be low-screen. But they are wrong that it’s nearly impossible and based mostly on kid’s temperament. Way more kids could be the unicorn if the parents just made some harder choices.

+1

You have to deal with the boredom and fight through it. Kids will eventually figure out something to do and after a while they get better at bringing the things they like to do. Both my kids have yoto players and now my DD9 has a campfire player so they listen a ton during carrides. Weve done many 6-7 hr roadtrips with no iPads.