Do you have different rules for different screen-related activites? Wii vs Tv vs computer, etc

[Anonymous]

My 8 yr old is consumed by screens -- always has been so we have to have a lot of rules around them. On the weekend, if he just finished an hour of Wii in the morning, he'll start talking right away about the next amount of screentime he'll be getting.

The Wii has become really addictive to him. I've let him have an hour of screens afterschool each day and he will now only pick Wii. It's feeling like too much to me so I'm considering saying Wii only on the weekend -- that led to many tears and freaking out -- showing me that he really is dependent on it.

I'm just curious how others handle screens? TV only? Or any type of screens?

I hesitate to put so many rules around it that it becomes this thing he wants even more (although I don't think it's possible for him to want screen time anymore than he does!) Wish I could get rid of all our screens and we'll just listen to the radio from here on out!

[Anonymous]

No screens of any sort on thr weekdays. Only allowance is for homework. As all of their math work is on thr computer.

On thr weekends they get 2hrs a day, outside of family movie night.

We have a big yard, kids do lots of sports and I pretty much require outside play when it is nice out.

[Anonymous]

^^Oh and for their 2hrs it can be whatever they want.

My 6yr old is in half day K and he's allowed 20 min (I use a timer) each morning before school.

[Anonymous]

No screen time (tv, iPods, PS4) during the week. They complained the first week and then gave up because we weren't giving in - plus, our weeknights are so hectic with activities/kids playing outside, dinner, homework, bathing, and reading there was really no time.

On the weekends, they play in the AM before we get up and get moving for the day (6:30-8:30 or so) and then if we are home and there isn't anything that we need help with (cleaning out the garage, putting away groceries, cleaning rooms, etc.) If we are home on weekend nights, they can play will 9:00 on Friday/Sat nights and 7pm on Sunday nights.

Once they learned the rules, there is minimal arguing because we don't cave.

They watch minimal tv - they chose PS4 and YouTube videos. What type of device they watch/play is irrelevant to me as long as homework is done, chores/helping around the house is done, and there is a balance between screen time and physical activity.

[Anonymous]

OP here -- Thanks PP. What do your kids do while you make dinner? Are they just good at keeping themselves busy? One of mine is not. So we have from 3:30-8pm afterschool. Even if they're outside for quite a while, that's a lot of time to fill. Their homework takes 5-10 minutes.

[Anonymous]

My 8 yr old has unlimited screen time as long as he gets done whatever he has to do like homework. The only time a screen is prohibited is during meals. He does not watch tv. All screen time is either on a computer or on an ipad. He has his own devices.

He is a tournament chess player and trains on screens. He plays other video games like Minecraft and plays sports, religious instruction, etc. and gets excellent grades at school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here -- Thanks PP. What do your kids do while you make dinner? Are they just good at keeping themselves busy? One of mine is not. So we have from 3:30-8pm afterschool. Even if they're outside for quite a while, that's a lot of time to fill. Their homework takes 5-10 minutes.

New poster here. We do not allow any screentime during the week, at all. . I don't entertain them when I'm not cooking, so I definitely don't need to entertain them when I am cooking,I'm not a clown or The great Zucchini, so they can find something to do. I often suggest that if they need entertainment to read a book. Since I do not allow screen during the week, they are really into books. Sometimes I rent audio books at the library, and that sends them into a trance.

I've turned into my mother I tell them that if they are bored, then they are boring.

Our homework does not take 5-10min though. They have AT LEAST 15min of math, I drill them on their spelling (they get about 30 words a week), and they have a required 20min of reading a day. I also go through our school's classroom website and there is a ton of enrichment on there. Sometimes screen based, which is allowed for that.

I also work, and get home around 445, so I have to cram everything in, not much time left for screen anyways.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 8 yr old has unlimited screen time as long as he gets done whatever he has to do like homework. The only time a screen is prohibited is during meals. He does not watch tv. All screen time is either on a computer or on an ipad. He has his own devices.

He is a tournament chess player and trains on screens. He plays other video games like Minecraft and plays sports, religious instruction, etc. and gets excellent grades at school.

Personally, I don't worry about grades, my kids are good students as well. What I worry about is the fact that they are basically sitting on their asses all day at school and then to come home and sit on their asses some more, is just terrible for their healthy. Us Americans live such a sedentary life as adults, I hate to start that before necessary. It shocks me to see how many out of shape and overweight kids there are in my kids elementary school. Kids should be biking and running around and using their active imaginations. For me it is much better if my boys toss the football in the backyard than sit in the basement playing Madden.

[Anonymous]

I do think there's a difference between a video game or tablet vs. a TV. With a TV, there are natural stopping points. A favored show will end and something they don't like will come on. There's no stopping a tablet.

I let my kids watch some TV but really limit their tablet use. Nobody has their own devices and DH and I share one tablet.

I am surprised at OP's response that it's a lot of time to fill in the evenings. I always feel the evenings are rushed, especially now when I have to force DCs to come inside so I can make dinner.

[Anonymous]

When your kids are in middle and high school, you'll realize you can't control this as much as you think, unless you are helicoptering over them. I would say do whatever works for your family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I am surprised at OP's response that it's a lot of time to fill in the evenings. I always feel the evenings are rushed, especially now when I have to force DCs to come inside so I can make dinner.

I am the PP who doesn't allow screen time during the week, but I WOTH and my kids are in aftercare until 5:30. We get home around 6, so my kids are really rushed to get stuff done (they are 9 and 10.) But when I have picked them up early 3-bedtime is a long time especially if there is minimal homework (as there should be at 6y) and there aren't neighborhood kids to play with. If there is so much time after school. I would enroll him in a sport/activity at least 1-2 day/week.

[Anonymous]

Our rule is just that the screens go off when we say. That's it. So far it's working fine. If anyone whines about screen time then they don't get it for longer.

I have all girls though. They play minecraft but aren't obsessed with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 8 yr old has unlimited screen time as long as he gets done whatever he has to do like homework. The only time a screen is prohibited is during meals. He does not watch tv. All screen time is either on a computer or on an ipad. He has his own devices.

He is a tournament chess player and trains on screens. He plays other video games like Minecraft and plays sports, religious instruction, etc. and gets excellent grades at school.

Personally, I don't worry about grades, my kids are good students as well. What I worry about is the fact that they are basically sitting on their asses all day at school and then to come home and sit on their asses some more, is just terrible for their healthy. Us Americans live such a sedentary life as adults, I hate to start that before necessary. It shocks me to see how many out of shape and overweight kids there are in my kids elementary school. Kids should be biking and running around and using their active imaginations. For me it is much better if my boys toss the football in the backyard than sit in the basement playing Madden.

My kid swims and plays squash during the week and he is tall and very skinny. We are gone 2-3 weekends a month at chess tournaments where he sits on his butt but I don't worry about it. It works for us and DS loves chess and hopes to be grandmaster someday. Screens are a tool that he uses toward his goal. I don't see anything wrong with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When your kids are in middle and high school, you'll realize you can't control this as much as you think, unless you are helicoptering over them. I would say do whatever works for your family.

Right, but when they are little we all work to attempt to form good habits. I cannot control what my teens eat now, but I always made them eat vegetables and a wide variety of foods. They certainly have their vices, but have no qualms when I serve roasted beets tossed with goat cheese and usually reach for fruit when they want a snack.

[Anonymous]

Yes, because my kids have to look things up online for homework and email their teachers, so they have to use the iPad/computer for school-related things.

9 and 12, no tv allowed except when we're on vacation.