Electronic time in the AM

[Anonymous]

I have two boys, 9.5/12.

They love their iPads, PS4, and computers (games, chat, etc...)

I have limits in the evenings, so they have to do homework, dinner and chores before getting time. They are good about it and I have a Disney circle device to ensure it.

They recently started asking me to be able to play in the morning. Before school. They want to get up early, get dressed, eat and then play until it's time to go. They would either set an alarm or get up naturally.

I'm concerned about getting enough sleep (they go to bed late as it is...night owls), getting attitude, and disconnecting in time.

Do you allow it? Why or why not?
What is your electronic time schedule?

[Anonymous]

No, we've never allowed electronics in the AM. I know they'll get up earlier if they had that to look forward to and lose sleep. I would recommend staying with your current rules. Sounds like you have a good system in place with screen rules.

[Anonymous]

I agree. When my kids know that there is a school delay and they will have time to play before school (because they typically don't) they wake themselves up early (no alarm.) They even get up earlier than they normally do for school because they are so excited to be able to play.

I would leave the things the way they are.

[Anonymous]

Nope. You don't cut your sleep short to stare at a screen. If they asked if they could get up early to jump on the trampoline or physically PLAY, then I would be more inclined to say yes.

[Anonymous]

Hell to the no. If they want to get up early, it’s a great time to go for a run.

[Anonymous]

I allow tv in the mornings, always have, because my kids wake up super early, I am comatose until I have coffee and we don't leave the house until after 8:30 for drop offs. I don't allow switch, play station, or other gaming which we save for the weekends. I would never start allowing it if you already have a system of no electronics in the mornings, but our system works ok with me since my boys rarely have enough time for tv after school due to outdoor play, sports, instrument practice and early bedtimes.

[Anonymous]

My son? wakes up at 7, is ready by 20 after which is when we leave, and he watches science videos on YouTube while he's getting ready. Since he's getting enough sleep and can multitask, I have no problem with it.

[Anonymous]

I would never allow a kid to wake early for this nor would I allow screens in the morning. We are screenfree on schooldays except fridays after sports. And my kids are early birds (awake around 5:30ish am). We leave for school at 8:59 am but they get so much done: reading, art, homework, studying, playing, etc. I was just thinking last night as my son started and finished a long novel yesterday from after school til bedtime (with homework, dinner, studying and shower, too) that with electronics that would never happen. Some reading? Sure. A passion for it? Not so much.

[Anonymous]

Don’t allow it

[Anonymous]

No way no how. They will sacrifice sleep. Nope.

[Anonymous]

Nope. Not only do I share the same concern that it will encourage them to wake up earlier than they should and compromise sleep, but I also wouldn't want the battle when it's time to walk out the door and they're right in the middle of a level and will lose progress if they have to quit right then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hell to the no. If they want to get up early, it’s a great time to go for a run.

+1000

Do not go down this path op. Best is NO electronics in the morning including TV

[Anonymous]

Yet another reason I like the early Loudoun start times. My 4th grader barely has time to brush her teeth before the bus comes at 7:25. There is no way this would ever even come up. And when she goes to MS, I’m sure she will just sleep the extra 30 minutes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yet another reason I like the early Loudoun start times. My 4th grader barely has time to brush her teeth before the bus comes at 7:25. There is no way this would ever even come up. And when she goes to MS, I’m sure she will just sleep the extra 30 minutes.

Agreed. Our bus comes at 7:01. There is barely time to do anything in the AM. Next year for HS, it comes at 6:50. Ugh.

[Anonymous]

We have always allowed this (on weekends), but we don't have a night owl. I think it helped commit my kid to being a morning person.

At the age of your kids, we still had pretty strict screen limits during school days.

If getting your kids to bed on time is a struggle right now. Then this is not for your family.