How do I make it so my kids are not like this

[Anonymous]

Relative’s kids are constantly on screens (TV or Nintendo). It’s their default thing to do when they’re not in a class or being driven to an activity like a play area. They have plenty of toys, books, and adults who are willing to play with them (pretend play or board games) but they are not interested unless forced.

I am not judging the parenting. I just want to make sure my kids (toddlers) don’t turn out like this, because they are currently toddler/preschooler with lots of interests, and I don’t want their world to narrow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Relative’s kids are constantly on screens (TV or Nintendo). It’s their default thing to do when they’re not in a class or being driven to an activity like a play area. They have plenty of toys, books, and adults who are willing to play with them (pretend play or board games) but they are not interested unless forced.

I am not judging the parenting. I just want to make sure my kids (toddlers) don’t turn out like this, because they are currently toddler/preschooler with lots of interests, and I don’t want their world to narrow.

Their world will narrow, maybe not in that particular way, but pruning interests is a pretty natural part of discovering who you are and growing up.

[Anonymous]

Force them. Most kids need pushing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Relative’s kids are constantly on screens (TV or Nintendo). It’s their default thing to do when they’re not in a class or being driven to an activity like a play area. They have plenty of toys, books, and adults who are willing to play with them (pretend play or board games) but they are not interested unless forced.

I am not judging the parenting. I just want to make sure my kids (toddlers) don’t turn out like this, because they are currently toddler/preschooler with lots of interests, and I don’t want their world to narrow.

Snort.

My kids have a lot of interest and are teens, with friends, good grades, senses of humor, etc.. They still like to decompress wi to video games or stupid (to me ) YouTube videos.

[Anonymous]

I have scheduled screen time. Summer: AM until 9am then again 4-5:30 pm.
School year—after homework until dinner.

[Anonymous]

The world changes. The last year has made kids more dependent on screens. Hopefully in a few years, that will have changed. But basically, your kids will either really enjoy screens, or they won’t. They will continue to enjoy the other activities or they won’t. We did “no screen Sundays” for a long time, but with covid that went out the window. The device is way more central to this generation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Relative’s kids are constantly on screens (TV or Nintendo). It’s their default thing to do when they’re not in a class or being driven to an activity like a play area. They have plenty of toys, books, and adults who are willing to play with them (pretend play or board games) but they are not interested unless forced.

I am not judging the parenting. I just want to make sure my kids (toddlers) don’t turn out like this, because they are currently toddler/preschooler with lots of interests, and I don’t want their world to narrow.

You're doing nothing but judging.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Relative’s kids are constantly on screens (TV or Nintendo). It’s their default thing to do when they’re not in a class or being driven to an activity like a play area. They have plenty of toys, books, and adults who are willing to play with them (pretend play or board games) but they are not interested unless forced.

I am not judging the parenting. I just want to make sure my kids (toddlers) don’t turn out like this, because they are currently toddler/preschooler with lots of interests, and I don’t want their world to narrow.

First off: Nintendo? Presume you mean Switch. Whatever. Let's see.....my kids. One in a top 10 uni, one in a "DC Big 3". Both athletes. Top students. But they play games. In fact, one streams his games (or records them for others to watch. Has a channel). Guess his world view is narrow. Maybe he should be playing Tiddlywinks with us instead.

Mothers of toddlers are so entertaining. And non judgmental.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Relative’s kids are constantly on screens (TV or Nintendo). It’s their default thing to do when they’re not in a class or being driven to an activity like a play area. They have plenty of toys, books, and adults who are willing to play with them (pretend play or board games) but they are not interested unless forced.

I am not judging the parenting. I just want to make sure my kids (toddlers) don’t turn out like this, because they are currently toddler/preschooler with lots of interests, and I don’t want their world to narrow.

Snort.

My kids have a lot of interest and are teens, with friends, good grades, senses of humor, etc.. They still like to decompress wi to video games or stupid (to me ) YouTube videos.

Agree w/ PP. my daughter is almost 8. Between dance 3X/week, Nutcracker practice, weekly science class, a lot of art (I am an art teacher), swim class, playground, play dates, museums, creative play…. I virtually give her no screen limits when we are home. I am a single working parent, too, and I sometimes need a break!!! She is also a top student and LOVES to learn.

[Anonymous]

Also, remember that the kids’ behavior when you are there is not necessarily what it is when you are not. When I have other adults over, I will often allow screens because I want to socialize with my adult friends and relatives. I don’t want to be reading books to them or playing games with them or doing art projects. I’m happy to do that when we are home alone, but I also want my time to socialize undisturbed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, remember that the kids’ behavior when you are there is not necessarily what it is when you are not. When I have other adults over, I will often allow screens because I want to socialize with my adult friends and relatives.

Exactly

[Anonymous]

Lol ok sanctimommy

[Anonymous]

Just don't give them a device and gaming system.

[Anonymous]

What's wrong with playing video games as your primary hobby? No, I'm serious. Do you think it is correlated with grades in college or life success? Because it's not.

[Anonymous]

You can of course disallow electronics even when they get to be tweens but it will seriously limit their social life unless you have them in a Waldorf school. Not snark, just facts. My advice is to delay as long as possible without impacting social life and also have clear limits as long as possible, like only on weekends, etc. but keep in mind that even that needs to eventually end because you can’t send a kid to college who has never been in charge of themselves and their media choices before.