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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I see a lot of comments on here about people who just don’t do screens/ video games for their kids.

I just don’t know how that is possible.  I really hate screens for kids but realized by resisting I was making our DS (9) the weirdo in his class as one do the few kids he knows that doesn’t play video games. Most of his social life revolves around discussing games/ tv shows.  If there are kids who don’t get screens - where are they?  Even school is screens all day!

We limit video games to 1-2 hours a week and do 30-45 mins a day of other tv/ videos.

With the modern world I just didn’t see another choice. We do lots of other stuff ( sports, outings, reading, board games) but some times the kids want video time and now it’s here to stay.  I do feel them pushing for more and more. I know it’s addictive and i hate to see their little brains getting wired towards addictive type behaviors.

Part of me wants to go cold turkey and cut the screens.  But I am not sure I could do that to my kids.  I honestly felt like moderation was the key- but now I am not so sure.

I really feel myself longing for the 1990s before cell phones and when video games weren’t so “good”.

One thing my kids don’t do is “nothing”- I feel like when I was a kid I would spend a few hours every day just chilling in my room or just reading. Maybe we have our kids so much attention they can’t live without it.

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We do zero interactive screens. Its about the dopamine hit they get from instant satisfaction. Neither of us can manage 30 minutes a day or anything like that (we did try). So they get nothing. They abused games, sm, etc so they get nothing now. This means long car rides; plane rides; snow days; good behavior; etc.

TV they can have unlimited time but only after school work or other chores are done. We sometimes say "one show and then do the one chore and then on show and one chore". But most of the time its get all your school work done or chores.

TV during the week is realistically only one or two episodes because we push for strict bedtimes and no TV 30 min before bed.

Adults weren't raised with screens and we know how to balance things (or at least we know what we should do to balance). They need to learn that.

If they are at friends we tell the parents no games or screens. They are there to play and interact. If they are going to stare at screens and not talk then no one needed to drive anywhere. The other parents like this from what they tell me. The kids not so much.

We are considering getting a gaming system in a year or two that would be limited to the weekends and based on behavior.

My sister has 3 kids and their interactive screen time is different by age. She gives 5 minutes extra because DS walked the dog without being told; or got a good grade. I just can't. When we come over she has them put their devices away but you hear them asking (I cleaned up after my little cousins I can get 5 more minutes). She is able to get good behavior though and she takes away minutes for behavior; whining; etc. She has two kids who love gaming.[/quote]

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