Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Professionals meaning child psychologists, child development experts, pediatricians, teachers. Not just fellow parent-quacks like me.
I am quite strict about screen use for my 5yo. 20-30 min after each meal and that’s it, other than FaceTime. As she gets older I’ll probably relax enough to allow a movie or two each weekend in the company of family or friends.
I also rarely use my phone in front of her, and when I do I explain what I’m doing (ordering dinner, texting her dad a grocery list).
DH goes along with this but also thinks I’m slightly cuckoo since just about everyone else we know is fairly laissez faire (other than two close friends who do similarly). Everyone else pays lip service (I wish he would stop playing so many video games!) but they’ve thrown up their hands.
At what point should I loosen the apron strings? I just want DD to live a full life, and I feel that the addictiveness of screens takes away from that life. I do practice what I preach and don’t use my phone excessively.
After each meal, so 1.5 hr a day? That’s not super strict
That’s actually a lot of screen time OP. You should not allow screen use before school, btw.
Not OP, but lol ok.
My 5 year old gets a lot of screen time, but does a ton of other things as well (full-time preschool, ballet, soccer, swimming, lots of playdates, etc.). She got into every private school we applied to for K and tested in the 99th percentile.
But sure — screen time before school is so awful.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Professionals meaning child psychologists, child development experts, pediatricians, teachers. Not just fellow parent-quacks like me.
I am quite strict about screen use for my 5yo. 20-30 min after each meal and that’s it, other than FaceTime. As she gets older I’ll probably relax enough to allow a movie or two each weekend in the company of family or friends.
I also rarely use my phone in front of her, and when I do I explain what I’m doing (ordering dinner, texting her dad a grocery list).
DH goes along with this but also thinks I’m slightly cuckoo since just about everyone else we know is fairly laissez faire (other than two close friends who do similarly). Everyone else pays lip service (I wish he would stop playing so many video games!) but they’ve thrown up their hands.
At what point should I loosen the apron strings? I just want DD to live a full life, and I feel that the addictiveness of screens takes away from that life. I do practice what I preach and don’t use my phone excessively.
After each meal, so 1.5 hr a day? That’s not super strict
That’s actually a lot of screen time OP. You should not allow screen use before school, btw.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Professionals meaning child psychologists, child development experts, pediatricians, teachers. Not just fellow parent-quacks like me.
I am quite strict about screen use for my 5yo. 20-30 min after each meal and that’s it, other than FaceTime. As she gets older I’ll probably relax enough to allow a movie or two each weekend in the company of family or friends.
I also rarely use my phone in front of her, and when I do I explain what I’m doing (ordering dinner, texting her dad a grocery list).
DH goes along with this but also thinks I’m slightly cuckoo since just about everyone else we know is fairly laissez faire (other than two close friends who do similarly). Everyone else pays lip service (I wish he would stop playing so many video games!) but they’ve thrown up their hands.
At what point should I loosen the apron strings? I just want DD to live a full life, and I feel that the addictiveness of screens takes away from that life. I do practice what I preach and don’t use my phone excessively.
After each meal, so 1.5 hr a day? That’s not super strict
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I'm a child psychologist. DH is a (non-child) psychologist who works in tech. Our kids are not allowed any screens except for Facetiming distant relatives, unless we're on an airplane, until they need screens for school. We purposely picked a school that's very low screen.
Can you explain your rationale?
Anonymous wrote:Professionals meaning child psychologists, child development experts, pediatricians, teachers. Not just fellow parent-quacks like me.
I am quite strict about screen use for my 5yo. 20-30 min after each meal and that’s it, other than FaceTime. As she gets older I’ll probably relax enough to allow a movie or two each weekend in the company of family or friends.
I also rarely use my phone in front of her, and when I do I explain what I’m doing (ordering dinner, texting her dad a grocery list).
DH goes along with this but also thinks I’m slightly cuckoo since just about everyone else we know is fairly laissez faire (other than two close friends who do similarly). Everyone else pays lip service (I wish he would stop playing so many video games!) but they’ve thrown up their hands.
At what point should I loosen the apron strings? I just want DD to live a full life, and I feel that the addictiveness of screens takes away from that life. I do practice what I preach and don’t use my phone excessively.
Anonymous wrote:I'm a child psychologist. DH is a (non-child) psychologist who works in tech. Our kids are not allowed any screens except for Facetiming distant relatives, unless we're on an airplane, until they need screens for school. We purposely picked a school that's very low screen.
Anonymous wrote:Hi OP, I have a BS and MA in child development, and I am Montessori certified. I am also a mom to an 8 year old daughter. Respectfully, I think you are way over the top. Technology is part of our world, and not something to be hidden or completely denied to your child.
My daughter has unlimited screen use.
HOWEVER, this is in addition to 4+ hours of dance class per week, and numerous other rotating activities. For example, this weekend, we are seeing Sound Of Music on stage, working on her Misty Copeland book report, she had a kid’s science / dissection class, and 2 playdates. Last weekend, we went to a histoey museum to see an exhibit on color, and spent no less than 5 hours in the playground.
So, when we are home, i feel we are both entitled to chill out. If she wants the ilad or phone during this time. I am fine with it.
As your child gets older, you may want to rethink your current technology policy. Do what feels right to you, but consider your husband’s perspective, too.
Good luck. I am sure you will figure it all out.