Make the default that he does not get to be on the ipad. Tolerate the discomfort until he gets used to it. Let him only use the ipad when you give it to him, which should be a set window of time, preferably the same time every day, so everyone is clear. Nip the pestering in the bud by limiting the ipad more if he pesters you about the limit you have set. You are the parent here.

An App to control Apps

A parent with a spine. Tweens shouldn’t be home alone all afternoon after school.

I have my kid set a timer for his screen time limit (which is usually 20 mins a day). Because he was blowing off the timer or forgetting to set it, he has to show me that he is setting the timer. If he blows it off, he doesn’t get iPad the next day. Same if he yells at any of us for setting limits on the iPad. If I was not working from home I’d try to enforce this through the screen time app by checking the time he was on. But I would also punish getting around the screen time app similarly — if you show me you cannot handle the iPad and cannot follow our rules about it, you do not get the iPad. IMHO it’s very important to set firm rules here and limit the total amount of time and the content. These things were designed to be addictive.

Anonymous wrote:Why do you need an app? Once his limit is up, the iPad gets turned over to a parent. He needs parents, not an app.

Some of us work long hours outside the home. Not everyone has the privilege of a stay at home parent you know.

Anonymous wrote:Why do you need an app? Once his limit is up, the iPad gets turned over to a parent. He needs parents, not an app.

+1. Technology won't solve the problems of technology. Monitor and enforce limits personally.

Why do you need an app? Once his limit is up, the iPad gets turned over to a parent. He needs parents, not an app.

I have heard good things about Qustodio.

My 11yo son is basically glued to his iPad after school. We've tried Apple Screen Time but he figured out how to get around it and honestly the constant "give me more time" requests were driving us both crazy. Looking for something that actually works without turning into a daily battle. Anyone found an app or approach that helps? He's not a bad kid, just zero self-control when it comes to YouTube and games.