This is why I only do screen time for educational purposes, as a family, or as a reward.

Definitely makes DD cranky. Lots of tantrums, both when it’s time to turn it off and just in general.

I’ve gotten us down to one, maybe two movies on the weekends and that’s it. Nothing on weekdays, no TV shows, no YouTube videos. I don’t want anything where new videos automatically play because that’s really hard to break (“just one more!”). I have one game on my phone for emergencies only.

Life is so much easier now. It’s gets even easier when I’m not on screens either, but of course I have my massive DCUM Aaddiction. But when I go awhile without screens too, things are SO. MUCH. BETTER.

Not sure about hyper but it programs them to want instant gratification. That's what I'm trying to specifically avoid wrt screen time

Yes. The games definitely make my tween hyper.

Excess screen time does not make my 3 yo hyper. It tends to make her somewhat lethargic, actually. But then if the screen time is taken away, she can be moody and agitated, because she found the screen soothing and relaxing and that gets interrupted. I guess people might interpret her behavior as "hyper" but as someone who has a first row seat to her relationship with screens, I think it's more that she can express her agitation in a way that seems hyperactive, in the same way that she might express her agitation about a conflict with a kid at school. The screen time itself isn't making her hyper. But the screens have an effect, and taking the screen away has an effect.

I'm not anti-screen at all, but I want my kid to learn how to relax without a screen. I have definitely become a bit screen addicted as an adult and have to consciously work on this too. I don't want her to start out without those skills, even if I understand the odds that she won't some day be spending most of her day staring at a screen of some kind, as I currently do, are pretty slim. At least I have the resources from a screen reduced childhood to recognize when I need a break and I know how to address my needs without screens. I just want her to have that too.

I’m OP of the “How do I make it so my kids are not like this” thread and it definitely makes kids moody and surly.

Anonymous wrote:Do you feel like screens (video games) make kids more hyper? Just conducting my own research here.

I find it makes mine hyper, like they are transitioning back into the real world but they are going as fast as the video game they just played.

It makes mine cranky AF, not necessarily hyper. So we definitely have limits.

Do you feel like screens (video games) make kids more hyper? Just conducting my own research here.