I have 5yo and 7yo boys. They each get one tv show each so about 45 minutes total tv per day. We don't have video games and ipads usually only come out during trips or bad weather days.

I am considering getting the kids video games next year. I will definitely limit it to weekends only.

I work to attempt to form my good habits all the time. I can not control what my teens do or eat now, it's their time for new experiments. But we ourselves are forming their own tastes, and healthy food should be delicious and prepared with love. Also: While there are interesting hobby, sport, nature, creativity, plans, the minimum time for movies and shows.

My kids are 11 and 12. 12 yr old DS would be on screens all day if we let him while 11 yr old DD would if left to herself rarely watch. So, the rules are in place mainly for 12 yr old. We don't distinguish between types of screens but only by whether or not it is a social activity, with other real people -- remote online gaming doesn't count as "social".

On weekdays, DS gets 1 hr/day of solo screen time after all chores and homework are done. Another hour of social screen time is allowed, again after homework/chores. Weekends are more relaxed -- generally he'll watch TV/play game in the a.m. until 9 or 10 am and then is out at sports games, family outings, chores, etc. If he wants to play games some more for a bit in the afternoon, alone or with a friend that's fine. On a weekend day when we don't have much scheduled, we will still kick him off the screens to go do something outside after a while but will be more generous if he's actually playing with another human (either friends or dad - who also loves his videogames).

OP, sometimes my kids get like that (obsessed, wanting to watch too much) and that's usually my signal that we need to go cold turkey. So usually I do a week or too cold turkey, no TV or computer and then gradually add it back in in little bits.

I am amazed at how much better they are at playing after just a day or two of no TV. I wish I was able to sustain "No screens" like some people do but its really really hard for me.

Anonymous wrote:OP here -- Thanks PP. What do your kids do while you make dinner? Are they just good at keeping themselves busy? One of mine is not. So we have from 3:30-8pm afterschool. Even if they're outside for quite a while, that's a lot of time to fill. Their homework takes 5-10 minutes.

I'm the one whose kids are 9 and 12 and can't watch tv except on vacations, and they only use the iPad during the week for looking up things needed for school. What do they do while I make dinner? They HELP MAKE DINNER. Dinner is for the family, thus the whole family helps. If they finish before dinner is actually ready they run to take their shower and change into pjs, they play basketball in the driveway, they play card games with each other, play with the dog, fold laundry, jump on the trampoline, read, knit, rug-hook, draw, etc.

There's TONS of stuff to do besides stare at a screen.

7 year old. Video games (system, kindle or ipad) on the weekend only.

15 min of Wild Kratts while he eats breakfast and 30 min on TV before bed if he has time after homework.

Sunday is typically our screen time free for all. I firmly believe in staying home one day a week. Life is too crazy.

When he is older we will adjust since he may need the internet for school work during the week.

Currently, screen time once in a blue moon - 20 minutes once a week if they're lucky - since it comes after all the rest of the stuff that needs to get done. Not counting family movie night, that is.

When we have more time, they can play video games an hour a day, I don't mind.

Anonymous wrote:My 8 yr old is consumed by screens -- always has been so we have to have a lot of rules around them. On the weekend, if he just finished an hour of Wii in the morning, he'll start talking right away about the next amount of screentime he'll be getting.

The Wii has become really addictive to him. I've let him have an hour of screens afterschool each day and he will now only pick Wii. It's feeling like too much to me so I'm considering saying Wii only on the weekend -- that led to many tears and freaking out -- showing me that he really is dependent on it.

I'm just curious how others handle screens? TV only? Or any type of screens?

I hesitate to put so many rules around it that it becomes this thing he wants even more (although I don't think it's possible for him to want screen time anymore than he does!) Wish I could get rid of all our screens and we'll just listen to the radio from here on out!

Yes, screens or outside once he's finished all homework, put away lunch box, changed clothing, had snack and practiced piano. 30 minutes WII or screen time limit; computers are turned on and monitored by me who holds the password and therefore unlocks them and controls what's done on there. Remotes to WII are managed by me. He comes to ask for them when he wants to play. We all generally watch a 30 to 60 minutes of Modern Family or something else HGTV each evening--but it's not a rule. If he's rude, disrespectful or inappropriate after being warned, he will go all day with out any of the above! Depending on the infraction it can go into days without.

Anonymous wrote:I don't restrict or measure screen time. It is a part of life and can be useful. By taking this approach, it is never a battle. My 7 year old enjoys screens and is also sports crazy and very conscious about getting his homework done because he is eager to please parents and teachers. My 5 year old likes some shows but would rather play with whatever toy she is into or turning rocks over in the yard to find bugs. Everything just works smoothly for us this way.

No, it is never a battle because your kid doesn't have the temperament to overdo/get addicted to it. Those with kids (like OP) who have issues do need to limit just as the kids will have to consciously limit themselves as adults (maybe with internet blocker etc).

Its the same with sweets. Moms with kids who don't overindulge point to their "all things in moderation" philosophy rather than genes. But my mom did the moderation thing, and I still binge ate sweets when I got to college. Today there are just foods I do not buy or have in the house because I will eat them. All of them.

Also +1 in enrolling him in something. Each child has a practice per week and a game on the weekend so I always feel like we are out. They aren't that into the sports but love the socializing. You could try to find something like that to fill the weeknights.

No screen time Mon-thurs mostly because my 8 yo also has a very addictive personality. The exception is the computer for homework. While I'm making dinner he does homework or plays with his sister. He's allowed to go in the yard alone and will do that more that the weather is better. I'm trying to get him in the habit of repacking his own backpack with snacks and what he needs for aftercare and making his own lunch. Work in progress.

I don't restrict or measure screen time. It is a part of life and can be useful. By taking this approach, it is never a battle. My 7 year old enjoys screens and is also sports crazy and very conscious about getting his homework done because he is eager to please parents and teachers. My 5 year old likes some shows but would rather play with whatever toy she is into or turning rocks over in the yard to find bugs. Everything just works smoothly for us this way.

Screen time is screen time. We don't allow any Monday through Thursday. I allow an hour Fri-Sunday IF we are not otherwise busy all day. (There is no, "but I didn't get ipad today...") If it is a busy day, typically around 3 I will casually say we won't have time for ipad (tv, computer, etc.) that day. The only exception is if it is required for school.

If homework doesn't take that long, then go old school on him. There are a ton of activities that don't involve staring at a screen all night. Listen to the radio. Journal. Draw pictures or paint. Play with toys you can build--Legos, model cars or planes. Read for fun. All of these things develop skills that exercise the mind but are also fun. Our generations survived without all these electronics and as you can see, many kids around you survive without them during the week. Whining and crying should not affect your decision.

Our rules are the same for all types of screens and I think you can tell from this thread that almost no kids really just watch TV anymore.

One of my kids only watches sports on TV. The other watches no TV at all but is obsessed with youtube videos and games.

I will say that over time, my kids have moments of lots of screen time and moments of none. Today, but are outside - it's so nice. But in the winter, different story. We don't limit if responsibilities are done and for us that works. All devices plugged in downstairs at bedtime so nothing in their rooms at night.