How much screen time?

[AnnieKennyfanclub]

For a 7 year old in lockdown?

DD is getting a tablet for Christmas and I want to have it set up and ready to go before she gets it. I will be putting on parental controls and a time limit.

DH has suggested 1 hour a day... but we are in tier 4, we were self isolating for the last 10 days to see grandparents on Christmas but that is now cancelled of course... DD is struggling with all the upheaval and she finds screen time relaxing...

She would be using it for minecraft, drawing apps and reading eggs (an online learning app).

What is a reasonable time limit - I think maybe 45m- 1 hour mine craft and another hour for other activities? Or possibly more in the circumstances? - she will have TV on top of this?

[BogRollBOGOF]

I've given up. We're in tier 3 so there's been nothing appealing to do for yonks anyway. We're done on trudging through soggy leaves that are now indistinguishable from the general coating of mud everywhere. My DCs are not interested in wholesome stuff like crafts or baking, never have been. The conservatory is too cold to romp around in and play in boxes. The garden will be destroyed in minutes if I let them out the back, and I'd rather it survives so it's playable by late March rather than May/ June by the time the lawn is reseeded and grows back.
They can happily pass their time on tech now. My fight evaporated months ago.

[nevergoingoutagain]

Atm my 7 year old has hers on before 10am and after .5pm. She usually end up with 2-3 hrs but the last weekend was way more as we're all at it!

School days she'd only have 1hr after he and before dinner

In normal times she'd have days not using it at all as she'd be playing out all afternoon!

[nevergoingoutagain]

After hw that is.

[petitdonkey]

I would honestly let her knock herself out on it until term time starts! After that you can decide on limits- our rule at that age was always no screens upstairs or between 10-4

[Jellycatspyjamas]

I think all bets are off in the current circumstances. My two (7 and 9) have days when they aren’t on screens at all and days when they’re on almost all day. It depends on what else we’re doing, the weather (if we can get out) and tbh my own resilience levels especially when I’m also trying to work.

I’d wait to see how your DC is with it, they may be super obsessed or not that bothered when it’s there in front of them.

[itsgettingweird]

Previously I'd have said 1-1.5 hrs school days and maybe 2-3 holidays.

But all bets are off at the moment. Just let her enjoy it.

[HailFairy]

My 2 - 6 & 8 - don’t have any limits set on their tablets but in term time they don’t use them at all (or have any screen time at all) during the week. Then it’s much more relaxed at weekends (& in holidays) e.g. this morning they were up at 7 so had 2 hrs before dh & I got up at 9. They’ll probably go back on for another hour or so later BUT the big thing is when we tell them to come off, they always do straight away & without complaining. So we haven’t felt the need to set actual limits on the device.

Maybe just see how she is with it & set the limits if it’s causing issues?

[ineedmoresleepnow]

My two are 5 and 7 and they get an hour on school days and two hours at the weekend. It's limited by an app on my phone so they have to ask for more. Sometimes they do, depends on what's happening that day.
They had it unlimited in first lockdown though and I hated the lasting need for it, hence the limits now so they appreciate extra times they do get.

[MobLife]

Mine are 3 and 6-they get an hour on school days then 1.5hrs on the weekend-similar to a previous poster I have an app and can set limits ok what is access
They do have unlimited access to audiobooks however and both of them enjoy those.
TV wise they tend to get half an hour or so while dinner is cooking but at the weekend we'll sometimes put on a film

[nosswith]

Would an alternative be nothing before a set time?