To think current concerns over screen time is bordering hysteria

Oh, haha. Clearly did RTFT did I 🫣

TV isnt 24/7
TV for kids was extremely limited to set times of the day
TV isnt right up at your face
TV isnt scrolled up and down by parents when out and about reducing eye contact with their kids

And believe it or not, it doesnt lead to eye problems. Where as screens do, I was told this by an optician as I didnt actually believe it.

It’s choice but as others said, there is evidence from extensive research that it can be harmful.
I have an 11 old (ASD) and an 8 year old they don’t have tablets, phones or game systems, they have toys and still know how to play.
my eldest is obsessed with cars and likes to categorise them and my youngest loves to read. I have never introduced them to screens and we spend a lot of time outdoors.
is my house tidy? Not massively I rarely get jobs done but cook from scratch every night and my youngest has always got involved in that. It’s not easy but I have chosen to bring them up like I was when there were no screens.
as I say it’s a choice but working in a school and seeing how children are developing now compared to years ago is a little sad.
I’m not saying that Screen time is wrong but I think the level of screen time can ultimately make a difference to how some children develop.
its about finding the right balance that works for you and your family.

If you already have ADHD - I do - then too much exposure to screens which are literally designed for short attention spans makes it much, much worse. Sticking ND kids in front of tablets probably will keep them quiet, but at a huge cost to their potential development.

I'm also a grown adult not a 6yr old.....

They watched TV

I grew up in the 70s and 80s and we were out on the streets after school and in holidays playing with the group of us. Different ages, some times the toddlers would come out but not for long as 10 year olds dont want to play with toddlers.

Its not shit parenting, its normal play, the parents would be cooking or gardening or cleaning cars, coming and going

No one called or would need to call social services

The problem is that everything is now called 'shit parenting' that involves leaving children to create their own play, to have time out and out, to be - gasp - unsupervised for a time.

Obviously different for every family but I am almost 40 - we definitely watched plenty of TV / videos in the 90s as did my friends & in the early 2000’s every teen I knew spent hours on MSN messenger on the PC every night!!

However it was probably a bit more balanced and we had more time playing outside and had to sit and watch what our mums were watching after a certain point when kids TV ended for the eve. Streaming services / YouTube have probably made the problem a lot worse.

teachers of 20+ years will say otherwise

There is no increase in ASD or ADHD, there is an increase in DIAGNOSIS! 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️

ADHD is real, but also, people with ADHD often need to be active - to fidget, run about etc.

The problem with screens is that they mean a lot of sitting in one spot and not moving, so IMO it seems obvious that too much screen time in a person with ADHD (or similar neuro diversity) will result in rebound hyperactive behaviour once off the screen.

I say this as my experience is as a (probably ADHD) neurodivergent person who is techy and works on a screen and then spends too much time in MN 😂

DC is the same, and it is very obvious when she has crossed the threshold between enough and too much 😵‍💫🫨🤯🫣

Screen time is great and a really useful tool but also really bad for me and makes me a bit nuts.

You don't need to decide whether screens are good or evil.

They can be both 🤷

TVs and screens really aren't the same. A TV can be part of family time, watching programmes together, then talking about them afterwards. You can't and don't do that with screens. Let's face it, 99.99999% of what's on YouTube and TikTok is just brainrot drivel - and that's aside from the bullying and harmful influences. TV is regulated - back in the 90s, kids just didn't really watch adult's programmes. The internet is the Wild West - and you can carry it around so it's with you the entire time. If people were worried about TVs giving us square eyes, then the threat posed to children's health by the internet and screens is exponentially larger.

TVs and screens really aren't the same. A TV can be part of family time, watching programmes together, then talking about them afterwards. You can't and don't do that with screens. Let's face it, 99.99999% of what's on YouTube and TikTok is just brainrot drivel - and that's aside from the bullying and harmful influences. TV is regulated - back in the 90s, kids just didn't really watch adult's programmes. The internet is the Wild West - and you can carry it around so it's with you the entire time. If people were worried about TVs giving us square eyes, then the threat posed to children's health by the internet and screens is exponentially larger.

Ok but truly every other poster on here has a child with ASD and ADHD. I’m actually surprised to open a thread about anything and not see a mention of it somewhere

When my step son goes to his mums at the weekend there is unlimited screen time. He stays up and plays x box while she goes to bed.

The difference in him on the Monday and Tuesday after those weekends is scary. He's like a different boy. Can't focus, concentrate or even comprehend simple instructions.

At home he has limits on everything screen related and he's out playing, reading, board games etc. And to be honest, is a much better natured boy than when he comes home.

I personally think it’s tablets and phones that are the source of the problem rather than tv.

Ever widening criteria? What source do you have for this nonsense please? Don’t make things up to fit your discriminatory narratives please

I’m amazed your kids’ friends all had phones in the 90s- really? I was a young adult in the late 90s. The only person I knew that had a mobile phone then was my Dad and he worked in the City. I got my first mobile phone in 2003. They really weren’t widespread at that time- at least where I am in the South East.

I remember my mum having a go at me for "always having your nose in a book"

Now it's oldies having a go at us for our kids being on iPads.

Some are never happy with what kids/GC do

If you read the OP properly, she clearly states that her DH works late 6 days a week. As a single parent myself, I know that the majority of the physical parenting is done during these times. The man obviously hardly sees his kids!

I absolutely agree with this.

ADHD is nothing to do with screens! I was diagnosed in 1988 at 4 years old and my parents didn’t then even own a tv! I promise you, a diagnosis of ADHD is not given lightly nor easily, as you yourself should know very well.

She's not a single mum. She's got a husband. There are two of them parenting the kids. Four, if you include the screens.

Nope. i’ve worked with kids for 30 years. The excessive use of screens when children are babies and toddlers is utterly ridiculous and replacing physical play which they need for all areas of development. Concentration is nil they scroll and scroll short videos from a tiny age for that hit. It’s so sad.

Tech is needed in moderation and shouldn’t replace proper Play and socialisation/communication.