Screen time and the summer holidays

[expatinspain]

How much screen time on phones/tablets do you let your kids have each day during the holidays? DD is 9, nearly 10, and it's become a bit of a battle. On the days we're busy and doing things it's fine, but on days where we're not doing much she wants to be on it constantly. Today I let her have half an hour this morning, then told her no more use until 6pm. She would stay on it until bedtime if I let her. I'm not sure whether I should just relax on these kind of days or have a set amount of time? Interested to hear what others are doing.

When my DC were younger I used to say no screens until minds and bodies have been exercised. So they had to do something productive/creative and something active everyday before any screentime.

I have to admit though, that when it's too hot to move, I'd probably relax that rule.

I have to admit though, that when it's too hot to move, I'd probably relax that rule.

Do you know how much heat those things generate! I wouldn't let mine play today as I didn't want extra heat inside!

Having the same battle. Ds is 11...fine if we're out but doesn't want to do anything else if we're at home. I've bought 3d puzzles, craft stuff for older kids, brain teaser puzzles, quiz books etc.

We go out every single day but it's not practical to be out of the house every waking hour!

DD10 has an hour on her tablet but she can be sneaky with her phone so we do need to watch that. We’re a bit lax with tv too tbh but I’m determined she’s not going to have it on loads in the holidays. Screens cause more arguments than anything else! I have the same problem with DD not having siblings

@zeldaprincessofhyrule yes I got it online it's this one www.aldi.co.uk/adventuridge-backpack-gazebo/p/082920280652900

My 6 year old is behind in every aspect of schooling so his only screen time is maths related. No videos or tv etc otherwise. Just either playing, or study games.

None.
It’s a slippery slope/waste of time, I know others will disagree but screen time is a sure way to stop a child reading.

It's all about balance isn't it.

My elder dc is academic, reads voraciously, works hard at school, has a few interests, not as wide as some friends eg gymnastics etc but wide enough.

I can't get worked up about a couple of days with her either watching u tube, then something on TV, then playing game on her tablet. She's a good self regulator and a few days on screen won't harm.

I've said before but I do find it the heavily restricted kids to be the ones glued to any screen we happen to have on when they come round.... It's almost like they have been hypnotised

If however dc was not as self regulating or balanced then yes I would physically take away for a bit but maybe because she's had freedom she is self regulating?

Just seen flaps comment..

It depends on the child. I've been endlessly told my dd is in top few voracious readers in class and yet we have never been as restrictive as half hour on weekends.

Kids have screen time for a bit most evenings and when the weather is terrible. But they're usually out all day playing, football practice, at the park or in summer camp. I know they get a heel of a lot more screen time at their fathers house though.

I only speak from my limited personal experience.
I have never banned a tablet but just put it away (a year ago or more) and go to Waterstones as a treat if they’re bored.
I am not anti-tablets as such but have found it’s habit forming very quickly and addictive for most.
It’s not hard to break the habit as long as they know you won’t give in and there are alternatives.
I have friends who have constant family arguments regarding gaming time and the risk associated with the chat platforms is something we can do without.

It’s a slippery slope/waste of time, I know others will disagree but screen time is a sure way to stop a child reading.

Or it's a way to get a child, who refuses to engage with books, to read.

It's also the only way we have found of getting our eldest to try to use both hands together (dyspraxia).

I think it's really important that kids have time to play and do self motivated projects in the summer holidays. Previous posters seem to think that screens are the only option if you're at home and that the balance is between being outside, educational activities and screens. Summer holidays are one of the few times that children can play for extended periods without adults butting in. It's so important for their development and sense of agency.
Over the last week my kids have: made 'jam' with random bits of fruit, created characters named after various bodily functions and solved the mystery of the lost poo, made flip books from post-it notes, played with a circuit kit, lined up several sets of chess pieces to have a battle and the inevitable cutting up bits of paper for no apparent reason, amongst various non- productive but incredibly important activities. Admittedly, they are not teens but even so, teens could do with this kind of time too, probably more so.

DS 11has asd and his iPad is his go to. If not his switch. I’m very relaxed with screen time, dd only goes on an hour or 2 a day, the rest of the time she is playing with her toys and in the sun they are both out in the pool or on the trampoline. We have various things planned, going to Disneyland on Sunday so that will be no iPads whatsoever. Me included.

I’m quite strict on a day to day basis, but we tend to be quite a busy household. I did relax things today as DD has been at an activity related camp with no screen time all week and needed the chill time, my DS has been similarly busy all week so we had a day at home and they chose various screen based activities.

It can get to the point where if they aren’t out they’re on a screen - I think kids need to be bored sometimes thought so it’s worth the fight to keep them off phones etc. It’s all a balance in the end.

Mine (7 and 5) get an hour of TV in the morning and that’s pretty much it apart from Saturday ‘movie night’ and maybe the odd film - I took them to The Lion King on Wednesday.

They don’t have their own tablets or phones and they’re not getting either for as long as we can possibly hold out for. They occasionally use one of our tablets for maths homework and I let them onto the desktop computer for 15-20 minutes a couple of times a week to have a look around on Google Earth or on BBC Bitesize, always with me so we can chat about what they’re seeing and doing.

When it was hotter yesterday, I coated them head to toe in suncream and put them in the back garden with a paddling pool and sports equipment. We’ve also been to museums, art galleries, a theatre show, cafes, bowling, free bus rides, Lego, reading, colouring, activity books...

Yes, putting them in front of screens would be a lot less tiring for me, but I won’t do it. I’m fully aware I will have an increasing battle as they get older, but I will enjoy being able to use alternatives while I still can!

I find this hard, because as a child I was often on my early PC or my sega/nes/gameboy. Especially in the summer holidays.

I try to say, not before 11am and only for a few hours. Sometimes that changes if their friends are online, we are flexible though, you have to be I think. I'm not going to come down hard and fast with the rules around tech when they're on holiday, we do plenty of other things and they seek out projects, craft, baking and all that wholesome mn-friendly stuff too.

I agree with @RedHatsDoNotSuitMe from earlier up the thread. You can't say screens off, then not help them find an alternative if they don't know what else to do.

Yes, I agree that you need to find an alternative. It can be hard with older kids, especially if they're sporty. My ds is fine outside but can never find anything to do at home. He's not creative or arty and is too old for toys.

Anyway, he found his old nerf gun yesterday so I bought him some new bullets for it and he's lined up his old action figures and is trying to knock them down

Seems to be keeping him busy....for now!

I allow unrestricted access. Not ideal but mine are nearly 16yrs and 12yrs and long outgrew toys etc.

They will spend all day on them but the 12yr old tends to play group games so he is interacting at least.

Yes, I agree that you need to find an alternative.

I’m not sure about that tbh, I think it’s good for kids to be bored sometimes, to make their own entertainment and find things to do. I think perpetual entertainment isn’t good for anyone, child or adult.

At 9 my daughter watched approx. one movie per month with me, by the time she was 10 it was up to one per week. That was it for screen time at that age. Holidays were no different. I din't constantly entertain her either. Of course we also went out together doing things, played something at home together, but mainly I expect a child to be capable of entertaining herself, alone or with friends.

Now she's 14 and I'm less strict. She has her own smartphone - the use is usually limited to 1 hour per day, but I don't always check her usage. I do so occasionally and if I see she used it far too much on multiple occasions. I'll tell her to cut it down. Listening to music on her phone while doing something else doesn't count though. I'm also more relaxed when it's about communicating with friends, but she still can't go all over the top.

@jellycatspyjamas "I’m not sure about that tbh, I think it’s good for kids to be bored sometimes, to make their own entertainment and find things to do. I think perpetual entertainment isn’t good for anyone, child or adult."

I completely agree! It shouldn't be the parents who should come up with an alternative to screens, it should be the children themselves. If they can't come up with anything, it's a clear sign that they are being entertained too much.

screen time is a sure way to stop a child reading

That's just not true, though. Maybe if it's all day, or on in the background. My older 3 all get very little screen time during term as there just isn't time after doing school runs, park time etc, but during the holidays we do about an hour a day of shared TV time, or tablets if we are travelling. The baby gets none. The two who are old enough to read are still both voracious readers, and my younger two adore being read to, or hearing stories.

For me I find their screen time very useful as an opportunity to give some 1 on 1 time to one child while the others are distracted, to get tricky jobs done or just to take a minute to have a cup of tea and some time to myself to recharge for the rest of the day!

I always think it's worth considering what they are doing with the screen, rather than outright banning it. DS, for example, knows rather a lot about American politics, which he found out by reading articles online. Was this less "worthy" than finding out the same information by reading newspapers or magazines?

Equally DD chats online to friends who it's not practical for her to physically see at the moment. Yes this is different to meeting in person, but is it "bad"?