How much do you see of your pre teens after school?

[Scion286]

DS is 11, he’s back in school now-finishing year 6. I feel like I’ve suddenly got a teenager in the house, he gets home, has a snack, 15 minutes catch up on his day then he’s off upstairs to draw/watch YouTube/chat on WhatsApp/play Xbox. He emerges for tea and then we watch a programme together before bed (impracticable jokers or floor in lava).

It feels like such a sudden shift. He used to play out in the street but all the kids are younger except a couple of boys who are older and not particularly nice so he’s not fussed on doing that anymore and I don’t feel I can’t tell him what to do anymore.

Is this what other 11 year olds are like?

It’s a horrible stage. I think they crave independence but aren’t quite ready for the next leap.

They emerge in a few years.

Yes :-( pretty much.

DS1 is also 11 & finishing Year 6. He gets home from school at 3.30pm & showers so by the time we see him it's 4pm. Then he'll either go out (social distancing) with his friends or play Xbox/phone until 5.30pm ish. Then we all eat together & sit & watch TV or play a game of Uno or similar. Then DS2 & DS3 go to bed around 8pm & DS1 will sit with us until 9pm & watch TV.

He does have a total screen limit of 2 hours per day across phone & Xbox & it switches off at 8.30pm, which helps.