Perception of screentime

[TasAktar]

I would like to know what to parents of children aged 3-5 years old think about their children using technology? Should we set boundaries for the amount of time they spend on smartphones or is it not an issue?

There are endless research papers and a myriad of books on the consequences of screens, especially hand-held ones such as a smartphone, on young children and the damaging effect they have on so many fronts.

Why do you want to know?

Do you really think anyone is going to come on and admit say they think it's ok for their 3+5 yo to be on a tablet or phone every second they're awake ?

I agree nobody is going to say it’s fine for a three year old to be glued to their ipad all day. The same as it isn’t acceptable for them to eat chocolate mousse all day or lie in bed all day.

I think it can be fun to play an occasional game on the ipad/phone but it should be balanced with other fun activities.

I thought it was common knowledge?

There are different approaches. You just do what’s best for you. Mine had no screen time until she was three. We now have very loose boundaries in that there are no screens after a certain time. This works well for us as she’s sensible - but she’s nine now. But screen time has never been an issue because we’ve never made it into one - it’s more or less freely available so it’s just turned into one of many things she does.

As a PP said, we don't have fixed rules for dd(6) and never have done because she does constantly ask for access to the ipad. Maybe once or twice a week. So when she does go on it, I'm okay for her to have as long as she wants to do what she wants to do.
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I set myself limits for the TV - basically I don't usually put it on during school hours for either child but okay for them to veg out in front of it for a while outside of that. Dd usually does something else while it's on. Dd(10 months) has no screen time and doesn't even pay attention when her older sister is watching.