How are you managing screen time for your dc?

[Santaselfhasarrived]

I’m finding it very hard at the moment to keep my dc off their tablets and PlayStation.

Before Covid hit, they had a strict routine was only allowed to use their tablets for 1 hour after School and use the PlayStation on weekends, only after they’d eaten and got dressed.
Now they just on it from the moment they get up, which I’m finding incredibly hard to deal with.

I try to get them out at least once a day for a walk or a ride around on their scooter, but i just feel we’re all done in with other activities due to the fact we’ve been doing them everyday for the last year and they’re just bored.

So what else can I do? I’m sick of baking, they’re bored of crafts and games, as am I!

It's ridiculously hard isn't it?

I have 2x preschoolers and whilst they don't have tablets or playstations, the tv is on so much more than i am comfortable with. I have justified this however with the notion that it is keeping me sane thus helping me to stay more patient and kind with them.

It's a pandemic not normal life at the moment. Be kind to yourself!

It’s really hard but I don’t let mine on until late afternoon. Then they come off for dinner (we eat around 6:30)
They don’t ask to go on because that’s the rule every day. They have to find something else to do until then.
Play with Xmas toys and games. Watch tv for a while in the morning. Watch a film, play with their siblings, we go for a walk most days. We try to play games with them with cards, board games or toys they got for Xmas. They wrap up and go in the garden for a bit.
During the week it’s school work until 12;30. Then lunch, then tv whilst I catch up on work, then a walk before it gets dark. When we are back from our walk they usually have screen time then

It is really hard, as I said we do play board games and they have been playing with their toys that they got for Christmas, but in general always gravitate towards the electronics.
We were in the middle of a game yesterday and ds got up went to the toilet and never came back down as he went on the PlayStation

They do have online learning during the week, so are on it all day.

i’m just letting mine have as much screen time as they want, within reason. we do school work until midday then lunch and a walk, after that it’s free reign. i have two babies so i don’t have the time to be constantly entertaining my older boys. there’s nothing else to do with the weather being crap and talking to their friends on their headsets is as much contact they’ll have with friends for a while. i just don’t think a national lockdown is the time to be enforcing screen time.

It’s really tough isn’t it. You are not alone. I haven’t enforced any screen time rules at the moment as I think life is stressful enough. The weather is freezing and have lost motivation to motivate dc! I don’t think it will do any harm for us all to have some r&r in the winter months. That’s what I keep telling myself anyway!

I have relaxed it massively. If I'm on a screen he can be.

If I'm doing the washing he can help, if I'm sorting dinner he can help, if I'm walking the dog he is coming.
If I'm sitting on my bum drinking tea on mumsnet, and he wants to be on minecraft, crack on.

That’s the thing I’ve definitely lost my motivation, I’m barely getting things done in the house let alone enforce the routine we had before.

I don’t want to take it off them, but I do feel bad that they’re on it so much.

I dont put any restrictions around screentime other that schoolwork and music practice must get done and they can't be on screens all day and must go outside at some point.

Mine are a bit older, but I have stopped screen time restrictions, particularly as it is the main way they stay in touch with their friends. As long as they have done their school work and had some fresh air, they can use them. The only restriction is not after dinner and older one's phone still disabled overnight.

No restrictions here either. It's not ideal, but they like it and do occasionally play a board game or go for a walk or play piano or something.