feel like getting rid of all the tech

[Chameleons39]

my SEN teen is addicted to screens and I don't know what to do. I posted yesterday and got no responses. They have other things they can do and have admitted they feel ill with how much they are using a screen. But after five minutes of time in the real world everything becomes boring and they want back on. I can see the benefits to the gadgets but the reality is they're not using them to be productive most of the time. Have tried controls which they get around or taking it away and then they're miserable because they don't have friends in real life and they don't want to go out. As a child They played with their toys which I understand they wouldn't be interested in now and they'd go and play out all day. They had an hour a week and some tv time during the day. Even though they're not a child anymore I don't think they should be on a screen All day though

I'm addicted to my mobile except I'm an adult, but I have reduced my use somewhat by trying to keep busy with work,housework and walks. You could roughly time block their day by asking them to help around the house , planning in homework time, exercise such as yoga..gamify the process by offering an incentive such as Costa if they keep below their 2.5 hours a day. Encourage them to watch YouTube on the television

I'm sorry, I think it is really tough and totally understand your concerns. I wouldn't take away the screens entirely (it's not realistic to live in a world without tech) but I would try and regulate/reduce the use if you can, but to do this you're going to have to help him/her understand how to fill and structure their day and regulate their emotions (including boredom!) without it. I think any of us would struggle with the sudden removal of something we've come to rely on as a prop/support (frankly if you told me I could only have my phone for defined chunks of the day I think I'd have a meltdown and I'm a NT adult!), and of course a teen is that much less emotionally stable and experienced in how to manage themselves than an adult even before you bring in the SN as well.

So I think you need to help them make a bit of a plan for what their day/week will look like (I'm no expert on SN but would using visual clues in the form of some kind of timetable help?) - it doesn't need to be full of expensive/out of the house activities (in fact I'd say this would be counter-productive) but perhaps think of and include one or two nice things to look forward to every week whether that's going out to do an activity or maybe buying a small treat or spending time with family. If they'll agree doing some form of physical activity ideally outside the house is such a helpful thing to include in a routine, doesn't have to be full on sports, walking or cycling or yoga or swimming or doing a dance/zumba exercise class from youtube would all be great. Again ideally you would incorporate doing some chores/helping out around the house too (I know easier said than done with teens - don't hesitate to bribe but ideally I wouldn't make them having tech time contingent on doing chores as IME this causes a lot of meltdowns and conflict when they rely on it so completely). What do they like doing aside from the tech, what are their interests and ambitions? I know it's so hard with teens where all their socialising happens online but can you try and see if there's any way you could encourage some kind of activity they can do that will get them meeting and interacting with people in real life, I know mine as teenagers would groan and moan at this suggestion as 'no-one makes friends at football club/dance class mum, only a loser would ever think you could' but the point isn't to 'make friends' as such, it's to practice social interaction and being around other people outside school or online settings, it's a 'safe' way to get used to this as in a way it's great that these people aren't your friends and maybe you'll never see them again, because it doesn't really matter what they think of you...