If you have a 9 year old...

[Allthescreens]

...what are they allowed to do?

• Which age certificate films can they watch?
• Which age computer games can they play?
• Do you allow swearing?
• What is bedtime?
• Do they have screentime limits?
• Do they have own phone?

I'm curious as I feel I might be stricter than other parents with DS3, who is 10 in February & hoping it won't cause him to feel left out.

My child was 9 a month ago

Which age certificate films can they watch? Probably up to a 12 but it's petty self policing as they're scared of quite a lot
• Which age computer games can they play? Not sure of age but plays Minecraft and roblox. Also things like Mario and sonic on the switch
• Do you allow swearing? They wouldn't swear as they're rule followers but I wouldn't worry if they swore in front of me in conversation but they wouldn't be allowed to swear in front of other adults (I'm not worried about swearing myself but we talk about knowing the audience)
• What is bedtime? They go up at 8 but don't sleep until 10pm. They don't need much sleep, never had.
• Do they have screentime limits? If they've been on their iPad too long I'll tell them to do something else or offer to play a game or something. 'Too long' is subjective depending on mood, the day, what they've done that day etc
• Do they have own phone? No

*Bedtime was school night. He's usually asleep by 9 on weekends, maybe 10 if he hasn't had a busy day.

Almost 10 year old boy

• Which age certificate films can they watch? 12 (depending what is)
• Which age computer games can they play? Plays Fortnite, Minecraft, FIFA
• Do you allow swearing? No, but I'm str he swears when he's with his friends
• What is bedtime? 8.15 on a school night, later at weekends
• Do they have screentime limits? 1 hr a day on a school day, longer at weekends ( for iPad, Switch, don't really limit TV)
• Do they have own phone? No, I've said he can have one when he starts year 7

Films: up to 12 depending on what it was
Games: uses Amazon fire, switch and iPad. Plays Fortnite, Minecraft, Roblox and watches stupid YouTubers
Swearing: not at home or in earshot of me but I’m fully aware that this age do swear among peers
Bedtime: 8.15/8.20
Screen time: not really limited
Phones: no. Chats with friends on Roblox and FaceTimes granny and Nanny on ipad

Mine doesn't like scary movies, so TBH I even vet a 12 to make sure there's no blood or spooky stuff.

Computer games the same - although I'm a bit more relaxed and so are they about cartoon violence (eg. cuphead). They aren't allowed to chat with randoms or use their real names though, and if I see something I don't like, then they have to uninstall it.

No swearing. Don't even like him saying stuff like 'crap' and will pull him up on it (I also don't swear, neither does his older brother)

Bedtime is 8:30 with no fuss. If there is any fuss, then he knows I'll pull bedtime back to 8pm (we are all up by 6 at the latest). He's allowed to read in bed for a while as long as when I walk past at 9 he's put them away (and he's good, he always has)

They don't have screentime limits, but again, if I ask them to stop or put it away they must, without fuss, or screentime limits will be imposed. No devices in the bedroom.

He does have is own phone - but that's because it was part of the deal to persuade him to visit my ex. He only has it when he's visiting his dad, in case he wants to call me to come and get him.

Oh - and he's 10 - at 9, bedtime was 8pm (relaxed as long as tucked in by 8:30), rest was the same.

Films - 12s as long as we knew content / had vetted first

games - switch stuff, mainly FIFA. No Fortnite or Roblox.

swearing - no way. He knows swear words but knows not to use them

bedtime - around 8-8:30 depending on hobbies. 9pm after cubs

screentime - none at all in the week, more relaxed at weekends but mindful of not overdoing it so no more than an hour or so at time.

phones - no not until end y6. Doesn’t have own tablet either.

• Which age certificate films can they watch?
• Which age computer games can they play?
• Do you allow swearing?
• What is bedtime?
• Do they have screentime limits?
• Do they have own phone

Films..nearly all PG. Think the only 12A he's seen is Barbie 🤣. Would allow others if I thought he would be interested and no scary bits.

Computer games..things like Harry Potter, Pokémon, Minecraft, supermario, sonic.

Swearing ...yuck, no.

Bedtime 9ish on weekdays. Later on a weekend (pretty much whenever he's tired).

Screen time limit...yes but not "officially". I'm not sure he realises they're limited as I keep him busy with certain things he has to do before being allowed screens. After school clubs, reading, music practice, one household "job" and maths work I set every day after school has to be completed before screen time for example.

Phone..not yet, maybe in the next year.

I have a ten year old..
Films -12 but I always look on Google to check suitability first if we have t seen them.
Swearing-he knows lots of words but isn't allowed to swear at home.
Bedtime -8 but reads until falls asleep. He needs to be up at 6.30.
Screen time- in the week he will have about 30 minutes to an hour, longer at weekends maybe if watching a film or something.

Computer games-has battlefront but I researched carefully to allow this. He only plays on this or fifa.
Phone- no, plan to get one before starts secondary school.

• Which age certificate films can they watch?
• = We watch and check films if not obviously children's.
• Which age computer games can they play?
• =- Don't really do computer games unless educational
• Do you allow swearing?
• = NO!
• What is bedtime?
• = 7-7,30
• Do they have screentime limits? Yes
• Do they have own phone? NO

Films 12a if we’ve checked it out first.
Bedtime at about 9:30.
No swearing, no phone.
She plays Roblox and on her switch- animal crossing and mario.
No official screen time limits but she’s out at school and clubs for a large chunk of the week. I try and switch stuff off after about an hour or so.. she has to do something else.

My 9 year old is 10 next week;

• Which age certificate films can they watch?

He’s watched the odd 12 with us but that’s it.

• Which age computer games can they play?

I don’t get involved really leave all that to DH as he’s a big gamer and I trust him to know what’s appropriate for DS and what’s not. I know he let him play a Spider-Man game recently which was maybe a 15? Under supervision.

• Do you allow swearing?

Not at all, just ‘fart’ which I was never allowed to say!

• What is bedtime?

School nights it’s 8:30 and asleep for 9/9:15. We let him stay up late as he likes with us on Saturday nights we usually watch a film together or something, but he’ll normally crash around 10.

• Do they have screentime limits?

Not officially, but he does play out a lot with the kids who live next door and two doors down and that is always his first choice. If nobody is playing out he’ll go on the PS but he isn’t glued to it so I don’t feel I need to put a limit on.

• Do they have own phone?

No, I started a thread on this recently! The general consensus was the summer before high school which I think we will do.

The bedtime is a bit late but it’s in-line with her slightly older sister. She seems to do ok on it.

Certificate 12 and 12A but if it's debatable I would check online, just to avoid things that I know would bother him, like currently we don't watch films where people die on screen as he can't handle that at the moment but he is not phased by bad language etc .
Computer games are currently only on shared devices like the family switch and the desktop computer which is in the kitchen. We play things like mario etc and we have the sims and some games like that on the computer. We don't have any online multiplayer games but he hasn't asked for this and it doesn't seem to be a thing in his friend group.
No swearing
Bedtime is 9
We don't have specific screen time limits but he doesn't have a proper device of his own so its less of an issue.
He does have a phone but its a dumb phone that cannot access the internet, its mostly used for music at the moment

Which age certificate films can they watch?
up to 12
Which age computer games can they play?
not really into them but definitely nothing above their age especially if there is violence
Do you allow swearing?
no
What is bedtime?
8.45pm up at 7am
about 9.30 on weekends & school holidays
Do they have screentime limits?
Yes and no. More so at the weekend if I feel they have been in screen too long. Not an issue weekdays as there is homework & usually activities.
Do they have own phone?
No

• Which age certificate films can they watch?
• Which age computer games can they play?
• Do you allow swearing?
• What is bedtime?
• Do they have screentime limits?
• Do they have own phone?

PG- but she’s only just turned 9.
She doesn’t really play PC games.
No swearing but I know she knows the words.
Bedtime is 8pm on a school night but 9pm at the weekend.

No TV before 5pm on a weekday nor after 7.30pm.
At a weekend no TV until fully clothed, dressed, brushed etc. but no set hours.
They have an old locked down iPhone that only works via Wi-Fi. They can WhatsApp call and facetime (via an email address my OH set up) but only numbers we know.

Which age certificate films can they watch?
12 and lower

• Which age computer games can they play?
I guess 12 a mind lower, this is DH domain

• Do you allow swearing?
Not really. The occasional word if it's in a jokey way. Not regularly in conversation

• What is bedtime?
8:00 read 8:30 lights out on school nights
10ish on weekends

• Do they have screentime limits?
No limits

• Do they have own phone?
No. The imbecile parents of other kids leave them to do god knows what and cause untold amounts of drama on WhatsApp and I'm not willing to let my kid be a part of that. It's toxic.

turned 10 in July and has had a phone for a while as they walked a mile home from start of yr 5

• Which age certificate films can they watch? 12, I can’t think of any 15 they may have seen although I would allow if I had watched it myself and approved.
• Which age computer games can they play? 12 but no challenge there, fifa obsessed
• Do you allow swearing? No
• What is bedtime? No devices after 8:45 and ideally sleep by 9:30 but they are usually still faffing the
• Do they have screentime limits? Yes - phone is off 8:45 pm and max 2 hours a day. Same for Xbox. More at the weekend. Homework must be completed though incl reading
• Do they have own phone? Yes, as above as. Checked twice a week

Films, 12s are fine generally but there's been the odd one that I don't think is appropriate

Games, roblox, minecraft and lots on the switch...pokemon, zelda, animal crossing.

Swearing, no!

Bedtime I'm really lax with, no limit on weekends and school nights tv is off between 830 and 9 but I let her read in bed until tired because she finds it hard to fall asleep, always has!

Phone, yes she has one but it's for playing roblox and watching YouTube videos and has no sim in, will let her have one in year 6

Idiot and shut up are not swearing imo

Rude yes but not swearing

Mine is 12 but from what I remember from when they were 9

...what are they allowed to do?

• Which age certificate films can they watch? 12
• Which age computer games can they play? Only interested in Minecraft and fortnite
• Do you allow swearing? No (actual swear words not as above)
• What is bedtime? 8pm
• Do they have screentime limits? Not set but within reason
• Do they have own phone? No - got one at end of year 5 but summer born

DD is 9, 10 in March

Which age certificate films can they watch? Some 12s (Harry Potter and the like) but only if DH or I have seen it first.
Which age computer games can they play? Only game she currently has access to is Roblox on an iPad but it’s locked down so she can’t chat with people.
Do you allow swearing? She knows swear words but doesn’t use them
What is bedtime? Around 8.30, sometimes a bit earlier or later - DD needs her sleep, she gets VERY grumpy when she’s tired!
Do they have screentime limits? Very rare to get iPad during the week and max 2 hours on a Sat/Sun. We’re pretty relaxed about tv though.
Do they have own phone? No. I’ve said she can get one for her 11th birthday

I have twins, recently turned 10 but with very different interests.
DS enjoys gaming, but mostly on a tablet. I have limits in general of about 2 hours, but specific limits of 1 hour for games and 1 hour for Youtube. I think its a bit lenient to be honest. He often spends way longer on the weekends. We have 1 tablet free day where he is allowed watch some TV but no Youtube.

DD isn't into screens so much so no issue there, but she is always out playing on the green or up trees and I give her a lot of leeway, for example I will let her miss dinner to play for an extra hour now I know its getting dark earlier. Or she is allowed play outside til dinner and do homework later, its better for her to be outside I feel rather than rigid about a routine. I don't mind once the work is done.
Swearing - never 'allowed' at any age but older teenage brother does it all the time.

Movies - probably 12 but I do check usually on commonsensemedia.com.
Bedtime - upstairs 8.45 on school nights, lights on 9.30. Around 10 or 10.30 on weekends. They don't get up until 7.30 on school mornings and usually lie in a bit on weekends.
Phones - I dread the day but the rule here is end of primary school, so they will be just turning 13. I might be pressured into a few months earlier, but not budging on the school year.

Which age certificate films can they watch? Up to 15 if its just fighting but no horror or sex

• Which age computer games can they play? Various

• Do you allow swearing? No

• What is bedtime? 8.30

• Do they have screentime limits? Yes

• Do they have own phone? No

Mine can watch 12 within reason eg jurassic world

doesn’t play computer games - plays ipad arcade games sometimes has briefly played on nintendo but no playstation or xbox (doesn’t have one but i’m aware lots in the class sit on theirs constantly) tablet time maybe an hour at weekends.

i don’t allow my 13 year old to swear nevermind at 9! They hear swear words all time nowadays in the street and school but i don’t swear (much) or in front of them so would give them into trouble if i heard it. I’m sure my oldest probably swears among her friends to be “cool” but she hasn’t slipped up in front of me so thats all that matters.

no phone.

bedtime is start at 8 & lights out 8.15 (when 10 next year will be 8.15 - 830) sometimes a bit later at the weekend maybe 9 but generally they are tired.

doesn’t play out, doesn’t walk to school alone & i don’t leave home alone - i’m “stricter” than most of the parents in the class but i don’t care - i do what i believe to be best for my kids and don’t focus on what others do

My child has special needs

• doesn’t watch films.
• has restrictions on their ipad of websites etc but liberal with screen time after school as it’s their way of getting rid of stress.
• no phone but may need to rethink about safety later, but cannot see social media plus developmental delay being a good mix.
• bedtime is really, really late as they have problems sleeping.
• would never swear, only has some language.