Just started the kids’s hour of screen time…

[TheEveningReport]

How is everyone feeling about the new guidance? I felt shit when it came out this morning. My kids definitely have more than that, probably two hours a day. One of them gets up very early and I just don’t have it in me to entertain them for hours from 5am before school.

I’m trying to take it with a pinch of salt but also sort of agree with it. They don’t have tablets but TV really helps my autistic six-year-old regulate and also just helps me get shit done. Like now, we’ve played since 3.30, had dinner and now I want to tidy up the kitchen. Without TV it will be constant nagging and squabbling. Or maybe that’s just because I always put the TV on and don’t let them sort it out themselves?

Anyway, as a note to the guidance I’ve put on an hour lump puffin rock film, rather than the bombastic transformers programme they like 🤣. I’m interested to know how much others are taking note of the new guidance.

I don't see how The Government/The Law can realistically police this. I think it's ridiculous - and I know I will get jumped on for saying this - but I don't think kids being on screens for more than an hour a day is that bad. 2 would be OK, and even longer if they're watching a film or doing puzzles like Bookworm or something.

We (as a society) have allowed children for some 20 years (or more,) to have screens/tablets/phones etc as much as they want pretty much, and now we're taking it off them/dropping them to an hour a day. There's no one-size-fits-all, and I think it's a batshit blanket rule. Any other addiction would never just be dropped so rapidly and severely.

Again, how is this going to be policed?

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It won't be policed, it's guidance. Do the police come and check you've eaten your 5 a day?