AIBU to ban the children from technology for the rest of the holidays

[havingamadmoment]

There are 5 of them aged between 8 and 1. The older 3 (8,6 and 4) are allowed to use the TV, Xbox and ipad if they ask first and its not constant.

I supervise as much as I can but they seem to go wild if I even leave a room to use the toilet, so far this holidays they have knocked the TV off the cabinet by fighting over who could not see over whose head (I had only gone to put the baby in her cot).

Today they broke the Ipad when i was sitting right next to them by suddenly having a fit of arguing over the person holding it - putting it too far to the other side randomly lashing out suddenly and dropping it on the floor cracking the screen before I could even react.

I went crazy I love the ipad they only watch netflix on it occasionally thats all if its raining. They are pretty well behaved but I feel like I cant trust them with anything expensive even for a few seconds.

We have a garden with plenty of garden toys, the have a playroom with toys and plenty of books. I dont care how much they scream and make a mess in there so AIBU to ban all technology until the end of the summer?

I cant decide if shouting "thats it no more electricity" as I cradled my pride and joy ipad was an overreaction.

Maybe not ban it outright, but when the weather is as nice as it's been, get them outside in the paddling pool and only allow the technology on rainy days, later on in the evenings, etc.

I'm banning my DC from taking anything electrical (apart from their toothbrushes ) with them when we go away so they can play games and communicate with each other - and us !
When we get back they can go on for a certain amount of time, but then we'll be doing parks/beaches/picnics when we get home so it won't be for long then either .
I too love the iPad !!

I can tell you really loved that iPad!

A ban will do them no harm, mine are always able to find other things to do eventually.

I'd make the iPad ban permanent though, I love my iPad too.

duchess - how will I watch netflix, how will I play candy crush? my evening entertainment is in tatters!.

I have removed the nintendos from their bedrooms to screams and threats of being sick. Now I have a stack of technology. I told DH what had happened and he is about as amused as I am.

Great now its raining again. Ill make them play lego.

If you ban technology you will have to find other ways to entertain them. Dunno about you but I find technology a lot cheaper than days out. Might work since they're mostly so young & have each other to play with.

Send them outside.

If you have a video camera, get them to make a movie - outside.

Technology is not bad - it's just that you are using it as an electronic babysitter.

Didn't you have a case? I put an otterbox on mine tbh I think yabu if it was better protected it wouldn't have cracked.

We dont ban, we impose time restrictions.

So no Wii until 4pm.

No TV between 10am and 4pm.

With discretionary use if its p*ssing down with rain.

outside fine....assuming OP isn't having a heavy thunderstorms day like us.

Sounds like OP has to supervise them even more when they use tech, which does indeed defeat the purpose of it.

No restrictions. DS is an only child and I'm a single parent, so needs something else to entertain him (as do I). Play dates/seeing family and friends/playing outside don't fill enough of his/our time.

I would probably think differently in your situation, however.,

Yes to time restrictions, or use it as an incentive or reward for good behaviour. I would be angry too if expensive equipment was damaged by arguing, they should learn to respect it by a bit of banning. The whole summer could end up as much of a punishment for you though!

I'm with dwells, no tv between 9am and 4.30. Unless its raining. The iPad is only allowed on the weekend after 4pm, have yet to give into the demands for a wii.....

So they broke your TV and Ipad by fighting...?

If that happened in my house, being banned from the xbox would be the VERY LEAST of their worries!
They'd be in so much shit they wouldn't know what had hit them....

Screen can be fixed I think