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AIBU?

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Original poster

to have banned all computer gaming/ipad/DS during week

70 replies

SirSugar · 18/11/2013 20:13

DS is 7, he can play on weekends only. He is exhibiting addictive behaviour/whinging and has low boredom threshold.

We have loads of books/lego and creative stuff - I paint/sew/knit etc.

I think I'm doing him a favour - he's finding it difficult but we have only just started.

OP posts:
CoffeeTea103 · 18/11/2013 20:14

Yanbu, it sounds unhealthy.

TippiShagpile · 18/11/2013 20:15

Yanbu.

We have a "no screen time (ie iPads, computers etc) in the week" rule.

20 minutes screen time Sat and Sunday but will be lost if behaviour not up to scratch.

CairoPrankster · 18/11/2013 20:16

Yanbu
I want to do the same thing, DS is also showing addictive behaviour
Have tried to limit screen time to an hour and half but he keeps pushing it further. I am currently very annoyed by bloody minecraft taking over his life

BerstieSpotts · 18/11/2013 20:17

I think that's fair and he will get used to it soon and stop whingeing, hopefully Grin

(I am a bit Confused at the idea of 20 minutes' screen time, though. What can you do in 20 minutes?)

Aeroaddict · 18/11/2013 20:19

I have the same rule for DS. I got sick of the constant whinging to go on various screens, followed by the fuss when I told him he had to switch them off. He doesn't ask in the week at all now, and it is not a problem. Once you take out school, and time for dinner, bath, etc, its not as if they have that much time to fill anyway.

KingscoteStaff · 18/11/2013 20:20

No screen time on school nights here as well.

PavlovtheCat · 18/11/2013 20:21

blimey absolutely not BU. That incessant whining to go on some screen of some kind has had me banning them in the week now too. DD is also 7. Absolute nightmare if we let it become a during the week thing.

TippiShagpile · 18/11/2013 20:21

20 minutes of minecraft in a day is plenty imo.

I have real concerns about the addictive nature of these games.

busylizzie76 · 18/11/2013 20:21

I try to do this but my kids do use my ipad during the week to learn their spellings and do their times tables practice (squeebles).

Vivacia · 18/11/2013 20:29

I wish somebody would ban me from screen time.

TiggyD · 18/11/2013 20:49

Even Minecraft?!

pointyfangs · 18/11/2013 20:50

Same here, mine are 10 and 12. The only computer use allowed in this house on school nights is if it's for homework. Games consoles are for weekends and holidays only.

We have had this rule since they got their consoles though, so it has never been a problem. Games and MN are addictive, it is an issue.

CaterpillarCara · 18/11/2013 20:55

YANBU

We also have all screens banned in the week. Allow more than 20 minutes at the weekend, probably averages more like 2 hours a day - some Wii, some emailing to family, maybe a film or TV show together.

20 minutes seems very low for a screen time limit to me. I like our family movie nights, for a start!

dietcokeandwine · 18/11/2013 20:57

YANBU and I need to do the same tbh.

9yo is not allowed iphone/ipad/minecraft/PS3 type games during the week at all - the only computer time is for school work.

But he does still get a bit of DS time after school, and telly after tea. And displays similarly addictive behaviour with both of these. Actually TV is the worst. I prefer him doing some DS stuff, tbh, rather than just sitting there vegetating. DS would sit in front of the TV for hours if I didn't keep an eagle eye on him.

I am considering an outright ban on TV from Monday to Thursday.

TippiShagpile · 18/11/2013 20:58

By "screen time" I mean iPads, computers etc (see my first post). I'm more relaxed about tv but that's probably because they aren't that fussed about watching tv unless there's a good film on or something they particularly like on cbbc.

trashcanjunkie · 18/11/2013 20:59

I'm getting ipads for christmas for my dts who will be nine in January. They are allowed to watch TV in the week if they have done all the stuff they should have, like music practice, chores, bath, eating dinner. My eldest was exposed to computer games from a much younger age. He had the low boredom threshold and addictive behaviour you describe op. I have been so much stricter with the younger dcs. They are much less affected by it, and I'll be as strict with ipad time as I am with TV - ie, it's not happening until all the other shit's taken care of, and even then, you're not allowed to sit and fester on it all day. And any grumbling or twatty behaviour about the restrictions results in it going away for the rest of the day.

trashcanjunkie · 18/11/2013 21:01

vivacia I hereby invoke the 20 minute a day rule on you Grin

Shannaratiger · 18/11/2013 21:02

We have the same problem Have started to switch the ds's off at 6:30pm. This has resulted in them going to sleep better and have re found alot of their old toys and dd and ds play together really nicely for that last hour before bedtime. Am thinking about introducing a no ds's before school the same as I did with the Wii last year.

froggydoo · 18/11/2013 21:04

We have the same rule for our DDs. No tv / iPad Monday - Thursday. With them TV was the bigger issue but it is totally solved now. They don't ask cos they know the answer.

Also there is no guilt when they sit and watch a film on Friday or weekend as we know it is the only tv time they get.

Makes family life much calmer Grin

froggydoo · 18/11/2013 21:04

We have the same rule for our DDs. No tv / iPad Monday - Thursday. With them TV was the bigger issue but it is totally solved now. They don't ask cos they know the answer.

Also there is no guilt when they sit and watch a film on Friday or weekend as we know it is the only tv time they get.

Makes family life much calmer Grin

Original poster
SirSugar · 18/11/2013 21:06

He lay on the floor earlier moaning with withdrawl symptoms.

OP posts:
dietcokeandwine · 18/11/2013 21:07

God Tippi I wish my DS wasn't that bothered about the TV. TV is the biggest issue in our house tbh.

trashcanjunkie · 18/11/2013 21:14

stay strong sirsugar it will be ok!

Financeprincess · 18/11/2013 23:48

Stick with it. Otherwise he might end up like my 16 year old stepson, who was allowed to spend as much time as he wanted gazing slack-jawed at games and is now both extremely unfit and unable to converse about anything but wretched Mario and the other animated idiots. Beware!!

FortyDoorsToNowhere · 19/11/2013 00:21

I think it's a bit extreme.

Once homework, dinner, bath and pj are on DC free time is up to them.

Children get no control in there lives, so I think that 1 thing they should have control over.

The longer it takes to do the above the less free time they have.