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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

No screen use during car journeys, am I being old fashioned?

325 replies

midnightvelvetPart2 · 15/08/2015 09:35

I do not let our DC's (9 & 6) play on screens during car journeys but I'm wondering whether I'm being a little outdated? :) they have regular screen time at home & if we are stationary in traffic jams then they can use them, but if we are just driving along then they are not allowed. I'm talking tablets/DS/handheld gaming things.

I used to get carsick to the point of vomiting if I ever tried to read a book in a car, so I wasn't allowed & this may be influencing it. DS1 used to get carsick but he hasn't been in 4 years.

I'm doubting myself now as we drove back from holiday yesterday & it was a journey of 4 hours. My dad phoned, the kids complained about the journey & that they were bored & he said well they can play on their tablets etc but when I said they weren't allowed to he was a bit taken aback. We play I Spy & Sausage etc & have music & audiobooks on so its not a silent car, DS2 usually sleeps at some point.

What does everyone do?

OP posts:
ButterflyUpSoHigh · 15/08/2015 09:40

For long journeys we have always used portable dvd players from an early age. It keeps them entertained so I can concentrate on the driving.

They both have kindle fires and usually take them if we are going out to eat or see family. I don't stress about screen time.

littlejohnnydory · 15/08/2015 09:41

We don't take tablets etc on car or train journeys. Never outside the house. I do let them read a book though - they'll stop if it makes them feel sick. They can listen to music.

SoupDragon · 15/08/2015 09:42

I let mine do whatever stops them fighting with each other and whining at me :)

I used to read in the car as a child. I can't do it now - I can't even navigate for someone.

Feline9 · 15/08/2015 09:43

Yes you are. What's wrong with kids occupying themselves in the car? Don't get this fuss over "screen time" on mumsnet...

Whathaveilost · 15/08/2015 09:44

I wish there had been tablets and devices around when my kids were younger.
They are a godsend for long journeys!

I love them as well when I'm a passenger!

Mutt · 15/08/2015 09:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Fourarmsv2 · 15/08/2015 09:45

I give them unlimited screen time in the car.

Part of a long journey prep will be to charge iPods, iPads, iPhones, DSs, kindles and the portable DVD player!

We play games, listen to music and talk too. I think it's safer for them to be plugged in and allow me to concentrate on the road.

buntingbingo · 15/08/2015 09:45

We never have used screens In the car. They are 4 and 6 so a bit younger. Out car doesn't have anything fancier than a radio. They just have one tablet so would just argue about who holds it/eat they watch. They take paper and pens. But to be honest we have never driven longer than 2/3 hours

RJnomore · 15/08/2015 09:45

I think you need to ask what are you trying to achieve by doing this.

To me it's the time I don't mind them having screens - it's down time, they cNt be doing much, they are stuck in the car and if it slows "are we there yet" all the better.

If it's because you want to use the time yo converse with them that is different. But if it's just a rule for no reason - think why?

EmeraldKitten · 15/08/2015 09:45

I think yabu tbh.

We do a drive of 9 hours (Wales to N Scotland) every year and the dc's I pads and ds are a godsend.

Anything over about 2 hours and we'd take screens. Generally the first hour would just be general talking/looking out the window. Hour 2 is games to keep them occupied.

We let them have them after the shine of playing eye spy/the yes no game/yellow car has worn off.

They're quite good at self regulsting through and will happily put them down after an hour and ask for a game of the yes no game again give me strength

Mintyy · 15/08/2015 09:45

No screens and no dvds here. Dd listens to her i-pod sometimes. Ds looks out of the window (he does get a little car sick) or talks to us or plays games or listens to the radio or cds on the car stereo. I am keen to limit screen time anyway. They are 11 and 14.

Bakeoffcake · 15/08/2015 09:45

when mine were that age we didn't have any screens, they just weren't interested in them. We used to play games, but tbh on some of the long holiday journeys I would have loved them to have something to keep them occupied.

meglet · 15/08/2015 09:46

yanbu.

mine never have screens or books in the car. I was another one with nasty travel sickness (still do) so I daren't tempt it. They never moan they're bored during car journeys, lots of silly made up games and requests for songs gets us through.

ollieplimsoles · 15/08/2015 09:46

Another who doesn't get 'screen time' they are sitting in a car, with nothing else to do, I think they should be able to entertain themselves in any way they want.

It becomes a problem if you reach the destination (holiday for example) and they are more interested in their games/ kindles than what's going on around them.

I'm.more likely to say kindles/ games in the car only tbh!

ElderlyKoreanLady · 15/08/2015 09:46

I think YABU. Having done many a 4-6 hour journey as a child, I can tell you that the boredom is hellish. I'd have given my left arm for a tablet to make the journey easier. I get that you wouldn't want the DC using them at restaurants, relative's homes, etc, but they're quite literally the perfect invention for the car.

G1veMeStrength · 15/08/2015 09:48

I let them on motorways, but not on windy roads or they'll feel sick.

twirlypoo · 15/08/2015 09:49

God no, ds can have whatever he needs on long journeys to make them bearable Grin

He has access to a DVD player, ipad, music, books and looking out the window.

rogueantimatter · 15/08/2015 09:49

Hmmm. It goes without saying that we all used to manage before we had 'screens'.

IMO they discourage mindfulness and deny children the experience of sitting through a long while of something without resorting to 'external' entertainment.

Wait till they're teenagers - they'll be addicted to their phones - there's time enough for them to be glued to a device with a screen!

We used to look out for specific things eg yellow cars, try to memorise the names of all the places we pass through, have conversations, ration sweets/snacks to one sweet every 20 mins or whatever so they used to watch the clock then gleefully have a sweet at the appointed time, listen to music, play word games etc, guess how far it is to the next town or whatever.

Perhaps

Feline9 · 15/08/2015 09:50

Why are people saying books/screens make car sickness worse? I've never heard this

MairzyDoats · 15/08/2015 09:50

I think YA definitely BU. It's about the only time I don't fuss about screen time, the boredom of sitting in cars for hours on end is painful, why not just let them be quietly occupied?! I love audio books though, I'd have those on as well.

Mrsjayy · 15/08/2015 09:53

All this screen time control sounds exhausting micromanaging nonsense long car journeys are dull and tbh i think you are making it duler but not allowing them to watch a film or whatever mine are way older and when incar monitors first came out i was first in the Argos queue to get a set I thought they were the dogs doodahs so did dds playing playstaion in the car was a godsend.

EmeraldKitten · 15/08/2015 09:55

I don't suffer from car sickness in general but I can't read anything at all or i feel really naseous and with actually throw up after a couple of minutes if I keep going.

A few months back we took one of the dc to the Drs. Dh was driving and I picked up the dc's medicine and read the back of the box without thinking. Dh had to pull over in the middle of town so I could be sick.

I've no idea why though.

Follyfoot · 15/08/2015 09:56

I'm surprised you havent heard that Feline, its really common.

I'd rather let them use a tablet or Kindle when there is nothing else for them to do than when at home when they could be spending their time in so many other ways. I dont see what anyone gains from a ban like this. Also I'm not quite sure why a traffic jam is any different to a moving car, so I dont understand the different rules in that scenario.

If it turns out that using a screen makes them feel sick, they will stop using it as soon as the cause of the nausea is pointed out to them (she says as someone who knows just how grim travel sickness is).

YouMakeMyDreams · 15/08/2015 09:57

I too don't get this screen time thing. I don't limit screen time and don't have a problem with them siitting all day they are excellent at self regulating.
On long journeys part of the planning is making sure tablets are charged. We travel a lot and they are sitting there doing nothing. Dvd player when younger and tablets now are a godsend on long boring journeys means Dp and I can share the driving as we are getting peace to rest. We still chat and play games and sing songs but we all need that quiet down time when they are amusing themselves on their tablets.

meglet · 15/08/2015 09:58

feline it's to do with taking your eye off the horizon and confusing you inner ear. I used to get it when I sat in the back. still get it if I go backwards on a train (i stand forwards instead) or look at my phone on a train for longer than a moment or play minecraft or go on a swing. I've never beaten it.