Grandson has too much screen time, is it my place to say?

[Halloweencat]

I think my 5 year old grandson has too much screen time on a children's ipad. From what I've read it can be damaging to their eyes. His development is normal & he's doing very well at school. AIBU to say something, or tell him to put it down?

How much is too much?

No.

Of course you don't say anything!!

Not your decision.

Do it if you want to fuck up your relationship.

Can I hazard a guess that your son is the father rather than your daughter being the mother?

Why does he have ‘too much’?

No. Its not your place. At all.

Absolutely none of your business.

No it’s not your place to say something.

Oh - there is one circumstance in which you make that decision

If you have custody.

Do you?

He's doing well at school, so I would let it go. If it was affecting his school work my answer would be different.

why on earth do you think its your place to say something ? Its just your opinion

It’s really not your place to say anything. Parents make decisions on screen time, not grandparents.

Absolutely none of your business. If my DM or ex-mil decided my DC had too much screen time and tackled me over it they'd be getting very short shrift.

Well. If you have a good relationship with the mum and dad and think there is something genuinely helpful to say without annoying them...then go for it. But firstly. How much is he getting? Secondly are the parents under a lot of pressure? Is it likely they aren't already aware that he gas a lot of screen time ?

There is no point saying anything unless you think they don't know and would genuinely benefit from your advice which tbh is unlikely.

He could be watching 14 hours a day and it still wouldn't be your place to say. If my mum/MIL told me they thought DS has too much screen time they'd get a swift fuck off from me.

If your grandson is in your house in your sole care then "yes" you can prevent him spending time on screens by interacting with him.

In his parents care keep your mouth firmly shut until they ask for your opinion.

Define too much? Asking for a friend

Unless you are in a position to take up the slack then no. If for example you look after him and the parents say 'Oh just let him play on the ipad for a couple of hours, you might offer to take him to the park / say maybe he could bake with me. If though you are thinking about his parents doing more then I would step away and keep quiet.

Nothing to do with you.

My teenager has had a fuckton of screentime (some of it on online spelling tests, times tables challenge and Duolingo - are we OK with that?) and the optician is happy with the health of her eyes.

I was born in the days of books and a handheld Donkey Kong if you were very lucky - glasses my whole life.

None of your business, stay out of it.

Willing to bet this is a child of your son and not your daughter…

The thing is OP, times have changed. In my experience, many grandparents struggle to comprehend the digital-ness of the world their grandchildren are growing up in. It isn't the amount of screen time, it's what they are doing on the device that's important. If you think they are being exposed to inappropriate content, then you should speak up, but not just on "screen time".

Keep your nose out, you had your time to parent the way you wanted, this is their time. He isn’t coming to any harm.

Why not suggest he does something else with you? No harm in asking..