8 year old and electronics

[Teambluemuma13]

So my youngest seems to be obsessed with electronics....
He is currently on an electronics ban as he was caught 4 nights in 1 week sneaking his TV on late at night. He is alway honest when asked if he did it, to be honest the ratty behaviour and red eyes prevent him from being able to lie but that's that.
Well tonight after picking him up from nanans I asked h to go upstairs get changed and get his uniform ready for the next day. I come upstairs after calling him to find him in his pants and school jumper watching YouTube on his ipad! His ipad was in my room in my drawers so he had gone out of his way to get it.
Obviously out of sight out of mind failed!
What can I do? He is just like me and needs his sleep so him sneaking stuff is not the one and affects him the next day. I feel awful and a failure.

Their schooling! Not there. My phone keeps doing this to me!

Hi - Op. Firstly - an 8 year old is not capable of 'self control' when it comes to devices - they are designed by experts to be addictive. Adults can't control them - I definitely do not exercise 'self control' in the way I use my phone

Get on a tube in london as I do daily - look around at adults mindlessly swiping constantly on their phones and ipads. We are all addicted - your 8 year old is not going to do this on his own.

I think its absolutely disastrous having a tv in his room - if he wants kids tv surely he watches it in the living room. Your son might need a detox - my own son is 9 and if left unattended finds it very hard not to sneak the ipad or switch and use it without asking - these things are fun for them!

I would just introduce very very strict boundaries and make sure there is no ipad or tv in the room at all. Also try things like a week with no sreens - hard at first but always worthwhile

No TV’s in bedroom’s!!!!

All those saying snatch it away... Isn't that a teeny bit cruel though when op should never have put it in there??
. Surely she needs a apology to him then both come up with a suitable arrangement??....

At the moment it's a little " I gave my dog a bone and all he will do is chew it. He's naughty for not showing self restraint what should I do"

I'm pretty lax about screens, tech and TV, however having a TV in the bedroom is a big NO from me.

I'm 44 and couldn't restrain myself from watching it at inappropriate times (which is why I don't have one in my bedroom), how do you expect an 8yo to resist!

Remove it and other devices and have set times when he can use them.
Your the adult, you get to set the boundaries.

@JanuaryBluehoo

All those saying snatch it away... Isn't that a teeny bit cruel though when op should never have put it in there?? . Surely she needs a apology to him then both come up with a suitable arrangement??....

At the moment it's a little " I gave my dog a bone and all he will do is chew it. He's naughty for not showing self restraint what should I do"

Nope.

Loads of empathy, lots of love, "I can see it's too hard to have a TV in the bedroom and you're tempted. That's why mummy can't have hobnobs in the house so I'm taking it out. Maybe when you're a bit older we'll see. Love you".

Done.

I believe children shouldn’t have a TV in their bedroom, it’s not a good thing so remove it. Turn the WiFi off when you don’t want him using it. It’s not rocket science 🙂

@JanuaryBluehoo

All those saying snatch it away... Isn't that a teeny bit cruel though when op should never have put it in there?? . Surely she needs a apology to him then both come up with a suitable arrangement??....

At the moment it's a little " I gave my dog a bone and all he will do is chew it. He's naughty for not showing self restraint what should I do"

Of course it's not cruel!