To ask for help re kids screen time on holiday?

[screentimehelpplease]

DC's are 11 and 13. We're away on a Eurocamp type holiday on a nice site with a pool, arcade, plus lots of open space to play football, frisbee etc
At home the DC's are active, play for a couple of sports teams etc.
They also LOVE screens. The younger one usually games with his friends but has his Switch with him and wants to play Zelda all the time. The older one also games at home but here he has his phone and is staring at Tik Tok all the time (plus listening to music through his phone which I don't have a problem with). He's spent a little bit of time messaging friends and video calling his best friend, but mostly it's Tik Tok.

The screens are driving me mad.

We're in a beautiful place where they can do so much outside. They both love the pool but it's not boiling hot so it can get a bit chilly if you spend too long there. But the outside SPACE! We have a tiny garden at home far too small to play proper games of footy or cricket. Here they can. But they'd rather sit inside and stare are screens.

But it's their holiday too. So should they just get to spend it exactly how they want to and if that's staring at Tik Tok I should just accept it!

IABU - leave them to it, it's their choice how to relax.
IANBU - even though we're on holiday it's ok for me to put screen time restrictions in place.

Help!

I have not voted because I don't fully agree with either option. I would suggest a conversation with them, and see how they feel about it - and come to a decision together about how long is reasonable to spend on screens each day, and when. 3 hours in the evening? No screens at meals?

It depends on them really - If they enjoy outside activities and just need a kick up the bum to get them started, they might welcome your help in regulating. If they hate the idea then more screen time is more appropriate for them to have a happy holiday.

Thanks @Market1 I have kind of tried something like that but have been a bit wishy washy about it.
I DONT think that they hate doing stuff outside. It's just the pull of the bloody screens is so strong!

I suppose if they are wishy washy, then you can be a bit more assertive, and tell them what you want, and give them a chance to have an input if they disagree? If they don't protest, then assume they do agree!

Not related to holidays, but my sons used to hand my their games controllers and ask be to hide them when they were revising for GCSEs, so they knew what was best for them, and they knew they needed a push in the right direction from me

could you set a timetable - right kids you can sit on your phones etc until 10:30am but then we are up and out, we'll come back for lunch and then out again type thing?

Means they know when they can chill, but also have some structure to the day and know what to expect

You might find that your campsite has limited internet anyway, or you have to pay for it.

I personally feel that a mix is good - they should be able to do what they want on holiday, but then again, what is the point of going away just to be on screens?

We set time limits on our boys' devices via Family Link & all do activities together. Works for us, Dses are 14, 12, 9.

At home the DC's are active, play for a couple of sports teams etc

Maybe that’s partly why they want to lounge around and play Switch on holiday. I bet there’s a lot of adults who are really active at home but spend a fortnight lying on a sun lounger doing nothing on holiday, so maybe it’s just that your kids also want that feeling of complete relaxation and zero pressure to do anything.

However, I can see why you don’t want them scrolling TikTok for 12 hours a day, and I’m sure they’d enjoy doing something else too. I don’t think you should impose a limit on them or make a big deal out of it, but I do think you need to suggest, encourage and just make decisions about doing some different things. And you need to do things with them - if you want them to play Frisbee, announce that the plan for the afternoon is for you all to do that as a family and then get ice creams afterwards or something. Or plan a day off the campsite to an attraction or a town nearby or something.

Basically I think you need to be a bit more proactive in making things happen. Kids can be quite indifferent to suggestions sometimes and even more indifferent when asked to think of something to do, so I think maybe you need to take the lead a bit more. Not in a rule-setting way, but just be a bit less passive.

Just noticed you are there already so probably know the status of the campsite internet, apologies.