To think parents use “screen time” as a scapegoat for their own lack of parenting?

[SnarkyDenimBee]

Every problem with kids today gets blamed on screens. But isn’t it just easier than admitting some parents don’t set boundaries or spend time with their kids?

Parenting is definitely a big part of it, but alot of parents never had role models or 'good' parenting themselves. Alot of people are just trying their best and don't know any better. Alot of people are just treading water and surviving life. There's so many contributing factors.

I’ve voted YANBU. In the sense that my children, four of them do have “screen time” At a level at which as a child of the 80’s I had TV time.

so I will pop a favourite show for them on the iPad, a film on Netflix.

other than that I will sit with each and do a “game” depending on what they might like or be helpful.

I am not perfect. I don’t ban it. We don’t have TV. So it would be a DVD.

ipad with a poorly child while I catch up on admin for farm is fine.

they do not have unrestricted or free use of it.

if they ask repeatedly after being told no then it is removed for a good few weeks.

Confused. Isn't that the same thing as saying excessive screen time is the symptom of the problem not the cause?

Most of DD’s friends are on it 6 hours plus a day, some well in excess of that.

I think in years gone by kids would have socialised with each other more -playinh out - rather than necessarily spending more time with their kids. I think it's primarily this which screen time has replaced. Though in the case of mealtimes etc I do think there's some truth in what you're saying.

Yes exactly, I see screens more as the symptom than the root cause. It’s just easier for people to say ‘screens are the problem’ than to look at the boundaries and parenting behind it.

If the object of saying anything at all on the subject is to encourage people to reflect and make changes then it's far more effective to speak about specifics. "It's better for a child not to spend too much time on screens" is much easier and clearer to grasp than "It's better for a child not to have a lack of parenting" Because that is subjective and undefined.

I feel like it's not parents who use lots of screen time who are saying 'screen time is the problem' though. Most parents who think screen time might be an issue therefore restrict it for their DC.