6yo completely loses the plot after TV/tablet use, what do I do?

[TheJuryIsOut]

So my 6yo seems completely incapable of watching TV/playing on her tablet for any length of time without completely losing the plot when she comes off. So tonight she has watched about 45 minutes of TV, she then started arguing with her 11 year old sister and started kicking her and I had to physically drag her away at which point she started kicking me (which she never ever does, not even when she was a toddler) she just completely lost it, it was like she was completely out of control of her body/brain. She does this (although she's never physically attacked anyone before) almost every time she comes off a screen, just seems to turn into a completely different person.

Now I know people may say just get rid of all screens but is that really realistic in this day and age? She's going to be using screens at school and as she grows up, I just don't know if banning it outright is the answer. But what the hell is it about screens that could be causing this sort of explosive behaviour?

The majority of comments mean limits and warnings for tv, the iPad needs to go full stop.

Right, but last night was after TV not the iPad.

Get rid of the screens..

Sweden is now stopping them in school too.

She is not grown up right now. That’s what counts. She doesn’t need to do at six what she might do at sixteen.

Stop all screens including TV and it’ll probably help.

‘So 6, I’ve noticed that when you come off of screens your behaviour changes, have you noticed that?’
’ it’s not acceptable to hurt your sister or me, so for now, the consequences of this behaviour is to not have screens. We’ll try again in a week and see how it goes.’

she needs to understand consequences. If you find this with ending or changing other activities, then she might need some help with managing transitions.

This is pretty much what I've said to her, she's spent about an hour tonight drawing her sister a picture (I didn't tell her to, she is obviously feeling guilty) I don't think I'll be giving the tablet back any time soon, if at all. We will have to see with regards to the TV

Youtube is absolutely awful, I have to constantly be on there blocking 1000s of channels that make my DC go absolutely loopy. I have a recurring alarm set to redo this every 6 weeks as the worst offenders seem to create new channels all the time which come back on. I should just get rid of it TBH but there is stuff they watch on there they can't get anywhere else and it would cause WW3 but I wish I had never let them on it in the first place, it's complete nonsense.

I can spot the prime offenders a mile off now, I think they are AI generated a lot of the time, it's all weird sound effects, gigantic eyes and repetitive high stimulation graphics. And the plethora of strange families jumping around in completely white made up houses. Bizarre.

OP - you are the only one who caused this. It’s up to you to cure it. You gave her the screens, it’s damaging her so take it away. No judgement - everyone is doing it and thinks it’s fine. Total judgement if you don’t take the good advice given to you on here.

What we've done for long distance travel, is burn a few Disney films from DVD onto our PC, and then put them onto the tablet, so the kids can watch a film if they're getting restless towards the end of a long journey etc. I've found that actual films are SO MUCH LESS over-stimulating than anything else that's on a tablet (shorter videos, games etc.)

I know a lot of people don't own films on DVD anymore, but you can pick up a few dead cheap from car boot sales, charity shops etc. or even the library I think.

100% agree movies are the way forward but you don’t need to do all the faff with DVDs and a PC. Just delete everything off the tablet that isn’t Netflix or Disney Plus (whatever you subscribe to) and download some chosen films in advance. Then so long as the tablet isn’t connected to the internet whilst travelling then that’s all they will be able to watch.

it's like the content/the screen itself does something to her brain.

BINGO

We know this. You could do a quick half an hour research on the effects of screen time on the brains of young children and learn a lot. This is exactly what is happening.

She's drawing her sister a picture because she feels guilty? That's not a good thing. She shouldn't have been put in this position in the first place. She's a six year old, you are the adult, you're placing far too much responsibility for this on her, it's you that needs to wake up to what is going on here and help her, not punish her.

Very much agree with this. Op stop tv during the week and see what happens. I think you’ll see a big improvement for her. Help her in that way rather than use screens.

I haven't "punished" her, she felt guilty for her actions which I don't think is a bad thing tbh.

She hasn't had any screens since the incident and has been totally calm and back to her normal self. As I said the tablet has been taken away and I may not return it at all or may just allow it for films on long journeys. I haven't been in denial about causing the screen time situation, I realise I'm in control of it and people have been very helpful with their advice.