Tell me about how you manage t.v./computer / wii / tablet use (primary school age)?

[Lovage]

We have constant wrangles about this with DS1(8) and DS2(6). Neither watches much t.v. but they both love computer stuff (games, Mathletics, programming in Scratch, cbeebies site, making Powerpoints about the Second World War). Some of the stuff they do is very educational (like the Powerpoints!) but I just don't think they should spend too much time sat still and looking at a screen.

What boundaries, if any, do you set around screen time? I don't really want to get into screen time as a reward for good behaviour - I just want some sort of yardstick for what's reasonable.

Our rule is no screens on school days, apart from TV. He is allowed to watch an hour or so of TV after school if we are at home. On none school days he is allowed to play games on the computer, the wii, or my phone as well. I have found if I let him have any more screen time we have endless arguments when I ask him to turn things off.

Ds is 5. He gets very into screen things (mild asd). He can play on the wii at weekends for half or an hour at a time, more if one of us is with him but I don't like him to just be on his own too much. Given the choice he would just alternate between tv wii tablet phone and round again. School days he can only have tv but limits are not rigid - depends what else we are doing and big tantrums about stopping are dealt with by removing the privilege for next weekend.

We allow pretty much unlimited screen time of their choice (age appropriate) but offer plenty of other options too. DS1 who is 6 is in school 0830 to 1630 each day (we are in France). He does judo and swimming two nights after school, plus he has at least 15 minutes homework each night. Wednesday afternoon (no school), he comes to a language group activity with me and his younger brother, Friday afternoon (no school) DH usually takes both boys swimming or to the library. We also do plenty of family trips at the weekend - to see friends in the country, to parks, playdates etc.

So when he is at home, he gets to choose what he wants to do, more or less. If he ends up spending a whole morning in front of one screen or another, I'll switch them all off and take them out to the park, or direct him to his bedroom for lego / playmobil etc. He usually takes it fine, with a bit of warning from me.

So in response to your question, I guess we go for the approach of having so much else on the go for them that the time they have available for screens is balanced by all the school and sport and play that they do.