Teenage bed times and Skypeing...

[ParsleyTheLioness]

14 yr old dd goes to be 2100 school nights, lights off 2130. One hour later for hols. This would be ok, but I keep finding her Skypeing at stupid-o-clock, waking to the sound of teenage giggling... I can take the computer, etc off her at half-nine, or half-ten, but quite honestly I am normally asleep by then. I have to be up earlyish normally, and am fit for not much past about nine. I realise this is not dd's fault, but I really cannot manage without a reasonable sleep. At the moment I have said I want the computer at nine, until she proves she can be trusted with it later. I have no objection to reading, listening to mp3 etc, I just can't keep being woken up. STBXH was much stricter with her, so she's trying it on a bit. Any thoughts Wise Ones?

I would take the computer off her much earlier. She doesn't need it does she?

My DD (12) was messing about on skype and video chat on FB yesterday evening, but as it is the holidays I didn't mind.

Would not allow it on school nights, and especially not if it was keeping me awake, which is a cardinal sin in our house.

Ok, what time you think Egg?

you can set up parental controls, so the computer locks at a set time and cannot be unlocked without a password or until the unlock time.

I have done this on DDs computer. Its set to block from 10pm to 8am.

You will need to set yourself up an account as administrator, and change her account to be a standard user.

If you go into control panel > User Accounts and parental control >

And it will lead you through the process.

Good idea, had forgotten I could do that...can I do the same on the Blackberry?

I'd take it off her an hour before you go to bed. Then you have plenty of time for the ensuing outrage -

Oh Egg I do so love a good teenage meltdown before bedtime... [bugrin]

no idea about blackberry. But if she is skyoing via the wifi, just switch it off before bed. Job done.

Of course! Why did I not think of that...wil it upset the settings, as in will I have to reset the dratted thing if I do that...it seems to be a bit temperamental. Very much like dd in fact...

DD hands over her phone and laptop at 9, because I don't want her disturbing other people at that time (and I want her to sleep). Switching off the wifi will also work for Skype.

I also have administrator setting on the pc (for my younger children) that control the times they can use it, though I appreciate that this becomes harder once you get wifi & 3G devices (I wouldn't want to turn the wifi off as I would be using it, and I have no idea on the position re 3G).

I guess having these sort of devices handed over at a certain time is an option.

re "upsetting the settings" - with my wifi (BT home hub 3) you just turn it back on and it is fine, same with the modem I had before this one.

You can turn the wifi off and on as often as you like - doesn't require passords to be put back in or anything fiddly.

But if she is using a blackberry she could go on skypeing via the mobile phone signals. So would suggest that the Blackberry lives downstairs during the night, preferably switched off.

You could always make an exception on a Friday or Saturday night and allow her a virtual sleepover via skype, but on a school night, it would seem reasonable to say she ought to go to sleep at whatever time you set.

Thanks peeps.

I think that making a 14 year old go to sleep at 10.30 in the holidays is a bit harsh tbh.

depends on the teen, depends on what is going on during the day. Mine is supposedly studying for GCSEs. She needs to sleep, not skype.

Yes, i agree, we both need to sleep. Even in the holidays, bed late = up late, and the body clock is shot when they need to go back to school.

Doesn't she ever get a lie in?

Um why has she got Internet access in her room? I would be turning the router off and keeping it with me if this kept happening.

My DS (only 7) has limited time on the laptop, it shuts him out after his time is up and can not be accessed before 7am on a weekday or after 7pm. I also have my modem on a remote control socket so I can take the remote control to my bedroom and turn it off when I go to sleep. Saves electricity to turn the modem off when not in use.

Handing them over at 9pm is perfectly reasonable at 14 if she can't follow 'the rules'. I'd keep doing that until half term, let her prove herself (or not) over half term. I think going to bed at 10.30 in the holidays is plenty late enough for a 14 year old!

We all need different amounts of sleep. Teens ate no different, and it also depends what time they are awake in the mornings. Personally I think 10.30 is late enough especially if OP is going to sleep well before this.

Thanks all! The router seems to have no actual off-switch, which would mean me having to take it out at the wall. An upgrade to one with a remote control sounds like a plan. Looks like cheapskate ex saddled us with a cheap one.
Fanny do you remember where you got yours with the remote from? Is it generally reliable?

We have these on several of our more inaccessible plugs - and on the router.

Makes life much easier.

Thanks Carpe I'm all for something to make life easier

My 14 yr old was up to midnight last night chatting, when I turfed her off. I do think 10.30 is a bit harsh for a teenager in the holidays.
Also teenagers start to release melatonin later and later so they are not tired in the evening but still need a lot of sleep.
Not sure why you need a router with an on/off switch, just turn the switch off at the wall or unplug it, which is what we do when we go to bed. We only just got a router/wifi from Virgin last month, up until then we had a router with no on off switch.
Also I don't think you can get a router with a remote control, the poster above was referring to a plug you put between the mains socket and the plug of the router which can be turned on or off with a remote like http://www.amazon.co.uk/Energenie-Remote-Control-Sockets-Pack/dp/B004A7XGH8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334044343&sr=8-1 this