Ground rules for screen time?

[indiesearcher]

Hi everyone,

Looking for some help and guidance as DH and I try to navigate screen time/TV time etc for our kids. DS 8 and DD 6.

They are both pretty good at self regulating, and both get about 30mins of kids YouTube a week as it's mostly drivel and I don't think it's food for their attention span etc. But beyond that I'm pretty relaxed about TV shows, as long as they are playing, reading with us, and homework is done, I'm fairly chilled.

DS has recently started wanting to play Roblox on my PC which I let him do. He would usually choose this over TV nowadays, and really only plays a flight simulator game with a couple of his real life friends who are online too.

Can I ask for you to share your screen time rules with us? As DS is getting a bit older and a bit more independent I'm happy to let him have his downtime but don't know how much is too much. DH is very anti gaming, whereas I grew up with two brothers and every games console under the sun (it hasn't led to gaming into adulthood or any lack of social skills).

What would be a happy amount of gaming/TV? And do you allow it just at weekends?

DS has only a little bit of homework each week which he does without too much fuss, and DD just had a reading book once a week. I'd like to do more with them in terms of boosting academic stuff at home (both could do with a bit of post lockdown catch up for which we have a weekly tutor) - but they fight me so much if I try to get them to do so much as a workbook.

Anyway, I'm rambling a bit but looking for a steer on what a healthy approach would be?

TIA

Bumping!!

We don’t have any real rules as such, DS is nearly 7 and likes playing on his switch and Roblox etc.

As long as he’s taking it steady that’s all that we ask, homework gets done and he’s not cheeky etc.
he enjoys playing it, does his activities- football three times a week etc.

I’ve been pretty strict about gaming time with my dcs. They have none in the week but have a couple of hours a day fri-sun and school holidays.
I found the same as you. They would always choose gaming above anything else and rushing through homework, or getting annoyed and stressed about tests because they wanted to get to their games.
It’s much easier for us to be in the habit of no gaming on school nights. It’s also easier to get into the habit when they’re young rather than struggling with a 15 yr old who’s getting distracted with GCSEs coming up.

My daughter is 5. She is allowed her tablet at weekends and we don't really set a time limit. She knows she can't have it during the week but can use the iPad for homework or doing reading eggs/maths seeds.

As for watching TV there are only certain shows she really likes. She can watch it after school if she wants to as long as no outstanding homework to be done. Between that, having tea and playing she probably only watches an hour or so at most.

Thanks for the ideas, I think relaxed TV but weekend iPad/apps/gaming sounds good. You're right, it's distracting!