screen time

ritav88 · 2022-02-27T18:26:21+00:00

how can I stop so much screen time and hey my son out more , he is five and just want to stay in and watch youtube help!?

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

AskingforaBaskin · 27/02/2022 18:28

When I was pregnant with DD2 my DS was 5 and DD was 3.
The end of the pregnancy was excruciating. I could barely walk to pee.

So I relied a lot on devices. Which then caused a similar problem. Great at the time. Not so good long term.

The fix is at night take them lock them away or put them so high they can't be seen.
The first few days will be hell. Just accept that.
You have got to engage with them. Plan things like baking or colouring and then make them go to the park or for a walk. They are the children they do as you say.

When they ask you say no we're not doing that today m

AnneLovesGilbert · 27/02/2022 18:32

He’s 5. Take all screens off him. YouTube is ridiculously addictive, why would he want to do anything else when he can glaze over watching that?

Read with him, go to the park, meet friends, cook, go for walks.

It’s not his fault he’s addicted, that’s what happens. But you’re responsible for what he’s doing and it’s up to you to change it.

Duracellbunnywannabe · 27/02/2022 18:34

Set a time limit. Tell him when there is 30 mins left.
Ban youtube and only allow iplayer/Disney.
Tell him you are going out or give him the option of going out or staying home with no TV.
Do you take him to places he likes?

Duracellbunnywannabe · 27/02/2022 18:34

*sorry that should be 5 mins left.

Original poster

ritav88 · 27/02/2022 18:40

excatly I have been really with covid so for him to have YouTube was to help me hey better but now its hard to hey him off as he has a computer in his room...I always say let's go out and do something and he never wants to , I even let him choose where he wants to go but he dont want to says he dont like going out...it is my fault and I know only I can change it but I feel so bad when I take it away from him mum guilt kicks in as he is an only child

OP posts:

Duracellbunnywannabe · 27/02/2022 18:43

Does he have unsupervised access to to the internet? I would stop that immediately.

ifoundthebread · 27/02/2022 18:43

Turn the Internet off, tell him its not working. He will either find something else to do or be bored. Learning how to be bored is an important skill to learn imo and not often taught as there is a pressure on parents to always make sure kids are entertained.

Tsuni · 27/02/2022 18:47

Take the computer out of his room.

User405 · 27/02/2022 18:49

"Let's go out and do something" is too complicated an offer for a five year old.

We are going to feed the ducks, get your shoes on.

Or

Do you want to go to the park with the yellow slide or the park with the flying fox?

Or

Let's get the Lego out.

You have to be happy with the amount of screen time for your own child. It's up to you and there is nothing wrong with using it how you want to.

I hate being badgered more than anything else so my dc used to only have TV after bathtime and before they went to bed. That way they associated it with a certain time of day and didn't ask me.

LemonDrizzles · 27/02/2022 18:49

As others have said, go to wilkos/poundland, get a few different books, colouring, crayons, blank/lined (sometimes 2, one for you), cheap watercolors, paint, crayons. Then brace yourself, it will be tough.

Have something else planned.

All the best

ufucoffee · 27/02/2022 18:53

Don't ask him, tell him. He's 5. You feeling guilty is all about you, not what's best for him. Tell him YouTube is broken and can't be watched by anyone any more.

AliceW89 · 27/02/2022 19:01

I agree with others - you are expecting your 5 yo to have way more self control then he is likely capable of. If you are serious, I’d take the computer out of his room and have a set chunk of time once or twice a day he is allowed supervised access to age-appropriate material. Outside of this, you need to tell him (not ask him) you are going out/playing with toys/doing some art/doing some baking and stick to it. If he doesn’t want to, then let him be bored. You are likely in for a rough couple of weeks while he adjusts to not getting what he wants, but boundaries, especially around potentially harmful things such as unfettered internet access, is really important.

moita · 27/02/2022 20:30

It won't be easy (lots of adults struggle to regulate screen time) but I would bite the bullet and get strict. Totally get why you relied it on it though, so hard when you're ill.

Duracellbunnywannabe · 27/02/2022 20:38

Plan your days with him ask him on Friday nights if he wants to go swimming or the library on Saturday. You either need to tell him what is happening or give him a simple choice.

Miriam101 · 27/02/2022 20:49

As everyone else has said, the computer is broken! It no longer switches on, oh what a shame, what are we going to do now? Etc etc

Harrysmummy246 · 27/02/2022 21:44

@ritav88

excatly I have been really with covid so for him to have YouTube was to help me hey better but now its hard to hey him off as he has a computer in his room...I always say let's go out and do something and he never wants to , I even let him choose where he wants to go but he dont want to says he dont like going out...it is my fault and I know only I can change it but I feel so bad when I take it away from him mum guilt kicks in as he is an only child

No devices in bedrooms.

Some times activities like going out aren't optional (bribery like cafe for a cake can work for my DS)

Original poster

ritav88 · 28/02/2022 19:29

thank you guys for all your advice I'm going to try all the suggestions that have been said hopefully one will work 🙏

OP posts:

cherry2727 · 28/02/2022 19:41

Op they won't hopefully work - they will work but only if you persevere. I do understand that it's very easy to slip into this habit but just think about the long term effects of him being addicted to the screen .
You can do this!!!!

morechocolateneededtoday · 28/02/2022 20:03

To be blunt, screens need to be removed from his room and ideally stop all Youtube access. DD is also 5, completely understand the need to use screens while you are unwell and recovering, I have done the same but also noticed a downwards spiral in her behaviour when she has access to Youtube because of how addictive it is.

We completely stopped all access and restricted screens to TV only. I have found she eventually gets fed up of this rather than being glued like she is with Youtube.

You need to be firm and follow through, not feel guilty for doing what is best for him in the long run

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