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Summer screentime

11 replies

JennyBee12 · 01/08/2023 15:02

Anyone else struggling with this? Getting the kids out everyday and doing other stuff at home but still feels like they're getting a lot of screentime. But we haven't had much planned since holidays started as saving trips for when DH has time off next week. Think I just need to know I'm not alone and that's its OK because it's not always like this!

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Lovegood · 01/08/2023 15:05

DS has barely left his room (he's 13) and I fret about it but it's the holidays, school takes so much out of him, I'm letting him take the downtime.

Whatsdarkmode · 01/08/2023 15:12

15 year old would spend all day in
his room .. I have a rule - that he does some exercise each day and is outside at some point . So a bike ride / walk or run or a row/weights and a book read in the garden .. might only be an hour a day but better than nothing . Tomorrow I’ve booked him a swim session with his brother .. will force a family day out each Sunday and try and do something mid week with him and his brother .. I find a walk to the nearest costa works well it’s about 30 mins .

bluechameleon · 01/08/2023 20:44

I planned to do no screens for the first two weeks of the holiday to act as a kind of reset, but I couldn't get DH on board and wasn't prepared to be the bad guy. So I've banned YouTube and am limiting other things. Today I was more relaxed (mainly because I was feeling lazy myself and wanted to be on my phone) and their behaviour has been much worse, so from now on I'm holding firm on minimal screen time. They are only primary age so have plenty of toys, books, crafts, board games plus the garden as options.

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NuffSaidSam · 01/08/2023 20:45

How old are the kids? Teens, fine. Primary school, I'd limit it as much as possible.

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JennyBee12 · 02/08/2023 07:40

bluechameleon · 01/08/2023 20:44

I planned to do no screens for the first two weeks of the holiday to act as a kind of reset, but I couldn't get DH on board and wasn't prepared to be the bad guy. So I've banned YouTube and am limiting other things. Today I was more relaxed (mainly because I was feeling lazy myself and wanted to be on my phone) and their behaviour has been much worse, so from now on I'm holding firm on minimal screen time. They are only primary age so have plenty of toys, books, crafts, board games plus the garden as options.

This sounds like me! I wouldn't be able to get DH on board with something like that but would love it myself! He's much more laid back than me. And yes I definitely find the same with behaviour, but I've found it's not so much the total hours but how long they are on at a time so we have lots of breaks and do other things.

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JennyBee12 · 02/08/2023 07:42

NuffSaidSam · 01/08/2023 20:45

How old are the kids? Teens, fine. Primary school, I'd limit it as much as possible.

Ages 11 and 8. DS 8 is OK to manage but DD 11 is now at that sort of transition stage and has a phone so it's a bit trickier. I'm trying to find that balance between what I feel is acceptable vs what she feels is fair.

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LSSG · 02/08/2023 07:46

Far more tv than I'd like, even though I feel she's doing loads out of the house too (8yo), but minimal other screens. Feel a bit powerless sometimes as I've a wee one too, and DH is working. The weather certainly isn't helping!

Anyone have any no-screens at home entertainment tips?

NuffSaidSam · 02/08/2023 09:39

LSSG · 02/08/2023 07:46

Far more tv than I'd like, even though I feel she's doing loads out of the house too (8yo), but minimal other screens. Feel a bit powerless sometimes as I've a wee one too, and DH is working. The weather certainly isn't helping!

Anyone have any no-screens at home entertainment tips?

I think there's a lot to be said for just banning screens/limiting screen time, dealing with the fallout and seeing what happens when you come out the other side.

All the previous generations have kept themselves busy over the summer without resorting to endless screens, kids today are also capable of this given the chance. Do they read? Draw? Meet up with friends? Play an instrument? Practise a sport? Lego? Craft? Baking? Write stories? Play pretend? Have they played with every toy they have in the last few weeks?

Whatsdarkmode · 02/08/2023 10:27

It’s a very delicate balance with an 11 year old if she’s changing schools .

my 15 learns a lot on line but he has a naturally inquisitive mind . I would struggle to keep him mentally stimulated without it .

my 13 games and watches YouTube re his hobby .. not so much value

Original poster
JennyBee12 · 02/08/2023 15:38

NuffSaidSam · 02/08/2023 09:39

I think there's a lot to be said for just banning screens/limiting screen time, dealing with the fallout and seeing what happens when you come out the other side.

All the previous generations have kept themselves busy over the summer without resorting to endless screens, kids today are also capable of this given the chance. Do they read? Draw? Meet up with friends? Play an instrument? Practise a sport? Lego? Craft? Baking? Write stories? Play pretend? Have they played with every toy they have in the last few weeks?

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Good points! I suppose previous generations didn't have the same options though. My two are generally OK with keeping themselves entertained but this is the first summer where they're playing together a bit less now that DD is older. DS loves lego though and I read with him and play board games. DD is not so into reading but enjoys audio books and music (technically using a screen but doesn't count as she's not watching). And we tend to always go to parks when the weather is decent, which hasn't been happening much so far!

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InDubiousBattle · 02/08/2023 15:49

Mine will have had a lot of screen time today (8&9 and both have a switch). We've done some Fimo and baked, they've read and played with the lego too but it's pissed it down all day and the day is definitely long enough to do all of that and have a few hours on their switch. It doesn't bother me to be honest, they always come off when asked, happy to do other stuff and it doesn't effect their behaviour at all.

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