How are others managing children's screen time over the summer holidays?

[CoolPearlCrab]

Summer break is yet to start, and I have a very clear idea that my kids' screen time will get out of control.
Because, most of my days are spent shouting and asking them to get their heads out of phones, YouTube, and games. Honestly it’s becoming really hard to get the kids interested in anything else. Their father sets some limits, but after he gets to work, they start fussing around and go right back to screens.
I am looking for a reliable solution that actually works for others. How are you managing screen time during summer break without fighting about it all day?
Honestly, I also just want some peace. I want my summer to pass calmly instead of spending the whole day getting exhausted dealing with them.

How old are they? It's very difficult if they don't have any other interests so that is one place to start.

11, 7, 8 and half

where to start, can you be please precise

We are out of the house a lot. Usually out for the same amount of time as school hours, sometimes more. I don't mind them being on screens when they get home as they are tired then and have had a decent amount of exercise and fresh air.

screen time is okay for me as well. but, hours sticking to screen is fighting over it is not good for me. my main concerns is that they don't even bother to engage in other activity.

I would say this is more about your weakness in enforcing boundaries consistently, because right now it sounds like you’re focusing more on getting some peace for yourself than fixing the actual screen habit. Kids usually pick up very quickly when limits can be pushed or avoided.

The half year old really shouldn’t be on screens.

I think it's easier to introduce other activities so that screens fit in the time between activities, then to focus on restricting screens.

Take them out of the house as much as possible. If in the house, have a specific activity such as craft or lego building or cookery or whatever.

Then you are left with first thing in the morning, the time around lunch and at the end of the day and some of this time will be spent in having meals and personal care (washing, dressing etc).. Encourage the 11 year old to make plans with friends and be a bit more independent.

he is not 6 month, clearly said 8 and half (8.5 years old)

Mine are a bit younger (8 and 6) so fully accept this may not work when they are 11 or so! But things that help for us:

Going out so they are physically away from the screens

Making sure that DH and I are on screens as little as possible around them

Setting up lots of activities in the garden to lure them outside

Password protected the laptop and tablet so they can't sneak off and use it without one of us knowing

Vouchers for different amounts of screen time that they have to 'earn' for various homework/chores/projects

We got these

Time Tokens | Bizziebaby

But off eBay as I think theyse ones have been discontinued. Lots of similar things on Amazon though.

The two younger children don’t need any screens at all
Allow the 11 access just to organise meet ups with friends.

First couple of days they have a free for all, I don't really care. Then they go to Scout camp for a week. Then after that we have a blanket rule of no screens before 4pm.

Works for us.

My 7 year old would spend hours on screens if I let him.

its hard work and takes a lot of effort. 9 times out of 10 he would prefer me to play with him in the garden, football or basketball or some other silly game in the house so you just have to make the time. Days out most days although I appreciate this gets expensive. Also, its fine for them to be bored sometimes. I have noticed that if I say no to the ipad he will mope and whinge for a bit but eventually he will start playing with lego or his cars. Good luck! I am also dreading it!!

😂 😂 😂 😂

The six weeks holiday? When my kids were little: Weeks 1-2, strict no screens, wholesome activities, completely virtuous. Weeks 3-4, slowly eroding boundaries free for all after 5pm on days we were home. Week 5, wheels are wobbling - more screens. Week six: "For the love of god, can you please just go on screens so I can formulate one solitary sentence in my head without interruption?"

Booking them into stuff helps. This summer DD1 (7) has a week outdoor day camp, some full days at forest school, some days at a dancing camp type thing and some half day art classes. Then on the days we don't have anything on I don't mind screen time that much as she might have spent three or four days that week out in the forest, for example. Getting out somewhere every day is important I think, even if it's just cycling up to the park or something.

I agree on that too, but they didn't listen, just follow my first born and what he did

It is every person's right to get some piece of mind. And it is natural for you to freak out. because things like these disrupt the family connection. But don't worry, there are apps that can get things under control for you.

What @Upstartled said!

Does TV count as screen time?!

Weekends and holidays are usually like this:
Mine are allowed TV upon waking, they take themselves off and leave me alone!
Breakfast: it all comes off, off we go for a day out or they go off to a holiday club.
They can then have it when they get home and are knackered, then off for supper and the bedtime routine.

Easier said than done!

However mine don’t have phones and you tube is banned anyway. They also don’t ask for my phone.

They are allowed more TV if it is horrible histories or something ‘educational’

Good luck!

I also want them to get engage in physical activities. I just need a solution that gives them a break from this phone addiction.

Oh the joys of the daily screen battle. My DS are 10 & 7..... Unfortunately except for being out all day everyday I have the same struggles. Although mine play alot of sports so that does provide some relief and they enjoy playing out on their bikes alot too. Some days are harder than others just depends how reasonable they are feeling and how patient I feel.... Good luck.

Take the phones away. Let them be bored, you will be surprised at how quickly they find ways to entertain themselves.

You are the parent OP. Take the screens away.

If you can not take the screen away, then you should probably look into parental tools instead of relying only on manual limits. We had a similar issue, and the normal screen time settings were too easy to bypass. And if you just cut off the source, you can also say that “You’re father can get it fixed and or something else” just sell them the story.

Google Family Link works for basics, but in your case xnspy would be a better option. Because the same thing happened in our house during last summer break. My friend suggested this app to me, and it works for us. It strictly keeps things under control. with kids knowing.

They're of an age where you've obviously bought those screens for them and pay for the WiFi for them to use them. Just as you gave them you can take them away.

Remove the screens for a portion of the day/week.

Being out and about will help massively.

But the main thing is having the willpower to listen to the whining and not give in.

It's in your hands.

Take them to the park. Take a picnic. Go somewhere with an exciting adventure playground. Go somewhere with trees you can climb and corners where they can run and explore. Go somewhere with a trail they can follow. Go somewhere and arrange to meet their friends there.

Go for a family cycle ride

Go for a family swim.

Go out with a football and play football. Or to a basketball court and play basketball. Or to a tennis court. Does your area organise open access play sessions? Go to them.

Do not take any phones (and if your younger 2 have their own phones, then maybe just take them away? And consider doing it for the oldest).