How much screen-time?

[anna26anna]

Has anyone done any recent research around screen-time guidelines for different age-groups? I feel like I need to bring myself up to date - we are erring on the side of caution and really trying to encourage non-screen-based play (Lego, trampoline, drawing, etc.) to fill most of the children's afternoons and weekends, but possibly our rules need updating.

We have DS1 (almost 7), DS2 (4.5), and DD (2). When DS1 got a DS about 2 years ago, we set the limit of 20 minutes per day, and he played Mario, Pokemon, etc. Since then as a family we've added Wii to the mix, and recently an iPad, so the 20 minutes screen-time switches between whatever he fancies playing on a particular day - usually iPad at the moment because it's new. It's a rare day when he doesn't get 20 minutes screen-time, although it's sometimes fully or partially taken away (after warning) as a consequence of unacceptable behaviour.

DS2 (4.5) also plays the simpler games and now gets the same 20 minute 'allowance' daily, for about the last 6 months.

DD (2) has taken to iPad like duck to water, and although we don't give her 20 minutes daily, she would happily play ShapeBuilder or Peppa Pigs party for ages.

We don't have a TV, although the Wii plays DVDs and 1-2 times weekly they will watch something together. It feels like this is enough, especially if the 20 minutes daily is video-games and not educational. Yet I'm conscious that there are so many good things they could do with extra screen-time too (DS2 is starting to read, and the Phonics apps seem helpful), but want to stay on the conservative side.

What are you all doing with screen-time limits in your house?

Anna

During the week my dd's (5&8) have about 40 minutes. They watch two programmes before they go to bed. They watch it in their PJs as a part of their bedtime routine and drink their milk at the same time. I have found that incorporating into the bedtime routine means they know when they are getting it and so don't nag me at other times

They probably have about two hours of other screen time each a weeknight the computer and iPad. My oldest has an itouch which she uses when she asks to but shes not that bothered. We haven't demonized any of it and they are as likely to ask for the play doh as they are for the iPad.

My two, 7 and 4, get one hour a day as an allowance. That can be tv or computer. I do not force educational restrictions on the time, as it is just time to relax really. They also get to watch movies 1-2 a week, usually at the weekend as a family. And they do lose it for bad behaviour, as my 7 year old has lost his computer for over a week now for being naughty at school. I find anymore than that and their behaviour goes right down the toilet!

Putme, how does more TV equal worse behaviour?

They seem to think the more they get the more they deserve and therefore any more than an hour and they think they should get three hours. Simply greed.

From Monday morning to Friday when they get home from school the screentime is NONE!

After that 1hr per day. DCs are 10 & 7 so it's mostly games on the iPAD. They don't watch TV but sometimes we'll all sit and watch a movie together.

I don't restrict tv for my dd who is 5 at all but she has very little interest in watching anything other than scooby doo and Wipeout and it is unusual for her to sit and watch a whole program. She will put on a dvd but again will not sit and watch it, so it is background noise for whatever activity she is doing

She goes through phases with the wii which I do restrict. She rarely gets to play this as it normally ends with her crying as she finds it frustrating at the trickier parts etc.

DC (7 and 3) hardly watch any TV and they don't ask either. DS (7) doesn't seem interested in DX or other screen based games.

They do watch DVDs, stuff on YouTube (we are a bilingual family so they watch programmes in the minority language) - about 1/2 hour in the morning and 1/2 hour in the afternoon. On occasion, especially at the WE they watch a movie.

DS often enjoys educational/factual programmes, then I tend to let him watch a bit more or watch with him - then it also can be a bit more than an hour per day.

In the evening (after dinner/wash or bath) its story time and we just look at books - I find flashing images on TV/screen can keep them awake despite them being tired.