What are your house rules for mobile phones and devices? Tell O2 for a chance to win an iPad Mini NOW CLOSED

[AngelieMumsnet]

We've been asked by O2 to find out about Mumsnetters' house rules for mobile phones and other technology devices.

Here's what O2 say: "We know families are using technology more than ever, with most households now having several devices online at any time, whether it be their phones, their laptop, their games consoles, their tablet, or their smart TV. But we also know that parents are very unsure about the rules they should set around usage. So we?d like to open a discussion about how you set - and follow - digital house rules for your family, to help other parents feel a little more confident about setting their own.?

So, what technology rules do you have for your DCs? Do phones have to be switched off overnight? Perhaps your DCs have a limit on how much time they can spend online on their phone?

Do you use any rules to keep your DCs safe online? Maybe you check their social networks profiles? Or perhaps you have parental controls in place to stop them accessing particular sites? Or maybe you prefer to keep the house rules to a minimum?

Whatever your house rules are, O2 would love to hear about them!

Everyone who comments on the thread will be entered into a prize draw to win an Apple iPad mini with Retina display, 16GB Space, thanks to O2.

Please note comments on this thread might be used by O2 on their website or on their social media channels: please only add a comment if you're happy for your comment to be used.

Thanks and good luck,

MNHQ

PS - O2 also say "We think that technology is amazing, but we also know it can be a little confusing.
Join our Gurus in store to discover how you can make an app or learn how to keep your family safe online.
Our workshops are free and open to everyone. Sign up here, You're all welcome."

house rules

All it equipment left downstairs at night and router gets disabled between 11pm and 6 am
Phones down when speaking or being spoken too
No tech at the dinner table.

my two are 18 and 15 and from the onset of devices in this house we have had rules...
no devices at the table
no devices/screens upstairs
time limits on x-box and laptops

it is something that was put in place years ago, never questioned and although time limits have now been removed they both still stick to the rules.

not sure if this is a good thing or not!

Anyone who answers their phone or looks at their tablets during meal times has to do the dishes.

We do this with friends too and when we go out for a meal with friends, all mobiles go to the middle of the table, if anyone checks their phone then they pay for everyones meals and drinks.

Our house rules
No devices at meal times (applies in restaurants too) or other social situations eg visitors round
No devices at bedtimes - I haven't had to remove them from the room at night time yet as the dcs switch them off and haven't broken the rule of using after lights out but this may need to change. I am very fond of using tablet/phone in bed I may need a rule for myself!
No time limit as such but if they've been using for more than half an hour I tend to tell them time is up.
Must ask permissionoto download any app. . In fact I have it password protected so they have to get me to download it.
Internet disabled on ipod so any internet use is on laptop in a central location.

These may change as they get older however I know I'll be a stickler for the first 2!

We try to limit our own time on our smartphones to set a good example for the kids - but it can be so hard as it is so tempting to deal with things as they ping through to the phone.

The kids are encouraged to use tablets and computer in a communal room ie in view of everyone else and have been told what they can and can't look at / do on their tablets.

So far we have been able to work on a trust basis and haven't had to use parental controls. I hope that will continue although i am aware how easy it can be to accidentally click on something inappropriate.

I would love to have a screen free day where we all avoid our computers, tablets and phones - but that is yet to happen!

My kids are young but our "technology rule" is "no electronic devices before 5pm". This means no tv, ipad, phone, etc. Some days we do allow the younger one before 5 because she seems unaffected by the technology whereas with my 5yr old, she becomes hyper and difficult to manage once allowed on.

Our rules are 'Not on my watch!'

Dd has an itouch (?) and that's only for long journeys. It doesn't get touched at home.

She will use my mobile to speak to family but I'm always in the room with her.

I sometimes wish we could go back to the days of encarta cd rom where all the content was managed and edited!

She is only 4. I hope to bring her up with a balanced view on technology and enjoy the best of both worlds

We all share passwords so I can check social media if I have any concerns, that is a rule of having Facebook for my teen.
They know the password for i tunes but I work on trust, they must ask before they buy, they have not abused this as they know I will cancel it and it teaches them responsibly, I also have i tunes on immediate lock so you must put in the password for every purchase to stop in app mistake purchases.
I allow my 8 year old to have instagram but a private account only with his friends so no one else can see it online unless i authorise it, and no Facebook for him.
No iPads phones at the dinner table or when dining in a restaurant this is family talk time, no gadgets allowed.
x

Two DDs here both still very young but already both know to some degree how to operate both an ipad and an iPhone.

For us they are only allowed a short amount of screen time and it must be in a communal area, no taking them away. If they don't obey these rules then they are not allowed to use them and they know this.

For when there a bit older I have sussed out the parental locks and will be checking the history on the devices regularly.

My DC are almost 4.5 & 3, so obviously too young for their own mobiles. My 4.5 yo can play on my phone for a few minutes here and there plus I won a VTech handheld console a while back and he's only allowed to play for around 10 minutes at a time.

I don't think children need to be so exposed to technology from a young age; when they are allowed to use it - there should be limits to how much time they spend on it & what they do. Plus basic handsets for them to keep in touch with us would be fine; I wouldn't want them to expect all manner of gadgets just because they asked for them.

We don't really have masses of rules yet as my daughter is only 3. At the moment it is simply, technology in moderation, no technology when at the dinner table and to always supervise my daughters use of the ipad. She likes to watch videos on youtube of cars toys, but one click and she could be on something completely different!

i have disabled internet access and youtube access on the kids ipads. they only have access to pre downloaded apps i downloaded.
imessage,fcetime etc is all disabled too.

I have a 7 year old who has an ipod, she isn't able to download anything without my password, and no in app purchases and no mutiplayer games. Ipod is not allowed to be used at night time nor allowed in the bedroom.

Computer is used in the living room and unsuitable websites are blocked.

Im future if she has any social media accounts I would have the passwords to these so they can be checked regularly.

My son has just been given a early birthday present ahead of his 7th Birthday.

Internet only in lounge (where an adult normally is)
Any hyped up behaviour following use of tablet results in it being removed for a day or so.

we need to extend them and this thread has been useful.

my child is 11 months old right now. Both me and my husband make sure that we do not use smartphones and laptop/tablets in front of my little girl because it distracts her and makes her interested to hold the device, We check our emails and messages when the little one has gone to sleep :)

No mobiles/tablets etc at the table.
No passwords on any mobiles/tablets and they can be subject to a spot check at any time.
No downloading apps without permission.

Ds is only 6. He has a basic tablet which he plays games on and apps. We don't have any rules as such but we do limit his time on it. He's too
Young to be interested in anything else yet.

No devices at the table.

Devices switched off when asked.

Although I have open DNS, not a lot is blocked. Anything downloaded must be approved by a resident parent first. ALWAYS discuss anything that makes you uncomfortable and never share ANY personal info.

Ds is 11, dd is 4

No reading over people's shoulders. (I don't like explains what wank badgers are)

Both children are fairly good at self moderating and content to switch off when asked. So thus far the trust is working well.

My children are too young at present (2 and 4). I do let them play on my phone and tablet but only in my presence and with security settings. I have all this to come, it's a minefield.

We limit our son's time on the tablet and he must always ask before using it. Likewise if he is playing games on our mobiles. Husband and I try not to fiddle with our phones while the children are eating or when we are doing things together.

The DDs are 1 & 3, but we have a no phones at the table while we're eating rule for grown-ups. DD1 occasionally watches a cartoon on the iPad, but she's not allowed TV after 4pm and no more than 2 cartoons in one day. She's sometimes allowed to use her Nana's iPad for drawing and puzzles when she gets into the bed with her grandparents in the morning when we stay over.

DD2 is not allowed to eat phones

No phones until secondary school.
No phones at the dinner table.
Do not post anything on social media that you would not be prepared to show the recipients parents, me and your head teacher!
If you ever meet a friend on line that you want to meet in real life, tell me so We can find a way of doing it safely. I realise that saying don't meet people from the internet won't work as they reach mid to late teens, so feel open and honest discussion gives me the best chance of keeping them safe.

DC 10 & 8.

Parental controls set up for Internet. Which can be annoying eg can't look at Waitrose alcohol!

10 yo has home Internet enabled iPod, primarily used for YouTube football clips, and ogling football boots on ProDirect etc. iPod not allowed at table or at bedtime. Also has XBox live and knows can only play with friends. "Texts" his friends via Clash of Clans app on iPod. All apps and in app purchases have to be done via me, and no Microsoft account for XBox so have to purchase points at Game.

8 yo allowed on my ipad for short bursts. Neither have mobiles, will get when go to secondary.

10yo a more sensible child, but had only had Internet access since 9, and they both understand about Internet safety.

They earn screen time. We have the 11+ in a month and the screen is a good carrot.

DCs are teens. They are allowed pretty much unlimited access but no devices at meals or when talking/doing stuff together. Internet access is part of modern life & they need to learn how to live with it. None have ever bought add ons in-app, I receive emails whenever any thing is downloaded onto devices which I fund (kindles). iTunes gift cards at birthdays fund other purchases.