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."

As the kids are older our main rules are based around being social and 'present' rather than security - there's definitely no phones/tablets at dinner time and if we're sitting watching a movie or playing a board game then the same rule applies. Family bike rides and walks take priority over Xbox gaming marathons :D

All devices are kept by us & allowed to be used when we think appropriate. I do not like phones, ipad & ipod to be used constantly. We make sure we keep meal times & family time device free (for all of us)

My son has parental controls on video content on youtube. Thankfully at the moment he isn't interested in social media but it will happen.Has ipad and ipod but both for youtube only.he's allowed to browse in he's room we trust him!!

Use devices downstairs
Do not use while we are eating a meal

wow Im really surprised at how young children are having their own devices. My two have a ds each but no phone or tablet so no worries there. We have one computer which we all share and internet access is filtered with parental control. I prefer the kids to be out playing and we do include stranger danger and online safety in discussions.

There's no specific rules in my house, but we don't put our information on social media sites because of safety. Also no phones during mealtime!

Nobody is allowed to take their phones etc into the toilet/bathroom! It's amazing how everyone seems to enjoy doing this, but it's not hygenic! Also dare not let the kids take electronics in the bath either...!

There is an amount of trust, however we have child settings on my DD laptop (which she uses for homework and watching loom band tutorials!). DS has access to ipad. Password protected for everything. No technology before school or after tea time. Have to do homework before any playing.

My children are still very young, but our rules are:

• Everyone has to share and take it in turns. No hogging the iPad and if there is any fighting over it, then it gets taken away!
• It stays downstairs where they can be supervised.
• No in-app purchases!
• Ask Mum or Dad first to see if they can use it.

My only rules are, use common sense and no devices to be used during meals.

No electronic devices at the dinner table. Wireless router gets turned off if any house rules are broken. Wireless password changed at random times.

I live with my parents and don't really think there's specific rules for me to follow but one thing I would never do is use gadgets by the table and I know not to leave any gadgets changing in my room when I'm not in the house or when I am sleeping.

No tablets in bedrooms or at dinner table.
I get access to all areas upon request (primary age children)

No facebook or chatrooms.

Anything they are unsure on whether its allowed they have to ask.They err on the side of caution as its break the rules, loose the tools.

Toddlers are only allowed kids apps on their grandparents iPads so is a special treat rather than an everyday thing.
No phones at the table
No watching iPad or phone in bed (because I have paper thin eyelids and can see the flickering when I'm trying to sleep)

My DCs are now in their 20s. When they were small the computer was always in a family room downstairs. Time on computer and consoles was regulated by using an egg timer. When we got mobile phones the rule was no mobile phones at the table for them or us - unless there was something like a family crisis where we needed to be sure to take a call. Phones were turned off at night.

No gadgets at meals is pretty much the only rule in our house. Technology is so ingrained now it's as if I've asked people to chop their hands off if I suggest turning their devices off!

My DDs are 2 and 4 but do have access to age appropriate apps on a tablet which I do with them. I don't allow access for longer than 30 mins at a time. As they get older, I will ensure that I have parental controls set up to a) limit the time they spend online and b) limit access to appropriate websites. I think technology is both necessary and an excellent source of information, but has many hidden dangers. I would also like to ensure that my DDs spend lots of time on phhysical/social activities outside the house and away from technology so they don't end up living in a 'bubble'!

tablets are only for using when an adult is in the room to supervise.

my girl is still too young to use technology, but we will have to think how to keep her secure later

It's only myself and my 4 year old daughter in our house and she's quite well behaved, If she's told 'No' she won;t ask again, but generally she can use PC or tablet to play a little, only after she has done her homework and had dinner.

My rules are i hold all the passwords so i can access everything when i want to to make sure everything is ok. Plus i have had an experience where my daughter has given out her passwords to strangers through a game so that was very stressful to say the least!
I dont have an average time i allow her on the tablet etc but if i feel like she has been online to long, i tell her to come off and do something else which she will happily do.
To be honest, she has never been glued for too long to a screen so its not really a concern.

My youngest is 18 now and I trust him to be sensible, so I don not have any rules.

Here are my rules from when DD got her Ipod touch at age 9. She has no phone and is not yet on social media so they will need to be updated (she has just asked for an instragram account). (There are a few more points of detail and a few clarifications but these are the main ones) They are typed up and laminated on our fridge! We do not enforce them strictly but it is good to have them so we can refer to them when she goes overboard.

1. On weekdays, homework and music practice first. 1 hour limit.
2. On weekends and holiday time, you can use it within sensible limits (but you must join in other activities without grumbling).
3. We must know your passwords and may check history from time to time [appreciate we will need to water this down as she gets older].
4. No music, films, apps etc to be downloaded without permission, particularly if there is a charge.
5. It must not leave the house without permission.
6. It stays downstairs overnight.
7. Do not use it to be mean to others.
8. Do not use it to communicate with strangers.
9. Only search the internet for information you would openly share with us.

10. Put it away in public or while eating or speaking with another human being etc.

No phones in bedrooms - adults or kids and also none at the dinner table

PS our reason for writing down the rules was more related to DH than DD. She was desperate for an IPod but DH was very against - he is quite old school. I made him articulate his objections - she would spend the whole time on it, she should be playing more, she should be outside and joining in family activities, people become rude and use their gadgets over dinner or when with people, she would just lose it, concerns about internet bullying and strangers etc etc. SO I translated all of this to "the rules" and on the basis of these rules he was happy to get the iPod. DD was so delighted to get the IPod (was not expecting it because she knew DH was against it) and so had no problem with the rules. Apart from DH's objections I am not sure we would have had such formal rules - DD is sensible and I think we would have got to a similar place informally anyway.