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."

[kel1981]

my two are 10 and 5 neither have phones but my 10yo has an ipad. The rules are they play on it downstairs, they dont have it at bedtime or on a morn before school. No telly on a morn before school and they dont have tvs in their rooms. Have a rule for me and my husband that we dont have phones at the dinner table, because Iwas sick of him taking calls while we were eating!

[kel1981]

my two are 10 and 5 neither have phones but my 10yo has an ipad. The rules are they play on it downstairs, they dont have it at bedtime or on a morn before school. No telly on a morn before school and they dont have tvs in their rooms. Have a rule for me and my husband that we dont have phones at the dinner table, because Iwas sick of him taking calls while we were eating!

[rjsmum11]

We have a table, we have internet security set up with our router/service provider. DS (11) is allowed to download Apps from Amazon if they're free but otherwise he must ask.

No chargers to be plugged in overnight. That's the only internet source he has. We often check the browsing history also but feel pretty secure with the router permissions set to disallow specific subjects.

[rjsmum11]

err we have tablet... not a table :) (well.. we do have one of them but it's irrelevant)

[Ritakd]

Our kid are a mixture of ages but for the teens with devises we have some flat rules:
No phones at the dinner table
No devices after 10pm or overnight
We have to be friends on all social media
We occasionally do random checks to monitor the content.

[tinam1]

No using at the dinner table, and all homework must be completed first.

[Smith84]

They aren't allowed on any of the tablets or smartphones without asking, we have tight security and their time is limited

[Coddfish]

I put on loads of passwords etc. and they are only allowed to stay on the kids apps that I have set up for them. My eldest is only 6 so I haven't yet needed to monitor more independent use.
I have also started to ask other mums when they go on playdates not to let them go onto the internet. There was a scandal in the playground recently where several young boys in year 3 looked up internet porn during a playdate. No restrictions were on the tablet so they looked up whatever they wanted. This scares the life out of me!

[igu04366]

My kids are too young to have their own phones but they do use apps on our phones and are really confident in the use of technology. We let my oldest son borrow a phone after dinner once he has done his homework. He tends to use it to play games or to watch videos. We control the purchase of apps and he is only allowed it for a set period of time. When he has his own phone I think we will have to set limits on its use.

[Mandahul]

I have had the discussion about sensible use and unacceptable use with my 2 boys and I give them free rein over their devices. However ! I have full access to all devices at all times including all passwords etc and do often check history and messages etc. I also have full access to the location software that I have put on the devices and often check when they're out and not answering phones exactly where they are. My children are fully aware of this and understand it is for their own protection and I believe it gives them a little sense of security knowing I am able to help them and locate them if they get into any trouble. My boys are 12 and 14 now and I think it's important they learn their own sense of security on devices with the knowledge we, his parents, are always in the back ground ready to step in if necessary.

[funkyfreks]

No rules in the School holidays and Saturday nights.. but when they go back to school all electronic devices are strictly forbidden until all homework is complete and we have empty plates after dinner.
Then they can have a choice of what they would like to do for an hour.

The only exception is if they need to use the computer for homework. :)

[AngelieMumsnet]

Thanks for all your comments! magentastardust has won the prize draw :)