Please share your thoughts with Vodafone on how long you allow your children to spend with technology each day: you could win a £250 voucher NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

To celebrate the launch of the new Vodafone family price plan (Red+) they would love to get you discussing how much time you or your DP/DH allow your child(ren) to spend with technology each day or what rules you have in relation to this.

Vodafone say "For some parents, the internet can seem like a bit of minefield and with new technology emerging all the time, it can be hard to stay up to date. If that sounds like you, worry not. Vodafone has put together some guides and articles to help parents maintain control and keep the family safe – find out more here"

"Vodafone has also launched a new plan, designed specifically for families. Red+ gives you one data allowance to share and you can even cap your kids’ data so they don't go over their limit. You'll get one simple bill for all devices, saving you money compared to individual plans, and you'll also get unlimited calls and texts".

The Vodafone Digital Parenting Guide can be found here: www.vodafone.co.uk/family

So please share on this thread your thoughts on this: for example

~ Did you have to set a time limit or does your child self manage?
~ Why do you set time limits and what do you think your child would do if you didn't?
~ What sort of sites or apps does your child spend the most time on?
~ Are you concerned about the amount of time they spend online or is it not a concern to you?
~ Do you have any rules re time online or any techniques or tips for dealing with it?

Add your comment to this thread and you’ll be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £250 John Lewis voucher.

Please note your comments may be used by Vodafone or MN on Vodafone pages, social media or possibly elsewhere - please only add a comment if you're happy for it to be used.

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

My 2 and 5 year olds are really getting into playing games and watching programmes on 'my' tablet. I try to download the more educational apps that are suitable for their ages, e.g. cbeebies, but they do love angry birds, sonic the hedgehog etc.

I don't have set time limits yet, but do tell them when I think they've spent long enough (around 30 mins). I think as they get older and use technology more independently I will have to be stricter.

I am conflicted about this, because my son, eight, does spend a lot of time on the iPad, but he is mostly watching TV, if you see what I mean? So I wonder if we had one of those posh tellys where he could stream the content he likes to watch, whether it would be such a big deal? I just think, because it's a one-person device, it just seems so much more anti-social!

My little one isn't really restricted. He just uses the iPad when we are using it. He always asks for his favourite games. We don't spend an awful lot of time on it though.

I allow them to spend about 2 hours per week on their ipads, plus whatever they need to use the computer for their homework.

We TRY and limit to 1 hour tech time a day during the school and 2 hours a day max at the weekend.

This will come after chores and housework!!

I try to limit the time my son spends on technology. He would play on the ipad all day if I let him but I just try to get the balance right. His favourite app to play is a car racing cartoon and if i think he's been on it too long I tell him the batteries need charging!

My son who is nearly 5 gets up to 45 minutes of supervised access to technology a day. He has his own iPad to watch cartoons on or play educational games like Reading Eggs but he also enjoys using it for homework which I want to encourage.

It's all a bit confused in this house. I used to be really strict and my boys (now 5 and 3) didn't have any access as I didn't see why they needed it so young. But then eldest started school and I realised he was actually behind his peers and at a disadvantage by not being able to navigate around a screen or manipulate a mouse.
So we started letting him have access to a tablet to play downloaded educational apps and now they both play letter and number games, a fab zookeeper game we found and (against my better judgement) Angry Birds!
Now school have introduced Mathletics which requires 3 x 20 minute sessions on the tablet a week (and he wants to do even more which I don't want to discourage...) and overall usage is a lot higher than I would like!

Told you it was confused!

My DD is 3, so her access to technology is very much in our hands. She shows a lot of interest in computers, and we allow her up to 15 mons per day playing cbeebies games with her dad. She also gets to watch peppa pig on my dad's phone when she visits her grandparents.

I am comfortable with her being aware of technology, but dread the day she is old enough to take an interest in social networking!

We have a time limit, for example once DD1 is ready for school she can have cbeebies or her tablet (kids tablet, no internet access on it) until it is time to leave. Usually she chooses cbeebies. At the weekend she can have her tablet in the morning, but if behaviour isn't good when it is time to stop the tablet is confiscated.

The 3 yo is happy to get a chance on her sister's tablet but is still a bit tantrummy so can't be trusted not to throw it unless closely supervised.

Their favorites are cbeebies and leapad apps.

No worries about the amount of time they spend as they are both still quite little so it is within my control. Will need tips when they get bigger though!

Thanks for all the comments - am pleased to say happysouls has been selected as the winner of the £250 John Lewis voucher! Well done.