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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

311 replies

AnnMumsnet · 20/10/2014 09:50

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

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
OP posts:
KittyKat88 · 27/10/2014 08:47

I have two DDs age 2 and 4.The younger one doesn't interact with technology for more than 5 mins at a time maybe a few times a week. My 4 yr old loves to use technology, so I have to set limits of 30 mins a day. She does get more time to use a tablet when on longer car journeys but I try and encourage her to use educational apps as much as possible!

pixies13 · 27/10/2014 08:51

after homework is done they are allowed 1 hours tv and 1 hours supervised internet or games

beeelaine · 27/10/2014 09:04

Did you have to set a time limit or does your child self manage? - we let our son self manage, but step in if we think he is having too much time on the computer/tablet - i think its important if you can let them manage it themself they are more likely to spend a reasonable time when they are an adult.

Why do you set time limits and what do you think your child would do if you didn't? Its important that you explain WHY you set time limits, and our son knows its because we want him to do other things in life, and to socialise and have other fun - I think if you just let your child use technology with no limits and they spend every minute they can using technology they will miss out on fun and friends and exercise! Im sure if we didnt set any limits and explain why our son would just be a techno zombie!

What sort of sites or apps does your child spend the most time on? Flappy Birds and Minecraft (Minecraft is the worst as its a game that needs time spending on it, but we interrupt him for breaks and he still has to stick to the time limit).

Are you concerned about the amount of time they spend online or is it not a concern to you? No not really as its mainly playing Minecraft. We have explained the pitfalls and bad things about the internet - I think its important to be open with your children (without being too detailed if they are too young), but you need to educate your kids on what can happen and the reason why you are asking them not to talk to someone on certain subjects (even if they think they know who they are talking to), it shouldnt be like this but I think its important to talk openly, and if everyone did this with their children then these evil people online would not get a chance to talk to children. We also talk about how there are games that can cost lots of money and he is not allowed to buy any games unless we are present to make sure there are no subscription fees and hidden fees etc.

Do you have any rules re time online or any techniques or tips for dealing with it? Firstly make them have a break on regular basis as it makes them realise how much time they are spending online/with technolgy. The rules we have is homework is done first, and he spends time outside, and he is not allowed on it every single day! I am amazed at how he tells me some of his friends get to go online from end of school until gone midnight etc - we wont allow him online late at night. Always explain the reasons why you dont want them online - we are not party poopers but real life has to have priority over virtual, and its important your children realise the balance and can see that - my biggest tip is just to just talk it over and explain and let them explain to you how they see it too.

risey1983 · 27/10/2014 09:05

Its really hard to limit the time they spend with technology, but try to keep it to one hour before school and half an hour after. Holiday are another matter though ...

cagsd · 27/10/2014 09:11

~ Did you have to set a time limit or does your child self manage?
We tend to allow no more than an hour on a school night, which is to include any use of PC / laptop / tablets / ipod.
On a weekend we're a bit more relaxed and if there's nothing else going on I'll let them have a few hours play. We set the limits ourselves.

~ Why do you set time limits and what do you think your child would do if you didn't?
Simply because if we didn't, they would be on their devices every waking moment and not communicate with anyone in real life!

~ What sort of sites or apps does your child spend the most time on?
Minecraft: playing the game, watching videos about it on Youtube, and posting on forums about it!

~ Are you concerned about the amount of time they spend online or is it not a concern to you?
I'm not concerned about the time they DO spend online as we limit it, however I would be very concerned about the amount of time they'd LIKE to spend online!

~ Do you have any rules re time online or any techniques or tips for dealing with it?
Yes we do a countdown when it's approaching time to come off. eg. you've got 10 mins left, 2 mins, etc.

Btw for info my kids are 7, 10 and 14.

tranmereforever · 27/10/2014 09:19

My DD is still young so not had major issue yet but we limit her TV to an hour in the morning and an hour during day if she is being good

When she is older I think we will try and limit it but it is difficult, its about getting the right mix

glennamy · 27/10/2014 09:19

I taught my daughter everything I know in regards to IT so I did not limit the use, however I made sure there was no use a couple of hours before bedtime to allow her to relax.

cazzzie987 · 27/10/2014 09:20

We say one hour in the evening and it is kept an eye on. If they are naughty we cut the time down.

createbeauty · 27/10/2014 09:29

I don't put any time limits at the moment. DS is three and has been using an iPad since he was one and his vocabulary, counting, and alphabet have come on so well, we don't want to limit his time.

TracyKNixon · 27/10/2014 09:29

My children are allowed about an hour after school and all technology goes of an hour before bed! At weekend they are allowed longer.

prwilson · 27/10/2014 09:34

No real time limits, but no phones/tablets at the dinner table, and not after 9pm on a school night.

funnycow · 27/10/2014 10:02

I let them decide. But feel the guilt of them being on there so much. I think my son (9) may be addicted slightly. He hates being made to come off. And when he does, he has a big tantrum over it.

lucyrobinson · 27/10/2014 10:08

Some days my children don't play on their tablets. Other days my daughter may read a book or do some educational games on hers. Maybe she will them spend 15-20 minutes playing a game.
My son likes racing games. He is only three and is the same as his sister. He may go days not playing it, then my play for about 20 minutes.

maryandbuzz1 · 27/10/2014 10:26

We have had to set time limits for the xbox or otherwise we wouldn't see or son all day!
The house rules are no technology at meal times as I think it's very rude.

gnomebulb2 · 27/10/2014 10:33

I don't have specific time limits. I like to be flexible, so it depends what they are doing rather than how long. Also, if I think they've been on the computer for too long, I will encourage them to do something else, rather than make a big deal about it.

sweetsomethings · 27/10/2014 10:55

I let my five year old use technology for nomore than an hour a day.

deb1966 · 27/10/2014 11:10

mine tend to spend an hour playing games on the wii before tea, after that we usually watch tv for an hour, if the weather is nice they go in the garden and play on the trampoline.

CheeseEMouse · 27/10/2014 11:39

My daughter is a bit over 1. I let her have the tablet for 5mins max a couple of times a week. I feel very conflicted about it as she'll have to learn about it, but I don't like her having it.

beckyinman · 27/10/2014 11:43

Depending on homework they can have an hour of "downtime" technology, whether TV or iPad, but on the weekend and holidays I don't tend to limit it

rozsargent · 27/10/2014 11:43

No time limit really as long as they do the things they should do first Home work helping tidy there room ect as long as the are Happy I am Happy :)

MillyVanilli222 · 27/10/2014 12:24

I limit it to an hour per day - although he's perfectly reasonable about this and will actually look to me to tell him to stop playing games/watching TV after he's spent nearly an hour doing it!

Ritakd · 27/10/2014 12:32

We don't have time limits, it all depends on their behaviour. We do tend to interest the in other activities though.

andywedge · 27/10/2014 12:42

It varies; if it's a school day then about 2 hours; if it's a weekend / school holidays maybe 4 hours or more

andy07 · 27/10/2014 13:04

My eldest are old enough to know when they have had enough but my youngest is allowed an hour each night during term time but weekend and holidays we allow a lot more time

Ethan260908 · 27/10/2014 13:04

My son is 6 and I am a luddite, so without any games console, clever mobile or access to the internet he is stuffed. We do stuff on the net together but never alone (although there is a protection device on it to stop him being a typical boy). His mother has an Ipad, clever phone etc etc and so it is balanced out. I ask Mum to limit it to 40 mis (same as tv) but I have way of policing it other than trust. I prefer to play outside with my son, play snap, tennis, or tig, cycle - all the things I did which he seems to enoy as well as the brave new world. I do realise computers are the only way forward in life, but not to just play games on.