Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Sponsored threads

This topic is for sponsored discussions. If you'd like to run one with us, please email [email protected].

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

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

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:
tubbss · 27/10/2014 13:37

No limits - but they can use the tablet or X-box etc until homework is done!

JoJoBaldwin · 27/10/2014 13:39

I don't set particular limits at the moment. Since we downgraded from Sky to freeview my 6 year old daughter has been so disgusted that she says we might as well not even own a telly lol (no Disney channels). She loves watching films though and often watches one when she gets in from school to wind down. I'm getting her a Leappad for christmas though, so if that's popular there may have to be some time limits.

fazkin · 27/10/2014 14:02

None on weekdays (unless there is an exception ie holiday, illness etc) and 20-30 mins on weekends.

pipersky · 27/10/2014 14:34

My girls love technology - all three of them (aged 7, 5 and 3) particularly love the iPad but are just as happy to play on literacy and numeracy apps as they are on the games :)

angiesandhu1 · 27/10/2014 15:02

We dont set a time limit as such but make sure he is doing other things as well and not just sitting on the iPad all day. He would spend ages on it if i didnt say otherwise.

He plays lots of games but also uses it to research topics for school.

tiddles12 · 27/10/2014 15:07

Dedicated time slots for computers/playing and for homework but homework first

chrin · 27/10/2014 15:07

time limit - no longer than a couple of hours at a time but more than 1 session a day. We set the limits so that we know their eye muscles get a rest and so does their hand and wrist joints otherwise they'd probably be online 24 hours a day

most popular sites visited - most of the time is spent playing games especially footie games or sites to do with FIFA 15

the younger ones are supervised but we don't sit looking over their shoulder or anything like that unlike their elder brother (he is over 16) they aren't really interested in chatting or UTube stuff

serendipity16 · 27/10/2014 15:37

I have kids aged 13, 10, 9, 8 and 3.

My ex installed something on their computer so each child has their own account and is only allowed on the computer for a set amount of time.... otherwise a couple of them would spend all day on it.
They need to share the computer so this works for us.

The oldest tends to do homework, sports pages and youtube.
The youngest likes cbeebies and milkshake and the other 3 tend to just go on it for minecraft and also youtube to watch minecraft videos.

We check the history of their computer to make sure they haven't been trying to do anything silly although parent control stuff is in place.

starfishmummy · 27/10/2014 15:39

DS has an a maximum of an hour on the computer - internet, on school days; he may get a little extra on other days. He has SN and although he can find some sites himself he does need someone keeping an eye on him. Sometimes he's happy just to have computer time without the internet.

He has a hand held game that he can use when he wants - no internet connectivity so we dont have to monitor that. He's pretty sensible about the time he spends on it anyway so.we dont need to restrict this too much

HannahLI · 27/10/2014 15:51

~ Did you have to set a time limit or does your child self manage?
The good thing about my boys not having their own devices is that there is a natural time limit already in place. They manage their time when they are on but they have to ask first to use it. I don't specifically work to a set time limit but when I feel they have had enough the device goes away or often I find they naturally move on. I think if you set a hard and fast deadline it makes them push the boundary more without learning about self control.

~ Why do you set time limits and what do you think your child would do if you didn't?
I think if they had their own devices and there was no limit they would always be on there and trying to sneak it into their bedroom to keep themselves awake. They don't understand the impact of continual use so I think its important to set up boundaries. As I said above I think there is a time limit but I don't think its the same everyday and I think the inconsistency actually helps to not make it a big thing. If I set a time limit of 1 hour per day after school they would be on 1 hour per day after school whereas at the moment they might go on twice a week.

~ What sort of sites or apps does your child spend the most time on?
A mix of different things from games both tailored to children and handpicked adult games like angry birds and uno. We have a mix of educational and more game based. They also like the on demand apps and the amazon prime app is often used to play their favourite tv programs and films.

~ Are you concerned about the amount of time they spend online or is it not a concern to you?
I am not concerned we live in a digital world and they need to understand and be well informed about the technology to succeed so I actually think its important that they use it. I also feel that I monitor and control it even though they have no idea I do. My kids tend to watch or play games when they are tired and want to chill out a bit and I don't see it as being any different from sitting and watching a film for an hour.

~ Do you have any rules re time online or any techniques or tips for dealing with it?
I think the best thing is to not give children their own devices as it gives you the best control and teaches them to respect what they are using. They then have to ask to use the device so you keep control without having to dictate everyday a time limit. My only other rule is that they play where they can be seen too, they are not to be taken off to rooms but stay in communal areas. I also encourage them to share what they are doing or watching and thats been part of our routine for a long time so that it doesn't feel like I am prying.

lhlee62 · 27/10/2014 16:23

I let my daughter play on our iPad for about 15 mins when I'm trying to sort out her younger sister and if she's been really well behaved. She plays on the cbeebies app, counting and alphabet apps so they are educational. She has learnt quite a lot from the apps so I'm not that worried about how long she plays on them.

simone12345 · 27/10/2014 17:02

it used to be after there home work was done that they could play on there games PS3 XBOXES

nettymay · 27/10/2014 17:39

2 hours

compy99 · 27/10/2014 17:41

too young to be an issue at the moment, but we will be setting suitable limits to ensure a balanced day and good communication. We will be strictly moderating what apps/sites are accessed.

gk6277 · 27/10/2014 18:17

No time limits, thankfully my kids are older, studious and sensible, and I can trust them to get the balance right, I keep an occasional eye on what they access, and main access is in the dining room, not their bedrooms. I do talk to them about the risks of being online.

upsydaisyd0nt · 27/10/2014 19:19

The children are allowed an hour on school nights,but unlimited at weekends (within reason)

emella · 27/10/2014 19:22

I never used to restrict my daughter; as long as she did her homework, which she did, I never had a problem with her spending a lot of time using technology. My daughter has never been very interested in social networking either so I've not had to worry about that much, she spends most of the time on YT. Also helps me with some things online that I'd have no idea about, so that's always a help!

twinklenic · 27/10/2014 19:38

i have 3 children aged 15, 14 and 1 years old. My older two spend far too much time on phones, tablets , laptops. I will be a lot stricter with my youngest as my older two hardly speak and spend all their time attached to various gadgets

donnatowner · 27/10/2014 19:58

My children vary with technology, my 6 yr old is non verbal, autistic and he relates better to learning through technology, than he does with paper and pen. I restrict the amount of time he is allowed to do free play and encourage him to do at least a couple of hours of letter and number work on his iPad, but we do have time outs where all technology is put away and he is encouraged to play with physical toys, this can be very challanging and i often get hurt.

Annbunce · 27/10/2014 20:08

There are no time limits now that they are older. I do monitor what they are up to on a regular basis. They mainly use it for homework, keeping in touch with their friends and watching tutorial videos on YouTube etc.

alsproject · 27/10/2014 20:43

They spend a coupe hours a day with technology as they use the computer to do their homework

littleme96 · 27/10/2014 20:44

My kids are not old enough to have their own tablets yet, but we have a shared family one. I think it's important that they learn to use them, especially as they use them at school now, but want to make sure that they don't use it all the time just as something to do. I will sometimes set a timer so they know how long they have on it and then they have to hand it over to their sibling for the same amount of time so that it's fair.

As a result, they are allowed on it for short periods of time each, although not every day and if they say they are bored I will suggest other things for them to do instead of letting them go on it all the time.

They mainly use educational apps and the cBeebies apps which I find really good and am more than happy with the content of.

arat · 27/10/2014 20:46

we limit their time on the laptop/tablet to 30 mins during the week or 2 sessions a day at the weekend/school hols. If we didn't they would be playing games or watching videos about games all day.

Lvm2013mk · 27/10/2014 21:05

Not every day, but at least every 2-3 days for about an hour usually whilst making dinner. If they misbehave though then they get a 2 week ban!

jdunthorne · 27/10/2014 21:32

We use the kitchen timer to time 45 mins of electronics in the week and up to 90 mins at the weekends...only once all homework is completed