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

depends if it is a school day or holidays, but generally go for a fair balanced approach ie they do their homework and have other interests

Did you have to set a time limit or does your child self manage?
By and large, he self manages. Setting limits sets something to fight against - I just make sure that homework is done , shower is taken, dinner and other things happen, and then leave it to him. He has lots of interests anyway, and doesn't obsess to spend time on technology unless some big Minecraft event is taking place. If he loses track of time I just say 'bed time' and he goes 'Oh yes, didn't realise'...and goes to bed!
~ Why do you set time limits and what do you think your child would do if you didn't?
See above. He would stay up late than is good for him a couple of nights a week, maybe.
~ What sort of sites or apps does your child spend the most time on?
Minecraft, YouTube Music videos.
~ Are you concerned about the amount of time they spend online or is it not a concern to you?
Not a concern. I will take far more interest when he starts to show an interest in things like porn. And that will be about content, at an age it is harder to control what they do, rather than time.
~ Do you have any rules re time online or any techniques or tips for dealing with it?
We are relaxed. I pop into his room now and then, but make sure the whole house is teen-friendly - so instead of the boys shutting themselves in the bedroom with the computer I make sure there are snacks they like in the kitchen and welcome friends so that the whole house, and kitchen table, are welcoming 'real communication' spaces. Talk to them, laugh at their jokes and witticisms.

My baby is only 7 months but she loves my phone already! It will be something that I have to think about in future.

I want her to be tech savvy without being stuck to technology all thee time.

Tend not to use during the week. I don't really have set limits, but they don't use the iPad or watch too much tv so I'm not worried.

3 hours

No limits. Technology is the future. Even reading school books is done on tablets.

I have 2 girls, age 10 and 12. DD1 has a laptop and an old phone (not smartphone but takes photos). She wants a smartphone for Christmas. DD2 has a tablet. They don't really use the TV downstairs, but tend to watch iplayer programmes. They like mine craft and a few other games. DD1 is on google plus but thinks Facebook is for old people. I don't have strict limits, so long as they use technology among a range of activities. If they have been on for more than an hour and a half or so, and not using it for homework, I suggest they turn it off and do something else. I would start setting limits if they seemed to be on it all the time but they're not.

~ Did you have to set a time limit or does your child self manage?
We have a rule about no screens on school days. At the weekend or holidays they can have up to an hour, this is usually spent on the Xbox playing Minecraft!

~ Why do you set time limits and what do you think your child would do if you didn't?
It's just easier because the DC know what they can have and don't pester for more.

~ What sort of sites or apps does your child spend the most time on?
Mainly Minecraft on the Xbox.

~ Are you concerned about the amount of time they spend online or is it not a concern to you?
They don't spend much time online and are too young to have their own devices so it's not an issue at the moment.

~ Do you have any rules re time online or any techniques or tips for dealing with it?
I would say that do not rely on parental controls as they are not 100% reliable and your kids will learn how to get around them anyway!

About 3 hours

We are the kind of household that has the TV on all the time. So there's normally cartoons on in the background while DS is playing or we are doing something else. I do turn it off when we are doing something that requires concentration (working on flash cards at the moment).

I think it varys and its got to be a good balance between school work, family time, doing things away from TVs and computers! Time outdoors and playing with friends something other than computer games is good! Also down to attitude, if computer games started to make him grumpy which they often did then time to cut down!

no set times, but all the iPad apps are educational, so I am comfortable with them spending time on it.

Mine don't have a time limit they self regulate. It is too long sometimes but we make sure we take them out at least once a day for an outing to get the balance right. Technology can be a very good babysitter and educator. It's not all bad.

They like Minecreaft, Doodlejump and endless youtube videos from any songs they have heard, Teletubbies, Cbeebies to my eldest using it to find out how to do things and Wikipedia.

self regulated but with supervision

I am not sure it is about how long but more about what doing. Technology is such an important aspect of learning and everyday life that I do not put time limits on it (unless I felt inappropriate time was spent) So productive time learning is good, for homework purposes is good and even a little play and interaction is good but I always keep a close eye on usage and would have no hesitation in putting limits in place if I felt that it was being abused. I ensure that a healthy mixture of technology and 'family time' is achieved have rules that I consider to be good manners (i.e. no technology at the dinner table etc)

Did you have to set a time limit or did your child self manage?
Dd 9 self regulates, on weekdays once any homework is done then she can do which ever activity she likes until bedtime. On a weekend she tends to spend her days potting about and afternoons/evening on some gadget.

Did you set the time limits and what do you think your child would do if you didn't?
I think if I counted up her screen time it would be high but that's not to say she is on video games constantly, a lot of what can be considered "healthy" pass times can be carried out on an ipad such as homework research, chatting to friends, drawing and reading. We have walks and family day outs so I think it's balanced itself out well.

What sort of sites or apps does your child spend the most time on?
At the moment it's youtube (stampylongnose) and minecraft with her friends over xbox live. She's doing a lot of stop animation and video editing too and also ebay to find the best price of a game she wanted to buy with her saved money.

are you concerned about the time they spend online or is it not a concern to you?
Nope, not concerned at all, she has a healthy interest in many things and I think the availability of info and tools online add a lot of positives to the things she is interested in.

do you have any rules about time spent online and do you have any techniques to help deal with it?

Absolutely, she knows not to give personal details out, not to upload any photos, not to sign up to any sites without checking with me and we do it together once I've checked it's legit, not to dload anything without checking, not to accept Xbox live requests, even if she thinks it's a school friend until I've checked it's actually a school friend, no buying in ap purchases. If anyone asks her personal questions she tells us, she's aware of strangers online etc. No Facebook, Twitter until she is old enough, she follows stampy etc from my accounts.
Dd says I'm stricter with her online than her friends parents seem to be but these rules have been in place from the days she played cebeebies and it's She would like a Facebook account as her peers have one but she understands and accepts my reasons for not letting her have one.

~ Did you have to set a time limit or does your child self manage?
We try to restrict his time on his laptop/tablet/phone during the school week (unless he is using it for homework).

~ Why do you set time limits and what do you think your child would do if you didn't?
He would spend all his time playing games!

~ What sort of sites or apps does your child spend the most time on?
Games sites.

~ Are you concerned about the amount of time they spend online or is it not a concern to you?
No, I think he has a fairly healthy balance.

~ Do you have any rules re time online or any techniques or tips for dealing with it?
Homework has to be done first, then he can chill out on his games. Any bad behaviour is punished with the confiscation of his devices - this is a terrifying enough threat, that he is usually very well behaved!

Our dd is nearly a year and doesn't watch TV yet. I just think she is too young. When she does start watching it I will keep it to 1/2 hour a day.

~ Did you have to set a time limit or does your child self manage?

L is nearly 5, and he generally self manages, although if I feel he's been on it for to long i'll tell him it's time to come off.

~ Why do you set time limits and what do you think your child would do if you didn't?

I think L would still come off of his own accord.

~ What sort of sites or apps does your child spend the most time on?

I rarely let L use the internet. I let him occasionally play on the cbeebies website. He loves to play on his dad's iPad and plays games like Angry Birds, Cut The Rope, Gummies Playground, and the Disney story book apps.

~ Are you concerned about the amount of time they spend online or is it not a concern to you?

No, it doesn't concern me at the moment. So far, he accepts when I say it's time to come off his games.

~ Do you have any rules re time online or any techniques or tips for dealing with it?

L knows that if me or his dad says it's time to come off, we mean it and we stick to our word. He knows if he behaves bad or has a tantrum he loses this particular privilege for the next day

Preteen boy here.
~ Did you have to set a time limit or does your child self manage?
30 minutes a day average. He is very happy with that and if he ever goes over he wants to switch off himself.
~ Why do you set time limits and what do you think your child would do if you didn't?
I want him to do things that don't involve being in front of a screen. I want him to interact with the real world, real people, real things. If I didn't set a time I would not be giving him that message, it would be like saying it's OK to spend all your time in front of a screen.

~ What sort of sites or apps does your child spend the most time on?
Minecraft and scratch. Th rest is school email and homework.
~ Are you concerned about the amount of time they spend online or is it not a concern to you?
I think it should be the whole society's concern.
~ Do you have any rules re time online or any techniques or tips for dealing with it?
Time limit mostly. There is a filter in his computer. He doesn't have a smart phone yet. We talk about the importance of having a varied life experience and being social face to face.

~ Did you have to set a time limit or does your child self manage?
I let my children manage it but it would not be more than 2 hours.

~ Why do you set time limits and what do you think your child would do if you didn't?
If i dont set a limit, they will abuse it.

~ What sort of sites or apps does your child spend the most time on?
youtube. they love watching cartoon

~ Are you concerned about the amount of time they spend online or is it not a concern to you?
yes, it does when they went into tutorials to teach them those fighting game

~ Do you have any rules re time online or any techniques or tips for dealing with it?
Yes, they cant go to certain site.

I did try to let my DD self manage but she would have been on her various gadgets all day so I was forced to restrict them.
I set time limits for school days and allow more time for non school days and holidays.
My DS is still young but likes easy games like 'Busted' but my DD likes the social apps best.
It does concern me that my DS loves them so much.
Rules are no gadgets in rooms after 'cut off time' and the best technique is just to prise it from their hands, while they kick, scream and go into meltdown!

I would love to say I set a time limit but I am afraid I don't, my son loves to play on his ipad and whilst it can seem he is on it a fair bit, I honestly believe it has taught him an awful lot, his language and reading skills are much better and he is better at problem solving. He plays games on it that are both educational and action packed, and I think it has made him engage his brain more on a day to day level, but we still do other activities that involve practical things like cooking or walking so that he is not stuck indoors in front a screen (whether it be the tv or ipad/pc) all day.

Our oldest child isn't yet 4 so doesn't roam the internet yet. They do like playing a few games on our phones / ipad - but no more than 10 minutes at a time occasional. Perhaps I'm old fashioned, but I prefer them to enjoy books! with the added advantage that there aren't batteries to run out.

Re data limits - it would be useful to have a daily limit rather than monthly, to ration it out

About 2 hours a day.