Younger teens (yr 8) - do you limit screen time?

[Takver]

Apologies, I realise this is something of a duplication from another thread, but as pointed out on there 12/13 year olds are very different from older teens. I'd be interested to know what house rules those of you with dc this age have on screen time.

(I find it's complicated somewhat for me by the fact that dd mostly uses her tablet for reading (fanfic) and a bit of writing. DH feels that's different from reading a book or writing on paper, I'm not sure. )

I have a 12yr old ds and I know I'm stricter than most of his friends parents. No screen time at all before school. When he gets home at 4.15ish all hw and chores must be done before he gets screen time. All devices must be turned off at 7 (apart from tv in front room). If he's playing a game meant for older teenagers then he gets max of an hour on it and needs to switch off before 6.
Bed is at 8.30 when he reads for half he then lights out.

I was much less strict. Mine had down time from school so could due screens then. H/w then they could do as they pleased till bed time. This worked fine. Now much older and they use it as much as they want. I am a laid back parent which has worked well in this house.

Dd is 13 in y9, she's had an iPad since y6 and iPhone since y7 and we have never had "limits" as such. I think is partly because her life and personality lead her to self-regulate and we have never gone down the "rules and regs" path about anything so would seem weird to do so now?

I understand what your DH means about reading/writing on a screen being different, but I don't think that something being on a screen makes it less worthwhile? My DH has a view that watching TV is better than reading an iBook which I find completely bizarre and which he admits doesn't stand up to scrutiny!

Donkir - do you think you're definitely more strict, or is it an 'everyone else is allowed to do this . . .' sort of thing?

I know several of his "friends" play 18 rated games until midnight. Games consoles and phones are in bedrooms at night. Most of his friends are still awake at 10.

My ds is 13 and in yr 8 I am quite laid back with screen time but he is very sporty and does do his home-work without too much prompting. He goes to bed at around 10pm and usually is off the consoles/pc by 9.30pm in the week, considerably later at weekends.

DS 13........

Comes home from school and does homework straight away, on a screen until tea....... about one hour.

Walks dog then showers.

On screen from 6ish til 8 ish

screens off at 8 but watches tv

bed at 9 reads until 9.30.

Weekends on the screen more but also does other stuff.

Twins of 10 and 13x1 No electronics before 5.30 and then only if school work completed, stuff ready for morning. They are on for about an hour then family TV time, bed 8.30 to nine. More relaxed at weekend but no gaming until 5.30, youtube but only in family rooms. They have to read each day and no Tv, electronics in bedrooms.
I know this seems strict but they're used to it and don't complain (yet!)

DD is 12y and in y8. Fortunately we haven't really had to set limits and DD is pretty good at self regulating.

DD isn't allowed her phone/tablet once its bedtime - they go on to charge and thats it. She has her basic Kindle to read. On school nights she doesn't use them fro 8pm onwards.

DD also does homework as soon as she comes in from school and social media/games don't get used til that is done, but this has been self regulated. She sometimes uses her phone to call friends, or Facetime, when they are discussing homework or doing a joint project. And she uses her laptop or tablet for the internet if homework requires it.

We also insist on no gadgets at the table for eating.

DS 13 and in yr 9. Comes from school at 4,30 free until 6,30 so plays on ps3 then dinner and homework (7-8 pm) then ps3/laptop again till 9 when it is lights off.

But this is winter schedule, he'll rather be outside than stuck to a screen so not worried.

No. Don't limit anything. Seems to work ok in that DD is just as happy to read.

We've always limited screen time in holidays / weekends, so that's just continued. We don't have a 'X hours a day' rule, but she's very involved in other activities, so time available to 'just relax' and opt on to screen or not isn't that vast, so it sort of regulates itself.
Oh, she's 13 and in Yr8.