Screen time

9 replies

Grrzzz · 28/08/2023 15:32

I have a soon-to-start Y11 teenage daughter who will be 16 in a couple of months. She's in a major sulk at the moment as I have refused her unrestricted wifi access (the current agreement is guest access after school through to 8pm). Adult/gambling etc content blocked.
I asked her to justify why she needs wifi access in the middle of the night and the reason given was "so I don't miss any messages". Not a valid reason I said.
I've read countless pages which confirm that excessive screen time is damaging to a child's welfare and education.
Am I being unfair? How do other parents deal with this?

OP posts:

incognito50me · 28/08/2023 15:44

Mine has downtime, but later than yours (11 pm). She is one of the very few of her friends who still has downtime on her phone.

BoohooWoohoo · 28/08/2023 15:46

Not the point of your message but can't she check her messages with 5g?
Does she have access to her phone after bedtime ? Personally my year 11s were allowed later internet time on Friday and Saturday nights during term time.

DrunkenHandstand · 28/08/2023 15:47

8pm is early.

incognito50me · 28/08/2023 15:49

BoohooWoohoo · 28/08/2023 15:46

Yes, mine doesn't have downtime Fridays and Saturdays and we haven't had issues with staying up too late.

BoohooWoohoo · 28/08/2023 15:52

I do the later downtime on Friday and Saturdays because I want them to learn the repercussions of being on the phone all night before they go to uni and there's no supervision.
Personally I stopped any downtime after GCSEs so they could learn to regulate before age 18. Better to feel the tiredness of being up all night in y12/13 than at uni imo

nicknamehelp · 28/08/2023 15:55

Will she be doing any work after 8 as my dd did and most school bits online so no Internet would of stopped her. I do think 8 a bit early

Original poster

Grrzzz · 28/08/2023 15:57

She does most of her homework while at school, so pretty much everything at home is leisure activities.
I have already tried discussing extended access time with her, but it's all or nothing 24/7 access and is unwilling to compromise

OP posts:

BoohooWoohoo · 28/08/2023 16:00

If she's not going to negotiate then she's the one who is going to "suffer" but one day you won't be able to impose phone rules on her and I think that a transition makes sense.

StandUpForYourRights · 28/08/2023 16:05

We all charge phones downstairs overnight, so no-one has screens other than a kindle or TV after bed time

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