Screen time

[Suechildmind]

Screen time we have all dreaded it for long enough but let's get down to it. How much time do you give your kids in screens? I have found a couple of jokers here in Mumsnet saying that they allow their children to have two hours a day on their screens. I think an hour a week at most is quite enough but my children say it's unfair 😂

Is this supposed to be a joke?

This is a wind up isn’t it?

At least 4-6 hours a day at the moment. It’s the only way they have to interact with their friends.

In normal times I don't set limits on it per se, just try to encourage a sensible balance between screen time and other things. A couple of hours a day is perfectly typical though.

In lockdown however I've given up any attempt to limit screen time. We try and go for a walk each day and I try to get the kids to look at a book / do some colouring etc every now and then, but other than that what is there to do right now?

What KitKat85 said, basically. What else is there to do? It’s been a godsend for the DC being able to play with their friends online.

I don't think this is a joke. I think you are quite right to only be letting your kids have an hour a week to be honest. It's much better for them to be outside in the fresh air and enjoying each others company rather than glued to a screen all day.if I had my way they wouldn't be spending any time on technology

How old are your children? For teenagers, screen time is the main way many keep in touch with their friends. Mine have had live lessons plus homework that requires screens as well so during lockdown it has been 6.5 hours a day just on school stuff. They then want to interact with their friends so weekdays it's been about 8 hours a day. Under "normal" circumstances it would be determined by the completion of homework and other tasks.

Since you posted it in the gaming forum. Even if they spent it all on a game, one hour a week grinds any progress to a virtual halt. If it's something with a strong narrative your children won't fully appreciate the story. If it's a skilful multiplayer game they'll never get beyond beginner level.

You wouldn't limit reading books or playing an instrument to one hour a week, so how do you justify such a virtual ban on "screen time"?

10 minutes a week. Sometimes they use it daily at 1.42 minutes and sometimes they save it up and use the whole 10 at once.

We aren’t in lockdown where I am so it’s none Monday to Friday except for school work (and I have it heavily monitored so they can’t get onto other sites or games) and about two hours each on Sat and Sun. Mine are late primary age. They complain but I keep them busy doing sport and other things so they get over it.