Limits on electronics- kids, self?

[Deleted]

Ok. So i really shouldn't be on here. We are supposed to be having a 'screen free week'... which i run periodically, to 'reset'.

So, i'm interested, what are everyone else's rules about tv, video games, computers, etc.

Do you monitor yourself, your kids, or is it just whatever everyone feels like? ....

[Abby Normal]

Just whatever everyone feels like. We are too busy to watch alot of tv. DS gets tired of electronics, so even though we have them, they don't get used unless he has friends over.

[giramomma]

We generally try to limit screen time to one hour a day.

There are some times that DS goes over (like with watching sporting events), but there are more days that he gets no screen time (by choice).

Honestly, we don't need to monitor our DS. Have no clue about #2 or #3. Both are a little young or a lot young to tell yet.

I try to monitor myself. After work, I tend to withdraw into cyber land after the kids go to bed. I know my husband isn't fond of it. Plus, I'm getting bored surfing the net.

[Phoenix84]

I place no limits on my screen time. If there's something else I need to do I typically just do that instead. Sometimes I spend all day at the computer or playing games. Not often, but sometimes.

[Bob Ross]

I've tried to limit myself to half a dozen tazers.

So far, unsuccesfully.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I usually don't get on the internet when I am home, I fiddle around enough on it when I am at work.

DH doesn't really have limits beyond he no longer stays up all night playing. He doesn't have that luxury anymore. His time is limited to whenever he can squeeze it in.

Gwen's too little to want much screen time. She is always on the move. Man I wish she would sit still and watch an entire episode of Seasme Street, then I could get some stuff done around the house.

[Formerly SK]

The kids tend to not watch any TV or play video games during the week. They are too busy with school/activities/homework.

That said, homework has increasingly become web based so the kids are getting online more (1st & 2nd grade). I recently discovered IXL.com and the kids live and breathe it. Last night DD spent an hour joyously solving math word problems while I did homework with DS. I guess I'm doing my YM duty creating future STEMers.

[milee]

Nov 6, 2012 15:17:51 GMT -5 Abby Normal said:

Just whatever everyone feels like. We are too busy to watch alot of tv. DS gets tired of electronics, so even though we have them, they don't get used unless he has friends over.

Same here.

It's rare the TV is on when the kids are awake. Not like we've banned it, just too much going on. Sometimes they'll watch some on weekends or if one gets up way too early for school and is ready and waiting. Maybe an average of a couple hours a week? DH and I will often watch an hour or two after the kids are in bed - winding down time.

We have a Wii, but the kids only use it when other kids or a babysitter is over.

As for computers, we all spend a lot of time on them. DH and I both work and - obviously - do recreational web surfing on ours. The boys do homework and sometimes watch a movie. We haven't specifically limited screen time, but the computers have to be off an hour before bed time just because we've found with the older son who has problems falling asleep at a decent hour, the screen time can contribute to keeping him up. An hour of reading before bed tends to help him wind down, where an hour of being on the computer before bed seems to keep him up longer.

[mandyms]

Nov 6, 2012 15:38:23 GMT -5 @wrongsideof30 said:

Nov 6, 2012 15:36:35 GMT -5 Formerly SK said:

The kids tend to not watch any TV or play video games during the week. They are too busy with school/activities/homework.

That said, homework has increasingly become web based so the kids are getting online more (1st & 2nd grade). I recently discovered IXL.com and the kids live and breathe it. Last night DD spent an hour joyously solving math word problems while I did homework with DS. I guess I'm doing my YM duty creating future STEMers.

Thanks! Never heard of it and it looks super cool.

[Formerly SK]

Some more academic websites if you are interested (I'm sure there are a bazillion more):

www.raz-kids.com/
www.ixl.com/
www.funbrain.com/numbers.html
www.khanacademy.org/
www.xtramath.org/
www.dreambox.com/
more.starfall.com/ (they have a new math section now)
coolmath.com

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

ODS is good at self-regulation.

YDS has video/computer game addiction tendencies. I worked really hard at keeping it in check and kicking him off regularly -- even taking away the remotes and/or discs when it looked like he was turning toward the dark side.

But, then the school went and gave every student a lap top this year. Like I needed more screens to monitor. Argghh.

[whoisjohngalt]

I am a TV addict and so my very young kids. Obviously, their addiction is my fault, so...... I've done no TV days/week for them. They didn't protest too much, so may be not everything is lost yet

Lena

[Angel!]

Nov 6, 2012 15:38:23 GMT -5 @wrongsideof30 said:

Nov 6, 2012 15:36:35 GMT -5 Formerly SK said:

The kids tend to not watch any TV or play video games during the week. They are too busy with school/activities/homework.

That said, homework has increasingly become web based so the kids are getting online more (1st & 2nd grade). I recently discovered IXL.com and the kids live and breathe it. Last night DD spent an hour joyously solving math word problems while I did homework with DS. I guess I'm doing my YM duty creating future STEMers.

Thanks! Never heard of it and it looks super cool.

I think DS might like that site.

[Peace Of Mind]

My only electronics/technology addiction is my laptop with you guys and Google and You Tube. I don't have a cell, IPAD/IPOD, Wi, Kindle, etc. TV doesn't have much on that is worthy of an addiction IMO. But I do have some favorite shows I like to watch. DH is a TV addict and loves technology.

[busymom]

We've never had t.v.'s in the kid's bedrooms. When DD was a toddler, I'd seen a study somewhere that the average GPA drops for kids who have t.v.'s in their rooms. So, my kids were "deprived" & had to watch with us in the livingroom.


The computer is next to the diningroom, so I can peek over their shoulders anytime to see what websites they're checking out. I know, I'm such a MEAN mom! ;D


And yes, homework comes first before t.v. or computer time....

[Deleted]

We don't limit it on purpose but it DS tends to watch very little. He likes to watch in the morning when he first wakes up. He's a slow starter. DH and I watch and hour or two after DS goes to bed. I spend waay too much time on the computer but most of that is for work.

[Sum Dum Gai]

Between school, homework, team practice, individual practice, games, recitals, family dinner at the table every night, etc. the kids don't get much screen time anyway. Sometimes they spend the unscheduled time they have playing nerf wars with the neighbor kids, sometimes they spend it vegging out in front of a screen. I don't really worry about it either way.

[Deleted]

I have to limit myself because i love to chat on these kinds of message boards. I prefer this over watching TV or any other type of electronics. I dont' carry a cell and i don't watch that much TV. I would far rather get online. My boys LOVE the Xbox. They get as obssessed with that as i do "my boards" so i do limit that. They get online too but they don't watch that much TV. They are active and healthy so i don't worry about it too much.

[sbcalimom]

We're pretty bad about how much tv/ipad time the girls get. Well, I should say DD1 since DD2 isn't really that interested. DD2 will occasionally watch an episode of something here or there but mostly isn't interested. DD1 on the other hand will watch tv or the ipad morning noon and night if we'll let her. We try to limit her to only 1/2 hr at a time and spread it throughout the day when she's at home. I'm hoping now that DD2 is getting older they can play more together. Plus, I'm really pushing more imaginative play toys for Christmas so hopefully that will help too.

Myself, there's no hope. I am on the computer as much as possible for work during the day and then I read e-books or watch tv on the nights I don't have more work.

[cubefarmer]

I don't see the point of limiting screen time. Work from home 9 hours on 2 screens, interneting, bill paying, TV watching, texting, emailing, e-reading, gaming, movie watching, Netflixing - it's all on screens if you are at home (and not working in the garden or cleaning out the garage).