How much TV & video game time...

[Part-Time Homeschooler]

do you give your children each week?

I normally allow 1 hour of TV per day during the week (after ds finishes homework and reading), but no video games until the weekend. They are only allowed to watch PBS Kids or a video. I've always thought an hour per day was too much, so I'm planning to cut TV down to 30 minutes per day and the video games will remain a weekend treat. Does anyone here ban TV altogether during the week?

[Jean in Newcastle]

T.v./ videos from the library - they watch for 1/2 hour in the morning while I shower.

- we watch some t.v. at night before bed (major vegging because Mom is brain-dead)

No video games.

1 hour of computer games on Friday afternoons.

[Diana in OR]

Mine have more than that, but they are older. When they were the ages of yours, it was 1hr. per day maximum. And we didn't own any video games, other than some educational computer games.

Now that my boys are older, they get 1 hr./day of computer, 1hr. video games, and pretty much unlimited tv (that's b/c there are only a few shows they like to watch, so it only amounts to an hour a few times a week). All electronic content must be approved by Dad or Mom, of course.

Also, now that they are older, they spend more time on their schoolwork, so I am a little more lax with their leisure time.

[Dot]

I also never let it be an important part of their life, or a crutch, from the start. It's just an extra, for entertainment /education. I think it's kida sad that some parents go to great lenghts timing kid's viewing, then spend hours viewing it themselves. My ds is now a teen and he spends very little time in front of a screen.

[CookieMonster]

Does anyone here ban TV altogether during the week?

I've tried. And it doesn't work for us. And I'm ok with that now. I monitor what comes through the screen (only educational, except for AFV on Sun Eve). And TV is not allowed to be the go-to entertainment when they're bored.

But ban it altogether during the week? We couldn't do it.

[Dayle in Guatemala]

We don't really watch TV or play video games during the school week (M-Th for us). Not because we're trying to ban it, but, because we are so busy, we try to be more constructive with our free time. Also, then we appreciate it more on the weekends!

[Kate in Arabia]

I'm with Dot. The one or two times we tried having limits it suddenly became the most precious thing in the world to them. Leaving it completely open, as long as time permits, makes it more of a non-issue. During the week they usually don't have any time for tv anyway; it's the weekend here now, and the kids asked to watch a video (we don't have regular tv/cable); I said fine, and they put one in, but they are running around and wrestling and all (maybe not the best alternative, lol), not really paying much attention to the video.

For computer, I request that they begin any play time with one of the games I have for their schoolwork (Singapore Math cds, Reader Rabbit, etc.) They will often do that and just stick with that for a bit, until they get distracted and run off to do something else. I have completely cut off internet for them, it just became too much of a magnet (the "unlimited" array of games). I must say that worked much better than trying to have limits, I guess my kids respond best to the "all or nothing" approach.

Kate

[Kate in Arabia]

I think it's kida sad that some parents go to great lenghts timing kid's viewing, then spend hours viewing it themselves.

Oh, and I had to respond to this separately, because I find for us this is so true, meaning that if we go through a period where I am really attached to the computer (I am not much into tv at all), I find that the kids are more prone to up their computer/tv time. They generally want to hang around with us (me and dh) -- if I'm sitting reading a book or working in the kitchen, they'll wander in, want to help, want to do a puzzle near me, etc.

If I feel that they are too engrossed in a computer game or what have you, I only need to walk in and offer to play a game or do a puzzle with them and they drop it immediately.

Don't know how long that will last.. my oldest is 10 -- do they eventually get tired of hanging around with you?

[Colleen]

We don't do video games at all. My guys have never expressed any real interest in them, and they are close to the last way I'd want them spending their time anyway.

Television plays a very minor role in our lives. If I were you I would try to just naturally direct your children (and yourself, if it's an issue) toward other things. I wouldn't want to get caught up in establishing limits, keeping track of screen time, etc.

[Joanne]

I limited it deliberately when my kids were your children's ages. We went through seasons when I used vouchers for "screen time". When the voucher was used; screen time was over. The vouchers became the third party enforcement and offered a concrete, tangible way for my kids to understand the limits. Turing it off/ending the screen time successfully (without a meltdown, attitude or arguement) was necessary to have screen time the next day.

Now, I don't limit but I have some rules.

School and chores must be done - and with an acceptable attitude. The kids "just know" not to ask about computer/other screen time if it's nice out, there are non siblings to play with outside, if they are going to have screen time later (such as the nights my DH and I go out).

If I had a kid prone to addictive-like behaviors over screen time, I'd eliminate it entirely.