What are the tv/screen rules in your home?

[Halcyon]

I was curious how others handled screen time in their households. I am going to lump all "screens" together for ease of the poll.

 

We allow our boys to watch tv or play approved computer games on weekend mornings for 2 hours each day. We rarely allow screen time during the week, aside for the occasional family movie night.

 

What are the 'screen rules' in your home?

[Parrothead]

It is allowed all day every day except when school is going on.

[Halcyon]

Chucki-wow! I sometimes wonder about that approach. Do you limit what they can watch?

[Jen in PA]

PBS and dvds borrowed from the library are allowed almost anytime. Anything else is permitted after school plus my mandatory "hour outside" per day have been completed. I haven't really put a set limit on computer time -- yet.

[justamouse]

As long as schoolwork is done to my satisfaction, their own time is theirs. Weekends, too.

[Joker]

It is allowed all day every day except when school is going on.

 

This is pretty much us ~ unless they get really involved in a game and then we will cut them off from that for a bit. This happens only rarely. There are many days that the tv/games/computers don't get turned on because they're playing or involved with something else. I think because we've never had limits its just not that big a thing for them.

 

ETA: We don't have cable and most of their TV watching is Netflix that I put on there for them. They do each have a DS and we have a Wii.

[snickelfritz]

School, chores, and violin must be done. No specifics, but if they have been on a lot.... We tell them it's time to do something else. I also record shows and they are usually required to pick from that list. Some are educational and others are just approved fun ones. Everything from Timeblazers to Backyardigans.

[Laughingmommy]

I try to be honest with the kids about things like TV, computers, sugar, etc. I really try to talk to them honestly so that I can help them develop life-long habits that reflect their own inner desires and goals. I just can't believe that zoning out on TV or video games is anyone's inner desire and goal, if you know what I mean? When they're watching too much, I usually don't have to do anything other than to get myself out of bed and start DOING stuff. Actually, reading to the kids doesn't even require me to be out of the bed! When the choice for my kids is TV or fun Mommy, thank goodness they always choose me. Now, my older kids are really great about helping occupy the little kids. When someone starts getting stuck on wanting to watch something, the older kids will often offer an alternative that's even more fun. As a family, we've really tried to approach not watching TV in a positive way.

 

Pei

[nukeswife]

It is allowed all day every day except when school is going on.

 

:iagree:

This is us too.

 

We've had no issues with it our kids are really good about self regulating. We're really lax about what they watch too, we have Directv and they have access to all the channels. My dd who is 9 mostly watches Discovery or Animal Planet, the boys love all the cartoon, nickelodeon and disney channels. They also have unlimited access to the Netflix instant streaming stuff via our Wii. My oldest (who is 11) just asked me if he could put the entire original CSI series on hi s Netflix queue because he's been catching some in rerun on other channels.

Edited November 27, 2010 by nukeswife

[WarriorMama]

I picked unlimited, because we don't really have set 'rules'. My kids don't really watch much television at all, and the one I have that's old enough for the computer very rarely uses it. Video games are more of a fun, whole-family event, where we all play Wii Sports and hang out together or something. But there's no hourly limit, or days when they can/can't have screen time. We take it as it comes. Yesterday, for example, the entire Anne of Green Gables miniseries was on TV, and my daughter watched all afternoon (she loves Anne!).

 

Possibly when the kids are older it would make more sense for us to have some sort of set limit. I don't know. I hope that they'll continue on as they are now - enjoying screen time freely when they feel like it, but for the most part having better things to do.

[yellowperch]

We don't have a tv or a wii. The older children can earn 15 minutes on the computer from time to time. They can use the computer to read, research or send e-mails. I answere "no tv/wii or computer allowed" but we do have some very limited screen time. The kids also watch (on my itty bitty laptop) a movie or something every three weeks or so.

Edited November 27, 2010 by yellowperch

[gingersmom]

My children are usually too busy with school and after school activities to have much tv time.

 

That being said, even an hour a day is too much for me.

 

Come December 1st we are going to go TV free during the week and severely limited on the weekends.

 

We already got rid of cable but my son manages to find something to watch on Netflix on the wii and my daughter's new best friend is Hulu.

[Parrothead]

Chucki-wow! I sometimes wonder about that approach. Do you limit what they can watch?

Yes, When we had satellite there were only a few channels pre-approved for anytime viewing. The computer has only pre-approved sites.

 

We are moving into PG show/movies.

 

Dd will self limit. Right now dh is watching a questionable movie, I'm on my laptop and dd is on one of those dress-up doll websites. I'm glad she isn't paying attention. Although she and I have watched TV all day it is the first time in I don't remember how long.

[mammaruss]

It is allowed all day every day except when school is going on.

:iagree: Just because there are no rules --does NOT mean ds sits in front of it all day long.......unless he is not feeling well.

[Daisy]

I'm not sure how to respond.

 

The only real screens we have in our house are the 13 inch DVD player and the computer. Both are ancient.

 

The kids have to ask before watching a movie, mostly so I can monitor what they pick. They probably ask me 2x a week. I usually say yes.

 

My kids are completely uninterested in the computer. I think that is because we've never used it for games. The kids will email grandma if I harp on them but that is about it.

[angela in ohio]

I hate to be one of those people, but... I need an 'other'.

 

We do allow a bit of Wii and TV use, so we don't fit into the last category. But I don't set time or day limits. Dc use Wii fit as part of their half hour phys ed routine in the morning, we play Wii as a family in the evenings once or twice a week, and we watch a movie every other week or so, and we watch Jeopardy once a week or so. No one ever really does TV or Wii alone. The only computer use is for school work.

 

We don't really have a rule about any of it. No one is interested in the TV much, as there is so much else to do.

 

ETA: I'm going to vote the last category, as it's the closest.

Edited November 27, 2010 by angela in ohio

[Whereneverever]

We allow more screen time in the winter when it's too cold to go outside. Otherwise I try to allow 30 minutes or less, unless they are watching a movie for a treat.

[Vanna]

At the present, my children are allowed 30min on the computer Mon - Fri (no computer on the weekends). They have the opportunity to earn an add'l 2 min for each subject they complete with no mistakes (I make allowances for a couple of spelling errors, and maybe one silly mistake). They "lose" 15min for sloppy/incomplete work or work that's filled with a ridiculous number of errors.They are only allowed to go on websites that I've saved in the favorites and these sites have to have some element of "learning" to them. This is their computer-recreation time and does not include the time they spend doing typing games/sending emails (20min/day Mon - Wed) or practicing spelling or Latin vocab.

 

TV - we don't have cable or networks. We get videos from the library and Redbox watch them together.

 

We don't have any video games/Wii.

[Lolly]

No real limits here. Life limits it enough.:001_smile:

[lisabelle]

TV isn't an issue. Ds (11) only has a few must-watch shows: Mythbusters, The Colony, Community, The Office.

 

He spends more time on the computer and xBox than I would like, gaming. But much of the time he's doing it with his dad. It's part of their bond. So what can I do?

 

Do I want the ds to grow up to be like his dad? Hmm...his dad is kind, respectful, earns a good living in a technical field. Yup. I want ds to grow up to be just like dad! :)

[elegantlion]

It is allowed all day every day except when school is going on.

 

:iagree: Ds rarely watches TV anymore. He goes in spurt on games and the computer. When he gets a new Xbox game we kind of watch how much he plays, but rarely really limit it. The newness wears off and he moves on. He does do a lot on the computer, but that seems to be a family thing.

 

As an only child he probably gets less restrictions because he is good about self-limiting.

Edited November 27, 2010 by elegantlion

[kokotg]

The second option is the closest, so I picked that. My kids can use screens for a little while in the morning if they wake up earlier than I do, as long as they let me sleep. And then they get an hour starting at 4 (or whenever we get home, if we're out at 4). It's not conditional on school being done, really, but only because we don't have any trouble finishing by 4. They have to spend an hour outside, weather permitting, before they can have screen time, though. We also sometimes watch school related movies outside of that time, and we often watch a movie together on weekends.

[Farrar]

I didn't know which to vote. We don't allow them to have screen time whenever they want, but we set limits based on the sort of day it is and what's going on - it's very fluid. If we've done school, then been out and had social time and the kids have been running around, active and/or learning at a museum or something, which is common, and we get home in the late afternoon, then I often allow pretty much unlimited screen time for the rest of the day. They usually want to zone out and play on the computer or watch TV and I think that's fine. If we're done with school and just hanging around the house or we get home from activities pretty early, then I usually limit it so they do something else. It's never a big argument around here though. Occasionally if we're home and they've been on screens for awhile and I say, okay, bring it to a close, they give a sort of obligatory groan, but they do it and are happy doing something else. My favorite is when we watch TV or movies we all enjoy together... Ah... waiting for that Christmas Doctor Who. :D

[lulubelle]

This varies as time goes on. Last year, it was no t.v. during the week. Then, mid-summer we got Wii. It was getting excessive with each kid watching the other during their "time". So, last month we started to have 30 min. of screen time alone or 45 min. if it is together per day after school work and chores.

[Peela]

I am "other" on that poll and there is no "other"!

 

We limit screen time but it isnt contigent on school work being completed because..well, thats just a given, and we don't do screen time that time of day anyway. We never work evenings- whatever wasnt done by early to mid afternoon, just gets done the next day.

 

When my kids were younger, and for our first few years of homeschooling (say, ages 8- 12 or 13) the rules were: no screen time Mon-Th, 1 hour on Fridays, 2 hours each Sat and Sunday.

 

However, that didn't count the nightly episode of some series or other that we watched together. Family screen time was excepted.

 

Since they have got older, they spend 2-3 hours a day, sometimes more, on their computers, mostly socialising. So do I. So does Dh.(OK- maybe a bit more) No, they are not supposed to be on FB during school hours, but it does happen! Not to mention the texting! Yes, its an issue, but as homeschoolers, their phones and computers keep them in daily (sometimes hourly) contact with their friends, so we try and work with it rather than ban them altogether.

We watch one or two series at a time- but many days the TV doesn't get turned on at all. We never watch commercial TV.

 

The boundaries are much looser nowadays, but the schoolwork gets done, and while we all spend plenty of time on the computer, there are plenty of activities and social events as well.

[Tap]

No limits here. We have a few computers, a family TV in the main room, and my two older kids have thier own TVs.

 

DS16 watches only a few hours of TV a week (usally Mythbusters) but he has his own laptop so he is online quite a bit. He works as a paid tutor, goes to college fulltime, is on swim team, goes to church 2 days a week, volunteers at least part of one day a week and if there is something else that he is available for..he voluteers for that too. I don't feel like his 'free access' has hurt him one bit or keeps him from living his life. LOL He hadn't watched his own tv in years so he gave it to dd4 for the play room. I don't think it is even turned on once every two weeks if even that. It is mainly used when someone is sick and I want to keep them downstairs instead of upstairs in thier room or if I want dd4 to have some quiet time, but not nec take a nap.

 

DD12 doesn't have her TV time monitored, but I do limit computer to about 1 hour a day. It isn't a hard and fast rule, just a general one. The only reason I do that is because she gets started playing at BuildaBear or one of the other mini-game sites and gets really sucked in. She doesn't do that with TV so I don't worry about that. She doesn't play the computer every day but when she does, she loses track of time really fast.

 

DD4 just flitters about.

[idnib]

We're TV free here. The kids also don't get any computer screen time at home. When we visit my parents they watch some TV and play some games on the computer, but that's an annual thing. They do get sucked in then, and I think it's a combination of novelty and boredom.

 

I noticed DH got a programming book for kids from the library so I think we're going to have a discussion soon though. :001_huh:

 

ETA: I wonder how much has to do with the ages of the kids. Our kids are only 6 and 2 so no screen time feels more reasonable to me than it would at 10 or 12. I'm sure at certain ages they would be emailing/texting/watching documentaries/writing papers etc. Right now they would just play games. Wondering about the ages of the kids of the other "no screen time" folks...

Edited November 27, 2010 by idnib

[Abigail4476]

I selected "only on the weekends", but we do occasionally watch a movie together during the week (rarely). I'm not counting movies or documentaries that I assign with curriculum.

 

The kids also have limited computer/video game time during the week. It's limited to an hour a day after schoolwork is completed.

[keptwoman]

I voted option 3. The kids tend to be self regulating and don't spend too much time on it. If I feel they have been googly eyed at the screen for too much time in a day I tell them to get off and do something else.

 

I do have one other condition: Saturday is screen free day in our home, not that it means much these days when we are at sailing all day. On Sunday they must tidy their rooms completely and until they have done so, they are not allowed to have screen time, it used to be a great incentive but these days they can go 3-4 weeks between room tidies, and therefore no screen for that period. I'm torn: I love the lack of screen but I also love tidy rooms.

[sagira]

TV only comes on when Daddy gets home and if school is done. Daddy doesn't get home until 6:30 or later, and we don't have cable, only Netflix and DVDs.

 

Wii only on the weekends (dubbed Wii-kends in our house), except when Daddy needs to do exercise with the Dance Revolution or jogging with the Wii Fit, In which case if dc join, it's counted as exercise.

[Skadi]

We object to both the medium of television and much of its content. For older kids, we allow one educational show and one film a week. Youngers don't even get to see a single program until they are at least seven.

 

My DH and I came to this decision because:

 

a) both our parents gave us "the boob tube" as children, so we have experienced some of the ill effects of that personally

 

b) we've seen enough studies that show the developmental effects to know that we don't want to put our kids at risk

 

c) we've noticed many themes in children's entertainment that we feel are unhealthy, such as the "kids are awesome and always right, parents are dumb and incompetent" messages, among others

 

d) it's easy to let yourself be entertained by TV because it is so passive, and a lot of times it seems like people just watch TV because it's too much of a hassle to entertain themselves otherwise -- from a young age we want to teach our kids how to entertain themselves, even if it's more work

 

We've received a lot of flack about our choice from other people over the years. I think they feel a little threatened by our commitment (which at times is not an easy one). It's not like I go around lecturing people on TV or anything of the sort, but I guess it's similar to some parents' reaction to homeschooling...they feel you are judging them even if you are not. A few people have been genuinely upset, and tried to convince us repeatedly that we were making the wrong decision. "All things in moderation!" Well, on that premise, I might as well give my kids alcohol or any number of things that I feel are inappropriate for kids so long as they are in relatively small doses. ;)

[Stacey in MA]

That is not quite the exact rule. If I feel like they have had too much TV, I will say no more. If it's a really nice day outside and they haven't been out yet, and ask for TV - NOPE! If it's rainy out and we have no plans and they seem restless, bickering, and can't seem to busy themselves with something else, I will let them be on TV for more time than I would normally allow. If I need them to be preoccupied (like when I was pre-cooking my Thanksgiving casseroles and food!), then I might allow them more time than usual. So I guess what I'm saying is that the rules aren't hard and fast, but I bend them and use them differently day by day. But in general, they get about an hour on TV and maybe an hour of computer games a day after all schoolwork and house chores are done.

 

- Stacey in MA

 

PS Screen time is also the first thing to be eliminated for the day if the DC is having having a bad-behavior or bad-attitude day....

[rlugbill]

The question was about screen time, not tv time. We never watch tv except for the Olympics when it's on every 2 years.

 

But we do have dvds. We have lots of old tv shows like the Cosby Show, Little House on the Prairie, The Flintstones, and the Brady Bunch. My dd likes to watch those sometimes. We also have some movies on dvd.

 

But it's different from tv because there are no commercials and you don't tend to keep watching once the show is over. You just pick something you want to watch and watch it and don't get sucked into the next show.

 

I think it's probably better to have stricter rules about it. We used to but then my wife would watch hours of her favorite dvds at night and it didn't seem fair not to allow our dd to watch also. We do try to limit it to one show/day. Many days she doesn't watch at all.

 

My dd self-regulates to a large degree. She is very active and so sitting in front of the tv for hours is not something she generally wants to do, unless she is sick or something.

 

It's interesting to see her come up with great ideas and projects when there is nothing to do. At first she'll complain, then she'll go to her room and read a book or come up with some great new project or play some elaborate game by herself. If boredom didn't force her into that situation, she never would have been inspired to come up with these great, interesting ideas.

[Snickerdoodle]

My kids get virtually no screen time. They very occasionally will see a movie or documentary on netflix.

We don't have a tv or video games.

 

They are too busy with other things and screen time is not really on their radar.

[Sasharowan]

We allow tv and some computer on school days after 3pm/work completed whichever is later. Video games are reserved for non-school days or occasional special events, like we school in the morning and have friends over in the afternoon.

[Lady Florida.]

No limits as long as school work and chores are done.

[Chris in VA]

No limits here--but we don't have cable (only the regular ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, and FOX, plus PAX comes in, too). Dd only watches a little TV at night as there's really nothing on in the daytime. She probably watches 5-8 hours of TV a week. She doesn't have a facebook or email account, and only visits American Girl and the PBS.org site to watch Fetch! or something similar.

 

We have instant Netflix, but she's not into movies, really. We do like Cake Boss and have watched a few episodes of Hoarders and Say Yes to The Dress.

[QueenCat]

No real limits here. Life limits it enough.:001_smile:

 

:iagree:With my youngest a high school senior, self regulation is the general rule. Life makes it impossible to watch "too much" most days. Between school work, tutorial once a week, church activities, homeschool activities, appointments, chores, scouts and whatever else might be happening, most days might include an hour of non-school work screen time. Saturdays, more, because we usually watch a movie as a family, if all are home, at night. When they were much younger, elementary school, time was earned. Middle school, we started encouraging self regulation but would tell them "enough" when it was "enough". By high school, like many other things, they need to be figuring out how much is too much on their own, with just a little guidance if necessary.

[KidsHappen]

The only real rule is don't leave the tv or computer music running when no one is in the room watching or listening to them. WOW is shut off suring the school year and I don't really have problems with anything else.

[LuvingLife]

We all have to complete our schoolwork, hw, chores and things like that before we have screen time, and even then we have a limited amount of screen time. I rarely watch tv anymore, and I am glad tv and video games just aren't important to me anymore!:lol:

[Alice]

I said we have daily limits contingent upon schoolwork being completed but that's the reality is more that we don't have set rules, more that I try and model and encourage moderation. We don't have TV or any video games so it's not a huge issue. We do watch DVDs and the boys enjoy playing games on sites like PBSkids or Lego.com. We might go through a phase where they are playing or watching something daily and then a phase where they haven't played in weeks. When they do play or watch I limit them but not to a set amount of time. If it's a movie on a DVD it might be 2 hours, if it's a game on the computer more like 30-45 minutes at the most. I think the biggest key for us is modeling that we don't use it much oursevles.