Kids and screen time

[Brow]

G'day to all those parents out there,(sorry for long post)

My oldest started high school this year and has an Ipad for school use. Educational apps, text books, research etc are all done on it in class as well as homework.

We limit all our kids screen time, no TV on school days/nights, electronic gaming 0.5hrs only each weekend/non school day.

All expert resources I have found recommend max 2hrs per day of recreational screen time (which I think is too much anyway) but I have found nothing to address screen time spent in class. All the resources do recommend physical activity and discuss the benefits of social interaction during such activities as well as the obvious general health benefits.

The school has no limit on screen time outside the classroom and many kids, mine included, spend most of the break times (1hr20min total each day) playing games on the Ipads. We have expressed our concern about this but have not had any success with any limits or reasons why they are not limited. We looked at deleting anything other than school stuff on the school Ipad but that isolates my child from all others as they still play games and my child not being at all sporty would just sit alone and we consider this to be the worst of 2 evils so we allowed 2 games only.

Do any other parents have similar issues? Does anyone have similar school ipad programs which do or do not restrict use outside of the classroom?

Thanks for any input.
Brow

 

[kwikee]

Some studies suggest electronic gaming improves concentration, hand eye co- ordination and problem solving ability among other things.
No TV/devices during the week and only 1/2 an hour per day on a weekend seems excessive in my opinion. We tend to follow the 2hr a day thing, however the kids usually don't stay on for that long. In saying that, our kids are very active and outdoorsy, so are happier playing outside or riding bikes/scooters/skateboards etc.
Provided their chores and out-of-school requirements are fulfilled, they are pretty much free to do as they want.
As for screen time in school, in a learning environment in a modern, electronic focused society, I leave that up to the teachers. My kids play soccer/footy/cricket at break times, and the electronic part of their learning is minor anyway (grade 6 eldest).
I think there are bigger issues to deal with for kids these days than screen time. Things are certainly different to when I was at school.

 

[Brow]

Some studies suggest electronic gaming improves concentration, hand eye co- ordination and problem solving ability among other things.
No TV/devices during the week and only 1/2 an hour per day on a weekend seems excessive in my opinion. We tend to follow the 2hr a day thing, however the kids usually don't stay on for that long. In saying that, our kids are very active and outdoorsy, so are happier playing outside or riding bikes/scooters/skateboards etc.
Provided their chores and out-of-school requirements are fulfilled, they are pretty much free to do as they want.
As for screen time in school, in a learning environment in a modern, electronic focused society, I leave that up to the teachers. My kids play soccer/footy/cricket at break times, and the electronic part of their learning is minor anyway (grade 6 eldest).
I think there are bigger issues to deal with for kids these days than screen time. Things are certainly different to when I was at school.

Thanks for your input. I don't disagree with what you say for the most part. My child has certain difficulties with social interaction and while not diagnosed with any disorders, is borderline and if not strictly controlled is a candidate for some sort of computer addiction. Not being a sporty child in any way makes it more difficult for us too.
With screen time and obesity being recognised issues amoung kids in Australia, I would think the schools would do more to help this and introducing a no screen time outside the classroom rule would only help as it would not affect kids like yours and can only help kids like mine.

 

[Knuckles]

Limiting screen time seems to me to be the wrong way to go.

Babysitters are expensive, and I like my quiet time. If it wasn't for TV and the like, I wouldn't even get the limited amount of time I currently enjoy to peruse rotorburn, or sit in the shed quietly sobbing and turning grey.

 

[Jesterarts]

Very interesting topic.

I am not a parent, so cannot provide advice but I can use myself as an example.

I am now coming up on 29, and am a senior manager at a company that develops web based products. It's e-learning, but lets not dwell on that.

When I was a kid, in particular in high school, my parents had a similar approach to gaming, etc. They thought it was rotting my brain and I would be better served reading books or the like.

But I was able to get my gaming time in. Counter Strike, racing games and COD were all my cup of tea.

While playing them, I was just playing them for the shits and giggles of it.

However, day to day I am able to reflect on the fact that in playing those games, I was developing my critical thinking, team playing, leadership, attention to detail and problem solving skills.

Not directly apply-able skills, but wiring my brain to be familiar in how to analyse the information before me and figure out a solution or the path to explore.

The bit I reflect on today, is that the stuff I find easy and logical are things that a lot of my colleagues struggle with. In most cases, the key difference I see is that I was a 'computer nerd' during high school while they had other pursuits.

I do need to stress, that I did also do outside kid stuff. I was enrolled in sailing, martial arts and swimming.

Balance is obviously key.

I honestly believe that if I didn't spend my time gaming in my high school years I would not have developed the natural skills I have.

And to be honest, I am still a massive gaming nerd. Weekly I still indulge in countless hours or online gaming (While the wife is out) as something to keep me sharp and as stress relief.

This again, balanced with some shredding, etc. The only other consideration is no excess to the point of it impacting other aspects. For example too much gaming to silly hours which means next day at school they are a zombie.

Not sure if that helped, but that's my example and experience.

I personally feel that TV is really the only wasteful screen time. No active participation, just passive absorption.

 

[steve jobs' pancreas]

Do any other parents have similar issues? Does anyone have similar school ipad programs which do or do not restrict use outside of the classroom?

Thanks for any input.
Brow

Yes I have the same issue, all they want to do is look at the ipad, iphone, laptop.

My kids dont have ipads for school, I thought schools required kids to have notebooks or ultrabooks. My guys only go to a public school.

Nothing you can do, we are doomed as a species.

 

[PINT of Stella. mate!]

I was raised by TV (and computer games to a lesser extent) then I got bored of it all in my teens and took up hanging around on the streets with my mates drinking cider, smoking weed and bullshitting about our experience with girls. I don't think I touched games again until my early 20's and my TV viewing definitely dropped back to only the good shit (X-files, Sopranos, Simpsons etc. )

I was always told when I was younger that I'd get 'square eyes' and that computer games were addictive but despite all the nagging and occasional physical attempts from my folks at restricting my screen time, at the end of the day it was the natural desire for actual social interaction that got me out of the house and onto the streets (to the detriment of the local community I might add). Even in this supposedly impersonal era of social networks, I'll find myself using Facebook largely to organise actual physical meetings, often with people I would have lost contact with a long time ago back in the day.

It all depends on the person really. Some folk are natural shut-ins and no amount of restrictions will change that - if anything by restricting their main inlets for inspiration and outlets for creativity you might be impeding their path to becoming the next Moby, Mark Zuckerberg or George RR Martin.

Alternately for others the wider world out there is too much of a draw for them to spend all their time in front of a screen, in which case screen time probably isn't that much of a concern.

 

[moorey]

Been a TV addict at times in my past. Don't own a TV any more, haven't for years, and don't miss it. My kids have an iPad each, older kid requires one for school, younger kid got a hand me down.
They both watch a little Iview now and then, and get bored with pretty quick, and build or ride something. They have something sporting most weeknights anyway.
I don't have a viewpoint, most kids are heading more this way. More about WHAT they watch than just simply how much, I figure. :noidea:

 

[stirk]

From my experience playing some games is beneficial to a child's development and restricting them to half an hour on weekends is a little extreme. An hour or so before or after school is fine.

Don't sweat it so much, encourage them to play educational games which are um, educational, puzzle games are a great example of a fun games which teaches kids problem solving skills. Unblock me, pipes, Doors, etc.

These new devices are great for shutting them up, especially in the car.


If your kids are teenagers, over weight and spend most of their time gaming buy them a mountain bike fast! Right Camo :heh:

 

[Halo1]

For me it depends on my kids personality. The eldest daughter will waste all her time on mindless games and TV if we let her. We tend to limit her gaming time as extended periods of games will put her in a bad mood. As a result she reads a lot which I think is better for her in some ways as it stimulates her imagination. She needs a lot of encouragement and motivation to be active.

The middle daughter is pretty motivated to learn. She likes online educational stuff so she is not really wasting her time on games. But to be fair we tend to limit her gamming time in line with her older sister or all hell breaks loose.

The youngest is 6 months old and the TV is on again to entertain her so we can get stuff done in the mornings. It really is a life saver some days.

We tend to save TV, movies and the games for rainy days when the kids can not be active outside or when they are tired from other activities and need to chill out. We also watch TV series or movies in our own time rather than what is on free to air TV. The older two just got into Star Trek so the wife and I are pretty happy to watch it all over again.

We are currently going through high school options for the eldest for next year. A big part of our decision is how the schools approach iPads and computers. I wasted so much time when I was their age watching TV and Movies at home, if this was an option at school I would have been even more distracted and far less social. As a parent I think you have to be careful your kids are not using games and TV as a form of escapism. Most games kids are playing these days are developed for 40 year olds and can be addictive in their own way. I personally think limits are good and this needs to be balanced with other activities.

 

[Knuckles]

As a parent I think you have to be careful your kids are not using games and TV as a form of escapism.

Eh? This is exactly what games and TV are.

While I agree there needs to be some sort of balance, forcing a kid who is not naturally social or physically inclined to be that way will just have the opposite effect.

It's more about content than amount. As long as what you provide access to is age appropriate then it's not a huge problem. My penchant for home made pyrotechnics was not developed online, but behind the shed on the farm, and not because I watched telly, but because I didn't have access to one. And the library was where I got the technical know how to indulge my hobby.

So much pressure is put on kids to be the most academic, the sportiest, the poor bastards need a little escapism. I'd rather my kids find it drifting Mario around the track or watching the Octonaughts than smoking meth outside the local blue light disco.......... (are they even a thing any more?) :noidea:

 

[Brow]

Good discussion

Good points made here. Halo, you seem to be close to what I am looking at with your eldest - although my eldest it goes a bit deeper than just personality.

Everything in moderation, I also agree with using the devices as a learning tool and indeed most people use then in day to day work life too. I think the school could have been more proactive in restricting the ipad outside the classroom to better implement the idea of socialising and activity during the breaks.

I think the RB forum has a wide range of people from all walks of life - I have lurked around here for a few years and you can see this thread contains the bulk of my posts! The replies can give me a wide range of ideas and things to ponder while I ride around processing things in my head.

Thanks to everyone.

 

[Knuckles]

Does anybody else see the ironing of asking this question on an anonymous online forum, populated by middle aged nerds, pretending to be balls of steel bikers?

 

[moorey]

Does anybody else see the ironing of asking this question on an anonymous online forum, populated by middle aged nerds, pretending to be balls of steel bikers?

Hey! I resemble that remark!

 

[Brow]

Does anybody else see the ironing of asking this question on an anonymous online forum, populated by middle aged nerds, pretending to be balls of steel bikers?

I think it should be geeks and carbon to bring it into these modern times.

 

[floody]

I think when we have kids, it's a given we'll have to pretty much unplug. I think kids will be better served by this than total tech immersion. Am I just a stick-in-the-mud? Maybe. But the reality is most tech geniuses did not grow up with this tech immersion which reduces a huge proportion of contemporary kids to being able to connect no deeper than the most dumbed down of GUIs. There's books, natural discovery, outdoors stuff to do, bikes, sports...none of those things are going away. The stuff we are told that 'the jobs of the future [haven't been] invented yet is just crap. At most the majority of occupations might see some automation in stuff like stock control, data entry, engineering equipment, rapid prototyping, but that sort of stuff really isn't that big a shift. My mum worked as a secretary/PA from the late 60s up until a couple of years ago, from ledgers to holistic software suites and adapted as it came. In fact, I think coming from that kind of background, she probably adapted better than the current tech immersed generation will; in the future everything will be stuck behind bloated touch and graphic interfaces, and when it plays up you will call some 50-60 year old tech to get behind the pretty colors and sort it.
Rambling now, but I think people who are very proficient and innovative with technology by and large come from an off-line background.

 

[Bermshot]

Does anybody else see the ironing of asking this question on an anonymous online forum, populated by middle aged nerds, pretending to be balls of steel bikers?

Mods forbid if I posted this rubbish ;? I play Blacks opps with my boy all the time and once he crashes I get the teenagers asking me how old I am ( well I'm so old I would put 20c in to play spacies!)

I guess the point is, when kids are in the dirt or catching fish they couldn't give a shit about "screen time" because they're init!

 

[pink poodle]

Does anybody else see the ironing of asking this question on an anonymous online forum, populated by middle aged nerds, pretending to be balls of steel bikers?

Mods forbid if I posted this rubbish ;? I play Blacks opps with my boy all the time and once he crashes I get the teenagers asking me how old I am ( well I'm so old I would put 20c in to play spacies!)

I guess the point is, when kids are in the dirt or catching fish they couldn't give a shit about "screen time" because they're init!

When i saw your name next to this thread I had hoped for so much more...

Encourage the kids to value themselves and develop a positive sense of who they are. Spend more time with them doing things you both enjoy. Make sure they know they can trust you and will always have a person to turn to (especially if they end up smoking crack with POSM and his gang of ruffians!). If their world is virtual and you don't like that help them find reasons to engage in the "real world".

POSM you have provided 3 very good examples of why this stuff needs to stop.

 

[link1896]

Does anybody else see the ironing of asking this question on an anonymous online forum, populated by middle aged nerds, pretending to be balls of steel bikers?

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

 

[Beej1]

Encourage the kids to value themselves and develop a positive sense of who they are. Spend more time with them doing things you both enjoy. Make sure they know they can trust you and will always have a person to turn to.

That about sums it up for me.

Raising my child, or children as will likely be the case once we forget about the lack of sleep the last 12 months, is - for me anyway - the most important job I'll ever have. Exposure to cases of child neglect and abuse, combined with a shitload of counselling related to my own childhood, combined with ... well ... just being responsible for keeping this little person alive ... it's all shown me how important it is.

So I think about the screen time thing a lot because it's going to have to be dealt with pretty soon for us. She's had fk-all television her entire short life and I found it pretty interesting at the first 'mother's group and partners' gathering at someone's house, the TV went on and all but ours and another kid who doesn't get any TV just turned into little zombies. Literally, drooling and all. Ours and the other kid got bored in about 2 mins and were off outside exploring and playing.

I also watched that Australian version of the 7-up program, and they did an episode on screen time and how it negatively affects kids creativity when they get too much.

Before all this my gut feeling was to go down the path of "the less the better". I don't see that changing.

Besides ... CRT monitors when we 30-40yr-olds were kids. Touch screen tablets practically yesterday. VR-wear making a serious comeback. The obvious progression (and being a sci-fi geek) leads me to predict my child will have a chip in her head in her lifetime, connected to the world at a thought. The fact she didn't get much screen time as a kid will have little difference then when the screen is in her optic nerve. I also wonder if she will ever need to learn to drive a car. But that's another story.