How do you keep kids off the screen I don’t mind an hour or two but they want it all day everyday it’s literally first thing out of their mouth when they wake up (ages 8&11) I send them outside to play they go beyond boundaries and destroy things or just complain til they come back in they have toys/coloring books/reading booksI’ve tried to get them to help in the garden but they won’t pay attention and tromple everything I’m exhausted on micromanaging everything on top of caring for 2yr old who still naps so I can’t have an eye on them every living breath
My kids get 2 hours screen time but only after they read for an hour and play outside. So usually after lunch, unless we are having a day out or other exception when they need to have the tablet/switch more, like long car rides or if I’m working from home, etc.
During summer break I don’t otherwise they would be constantly fighting all summer. During the school year though they only get their devices are the weekends.
A chore chart for rewards, and privileges and and I block there screen time with my internet app for devices in the home.
Kind like the old saying…ya tell em no they will want it more?!?
I dont limit my kids, used to and it was a huge battle. Now i don’t and they limit themselves, some days its too much and some days not at all. If i feel a “brain break” is needed i will make em get off for a bit, but for the most part they do pretty good limiting themselves. My kids are so advanced with technology and while it makes me annoyed sometimes, i think in the day and age we live in technology is a huge part of their future. If all else fails put screen limits on the device it’s self.
Good luck!
Turn the Wi-Fi off. At 8 & 11 they can find other ways to entertain themselves. In the summer? My teenagers are expected to have their chores done, spend at least an hour swimming or playing outside, and one hour reading. Than they get an hour of uninterrupted screen time. For every hour they spend outside or reading past the first hour, they get additional screen time.
My kids have to earn their screen time. ( chores, reading books, practicing piano,etc) Also we started “no screen” days. I thought my kids would fight it, but I sat down and explained to them that Tuesday and Thursday would be no screen days. I set the expectation and surprisingly I have had no complaints! I also use a timer when they do have screen time so they know when their time is up. My kids were addicted to screens and that led to bad behavior, we still have our bad days but setting the expectation up front has really helped and we now have more good days.
When I say today there is no screen time or put a schedule in they will find their old toys. It takes a few days to get used to it but then suddenly they start building airplanes out of forgotten Legos etc
Structure and routine. Make a schedule for them from the time they wake up to when they go to bed. Put it on a chart and post it somewhere in the home where they can see it. Talk to them about it and let them know the rules. Spend time with them doing activities and perhaps read books with them. You have to be involved for them to listen to you. Can’t expect them to just wake up and know what to do and then yell at them if they do something wrong… then in return expect them to listen to you. Give them activities and spend time teach them.
I don’t limit screen time. The TV is on and my 10 year old is reading a book and my 4 year old is practicing his letters
Put them away. Easy as 123. You are the parent.
When gadgets, tablets etc are the root behind negative behaviors, they go. They really are an addiction.
After the do all this- they earn whatever time I say on screens. 1 hr etc. This takes them some time to finish everything.
We use time limits. It may be an option for you too.
There are heaps of apps for it, some free even. We choose to use microsoft family app. You can put a time restrictions on. I’d sit them down and talk to them about it in a nice way, we say it like we’re e giving them the opportunity to manage the time they get, so it’s up to them when they play but in total it’s 1hr a day and it’s between certain hours also.
I’ve also heard of people finding more educational apps that they allow more time for, that actually teach the kids tech or data a job skill at the same time, so that might even work for you.
I have family link for my 11 year olds phone. I can set limits, block websites, and it even gives me her exact location. She can still make/receive phone calls when it’s locked.
They can earn their daily screen time by completing a set amount of chores, reading, art projects, playing outside, etc. 5 or 10 minutes per thing but only a set amount of hours per day. Once the time is up it’s up.
Down load an app on your phone which allows you to switch off there screens at any time. It gives you full control of their screens.
I just don’t give screen time and trade it off with art work, painting, crafting. My kids are always too busy for screen time
There is no “how”, you just do it. It’s okay for kids to be bored. It’s actually GOOD for them. There’s really no benefit to screens, but play, outside time, creating, boredom all have serious benefits. So, just take them away. Change the passwords, hide the iPads, and let them go.
It’ll be better if you model the behavior as well.
With mine I allow 2 hours of screen time for TV a day and 1 hour of electronics a day, more if it’s nasty out… but with us it works and my kids (2,4,10,11 &15) are expected to do their chore for the day and if it’s pretty outside that’s where they are, if they want to stay in on a pretty day they have to clean, when I made that rule they don’t ask to stay inside
But they are plenty to do on our land for them to be occupied.
Just let them have screen time. Made my life easier and my son learned to self regulate his time. He would get bored of it after an hour or two and come look for other things to do.
Uhhhh, idk about you guys, but I like saying no when I don’t want them to have something.
Seems like parents are scared now a days to be the disciplinary parent.
Revoke them entirely until they earn it. That simple.
Take them away all together and hide them. They stop asking for them.
Just don’t give them the electronic items. 8&11 are plenty old enough to follow directions and be held accountable for their actions when they destroy things.
I have parental controls on all of my kids electronics. I give them 5-10 minutes of screen time as a reward. For example, read for 20 mins and you get 10 mins of screen time, do a chore and get screen time (amount depends on the chore) and etc