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jawgee
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| Posted: Sept 12 2011 at 1:53pm | IP Logged
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When do you allow screen time during your day? What are your limits/rules with regards to screen time?
My kids have a tendency to want to get school done first thing in the morning so that they can move on to computer/movies/video games. We do limit screen time, but the kids are still drawn to it.
It seems like screen time takes away valuable time for rabbit trails and masterly inactivity.
I'm tempted to make the rule that there is no screen time until after 2:00 or something like that, but I'd like to hear what all of you think.
Thanks for all of the advice and suggestions!
Little update: I decided not to make any changes so early in the year, but I have noticed over the past week or so that after school is done they are starting to chase more rabbit trails. 9YO DS is getting his science kit out to try an experiment he saw in a book, 5YO DS just came back inside from getting a pinecone because he wants to pull it apart and find out how many seeds he can find inside. I think it is working itself out on its own - for now at least. In about an hour all of the neighborhood kids will be home from school and then I'm sure they'll be outside until almost dinner time.
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Monica
C (12/2001), N (11/2005), M (5/2008), J (8/2009) and three angels
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Sept 12 2011 at 2:08pm | IP Logged
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In your situation, if you're seeign getting to have screen time is a real motivator for getting school work done. I wouldn't change that.. I'd go the other way and say.. after such and such a time that everything goes off until after dinner.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
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kristinannie
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| Posted: Sept 12 2011 at 5:34pm | IP Logged
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I had really gotten rid of most screentime in my house, but we do allow a little. I like to have an hour to pray, read the Scripture, read theology and reflect every day. If naptime doesn't work out, that kid watches TV. DS5 very rarely naps so he almost always watches TV. We also usually let them watch about 20 minutes of TV after dinner so my husband I can connect, but that doesn't happen daily. I think that the older they get, the harder it will be to keep them away from technology. I have noticed that when the TV is off, they do creative play, art projects, puzzles, etc so I much prefer to have it off. I would pray about it and talk with your husband. As long as it isn't excessive, I wouldn't have too much of a problem with it. Good luck!
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Barb.b
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| Posted: Sept 13 2011 at 6:54am | IP Logged
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This is for ds age 8 (dd 13 doesn't have a problem with tv: Probably too much - but I allow 3 half hour shows/dvds each day. He know exactly what is allowed and can choose before or after school or during breaks (I allow during breaks now cause its still too hot to go outside here in texas - but when it cools I will probably say - go outside during school break). I don't allow a long movie during the week - only 1 per weekend.
Barb
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mathmama
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| Posted: Sept 13 2011 at 7:13am | IP Logged
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Our tv is never on during the day unless there is a sick child. During the week my children rarely are allowed to watch any tv. Once this rule was well established they even stopped asking for it. I am really tempted at times during the afternoon to put it on when they are whining and complaining and fighting over the toys and I am trying to get dinner on, but I stop and ask myself if I really think that will makes things better and 99 times out of a 100 I know it won't so I just redirect them.
The kids used to be allowed to watch tv more, but I relied on it too much in the afternoons early in my last pregnancy and it was a disaster in terms of their behavior. It resulted in the tv being packed away for the entire summer. It helped so much!
So, here, the tv might not go on while the kids are awake for a couple weeks in a row. If they have been run ragged and just need to sit I will put something on at the end of the day while I am making dinner. Sometimes on Sunday we will watch a movie together, but certainly not when the weather is nice. The kids don't use the computer and we have no video games, so the tv is the extent of their screen time.
I know we are very strict about the tv, but it is what is needed in our house to keep the peace 
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Therese 11/04
Anna Mary 6/07
Veronica 10/09
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Chris V
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| Posted: Sept 13 2011 at 9:47am | IP Logged
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I used to have *rules* about TV (they were more or less guidelines for myself than for my children ... my girls would never just go and turn the TV on without asking permission, so I would say "yes" or "no" according to my own imposed rules and guidelines for what I thought was appropriate for them. But these past 6 months or so I've stopped with the rules and just make judgements based on how our day is going.
My children always watch TV first thing in the morning. They all wake at about the same time so they all come downstairs and get to watch TV for about 30 minutes (one-cartoon length). They we eat breakfast and start our day. They usually want to watch another cartoon after their quiet-time in the afternoon, so I'm happy to accomodate them (sometimes my oldest wants to play on the computer instead of watching TV, and I don't mind that at all, she knows which websites are permissable). What I've noticed in my kids is that they need to just sit and do nothing upon first waking (whether this be in the morning or afternoon - it's the same). Beyond that, the TV isn't on, but I've stopped telling myself "well, that's two shows today, so no more..." Instead, I just go with my how my kids are, how I am, and what my instincts tell me.
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Erin
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| Posted: Sept 19 2011 at 4:17pm | IP Logged
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Monica
I've tried many ideas over the years and what we are currently doing (night with occasional afternoon) I feel works well, I have finally realised that if they are waiting for computer in the afternoon it affects their minds all day. Keep in mind I have teenage boys, when they were little we sometimes did weekends only or Friday afternoons.
I have a sign on our computer room door (that i can lock) that says;
Welcome to Paradise
Knowledge is the key
Daylight Hours - Lessons ONLY
7.30pm - 9.30pm (Other#)
# Computer, Xbox, Playstation, TV & DVD
* DVD/TV Time may be negotiated for late afternoon, early evening
Our little ones do tend to get late afternoon as night time they are in bed.
This way I don't engage in arguments, just refer them to the sign. 
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Erin
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ShannonJ
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| Posted: Sept 19 2011 at 8:54pm | IP Logged
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I restrict all screen time to 30 minutes a day. It can be a real distraction for my son. Of course it is all regulated, at their age I only allow certain sites online usually PBS Kids, although my dd is outgrowing it now and I need to hunt for other alternatives. Preschool and under can watch Signing Time, Letter/Word Factory, Meet the ... videos, but they are all around 30 min or less. Usually they do this right after lunch clean-up when I take a break to regroup, but we change during the different seasons of life.
We do have a Wii, but it is off limits except on Saturday, on which we do not restrict play time.
They each have 15-30 minutes of school lessons on the computer in addition to this. School computer time includes Spanish and/or typing. I'm sure this time will increase slightly as they get older.
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MichelleW
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| Posted: Sept 20 2011 at 12:22am | IP Logged
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We don't have a TV. I suppose it would be more accurate to say, we don't have TV reception since the "switch to digital." We had been wanting to get rid of our TV, and the time just seemed right...We do have a DVD player and we watch a movie as a family on Friday or Saturday night.
We have 4 computers in the house that are always on (my dh is a computer guy and built the kids' computer from free parts). Dh's computer and my computer are both off-limits to the kids. The other two computers are always available for schoolwork and projects. If they want to play on the computer they need to have finished chores, schoolwork and instrument practice. They always ask permission to use the computers, no matter what the intended use.
When the kids were younger we restricted screen time to 30 minutes/day--any and all screen time. Unless it was a beautiful day outside, then 0 minutes that day. Now that they are older, I tend to allow them a lot more unless I think that they are neglecting "life."
I think that this "issue" is like everything else in a family, it is going to change with the seasons of life.
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Michelle
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knowloveserve
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| Posted: Sept 21 2011 at 12:13pm | IP Logged
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I agree about how TV time negatively impacts behavior; this is the case in our home as well. So it's important to keep it strict for my crew. And I also was surprised at how they don't even ask or seem to miss it once you make your rules clear and it a scarce part of their lives.
There's no TV during the weekdays at all unless it's something educational for school... but that's pretty rare too. They are allowed an hour of video games on Saturday (which gets revoked for fighting or disobedience) and we watch a football game as a family on Sunday during football season. Otherwise, we might use Sundays to watch a family movie. If their buddy is sleeping over (sleepovers happen once a month with a close Catholic friend) they are allowed to watch a movie that night. Math is TT so that's screen time and occasionally, when behavior is extra good, my two oldest boys can earn 30 minutes or so of computer game time. This might be once or twice a week at most.
Then... I had our 5th baby on September 2nd. The kids were watching something nearly every day, sometimes for hours. It was a matter of survival. I'm just now reigning it all back in. Though I might let them watch a movie together during what is normally seperate, individual quiet time just to ensure that I can actually nap while he house is quiet (quiet time in our house still involves scuffling in lego bins, pencils drumming on tables or toddlers talking aloud to themselves... all of which can keep me awake-- and I'm one who needs an afternoon nap... for charity's sake. )
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dolorsofmary
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| Posted: Sept 23 2011 at 2:59am | IP Logged
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I used to use a lot of tv when I was handling 2 households of finances, my own and my parents. But that was then (about 3 yrs ago) now tv is for sick time, if I'm tired and need a nap so I can relax and sleep while my ds watches, movie night (once a week) and maybe a little more on the weekends, sunday sometimes esp. during football season the tv seems to be on more than less.
In prep for hurricane Irene I had everyone pick their favorite movie from our library and then we watched movies the entire weekend and played games, it was a lot of fun.
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folklaur
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| Posted: Sept 30 2011 at 1:15am | IP Logged
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We probably have more screen time than most.
First, we are using Time4Learning as their main curriculum this year, and that is mainly computer based. Plus TT for Math - again, computer. We had shut off our cable when we moved last month (YAY!) but DH talked me into getting it again on Monday (BOO, HISS!) But we have had so many problems with it, they set it up wrong, twice they haven't shown up when they said they would to fix it (all this week!) and so he is ready to go back to no cable again (YAY I hope!)
I have health issues, and have no problem using the Roku/Netflix, BrainPop, or Discovery streaming to supplement, as it allows me to still have them home. Otherwise, I'd have to send them to school.
They *always* ask before using any screen thing.
The only time I saw their behavior affected (effected? I never get that right!) was when we still had access to Nick & Disney. Blech. The detox was short and they don't seem to miss it.
My two younger kids are pretty mellow personality wise anyway tho (middle is autistic, and he has other obsessions that are non-TV related.) Oldest(dd22) was NEVER much of a TV or movie watcher, so with her it was never an issue.
We are pretty lax when it comes to video games - altho we are strict with the TYPE of game, if that makes sense.
We live in a neighborhood now that has about 5 other Catholic Homeschooling Families, and we have an informal "recess" every day for about an hour. Plus my kids spend lots of time in the backyard - especially the youngest. They get up before me usually, and start their schoolwork. So, pretty much after they have done all their "have to's" for the day, and the have played outside, if they want to play their gameboys or the Wii, we really don't care. (DH and I both have DSiXLs ourselves. The kids think it is unfair that we have the newer, fancier versions. We got one for my my for her 71st Birthday - and she *loves* it.
Sorry for the bunny trails....
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Kathryn
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| Posted: Sept 30 2011 at 5:32pm | IP Logged
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folklaur wrote:
We live in a neighborhood now that has about 5 other Catholic Homeschooling Families,
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I want to live there!!
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Wheatheartaca
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| Posted: July 11 2012 at 4:10pm | IP Logged
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Wow! I Want to live there too!!!
We use Time4learning also and we don't have cable either. We also use Brainpop and iPad apps for learning. We are very high tech. Lol.
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stacykay
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| Posted: July 12 2012 at 10:50am | IP Logged
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We have no hard and fast rule, such as, when you get your work done, you get to play computer/tv/videogames...because I found them whipping through work just to play. That didn't last long! Now, they know there is no guarantee that they will play. If I see they have completed all of their work, thoughtfully!, done their chores and are behaving well, I will let them play. Also, I guess I do have one rule about amount of time. Max is 45 minutes a day for vid. games or computer, and total of 2 for tv, but that is only if they opt to watch a movie. Otherwise, it is one hour.
I have seen my boys get surly and crabby and unimaginative when I was freer with "screen-time." The "new" way works out pretty well.
In Christ,
Stacy in MI
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4Real Forums : Mothering and Family Life
Topic: screen time?
