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mommy4ever
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| Posted: Aug 20 2012 at 10:02am | IP Logged
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How do you manage screen time for your family. By screen time, I also include ipods/cell phone/computer.
I have challenges with this.
DD15 is in school. And last year they did group work via Facebook! I didn't care for it, there was lots of distraction within that.
Computers are used within the homeschool, and I have issues with this too, as dd13 was often distracted too.
Then the cell phones that have facebook go to the phone, twitter, instagram, pixable, etc.
I understand the entertainment value of the internet, I enjoy it myself. However, we need some time management happening.
I am verifying that I have all passwords too all these things. I monitor, but noticed dd15 has a gmail account, so time to update.
I am having them remove all these things from their phones as school starts. And phones will be taken away if they show up on them again. They have ipods for that stuff, at home.
DS18 is selling me his laptop. I intend this to be our main school computer. I am restricting internet on it. DD13 can access her virtual school and anything related to her studies, research. But nothing else, I will block all social media.
Cell phones will be mine by supper time. No need to fiddle on those all night. I find they are major distractions. I find they impede any chores getting done as they are too busy on the phone.
As for dd15, her homework will also be done on the school computer, as the younger 2 will not need it in the evening. She can transfer her files to a thumb drive for homework and it will limit the distractions.
DH is very frustrated with all the internet time, and I am seeing his point. It has it's uses, but it's replacing people time, study time.
What does your family do with screen/internet time?
__________________
Mom to 4,
1 graduated June 2012
1 in Catholic school
2 homeschooled(one considering art school!)
ardently praying for a new addition to our family.
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ctrivette
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| Posted: Aug 20 2012 at 12:15pm | IP Logged
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I don't like it either...we are not home much of the time so I don't have much trouble with the older, Catholic schooled, sport playing kids, but it is harder with kids home all day and using the computer/itouch/phone for various things. I read about an app called self-control (for Android, the iPhone version may have a different name) that I installed on my phone just to try. I now can only access the phone stuff from 9-3 during the day and 6-9 at night. I like it...it keeps me from mindlessly checking something on my phone while I should be interacting with people. It is frustrating occassionally, I set it so I can't open pictures from a text, lol.
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mamaslearning
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| Posted: Aug 20 2012 at 2:44pm | IP Logged
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I have young children right now, so I'm fairly ignorant about all the media stuff, but do they need a cell phone at home during the day at all? I can see if they are out of the house, but if they don't need it for school maybe make it off limits during those hours? 
Since I don't have a cell phone myself (we do not get reception at the house), I'm not familiar with all the uses available on them.
I have to say that it is frustrating to interact with people that keep checking their phones. If you don't want to talk with me or spend time with me, that's fine, but don't keep interrupting our face time with glances at your phone. My teen nieces/nephews are to worst about this! I can see if you're waiting for a hospital report on a family member or other such emergency, but that's usually not the case.
Sorry about that rant, but it is a pet peeve of mine.  Teaching your kids restraint now might help them as they mature. If you wouldn't pick up the house phone and make a call to that person, then it's not important enough to use text or other technology during a social visit or work time.
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Lara
DD 11, DS 8, DS 6, DS 4
St. Francis de Sales Homeschool
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Barb.b
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| Posted: Aug 20 2012 at 6:09pm | IP Logged
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I agree it is a distraction. My oldest is away at college, but when he was home, during school if the computer became a problem - he would be required to do school in another room.
DD almost 15 does not have a phone. I don'e see the need for one. I have a cell phone here that is a prepaid BASIC phone. It is put away and only used if I feel she needs it because she is out of the house (ie, not with me). This happens rarely! She also doesn't have a face book and she doesn't see the need yet - which I agree with. I can see my oldest using Facebook as he is away at school and knows people here at home as well as friends who are away at different schools - so to me THAT makes sense.
If I were you - I wouldn't allow cell phones near the kids when they were doing school. I used to tell my son (when he was in high school)- if someone REALLY needs to get a hold of you - they should call the land line!
Also, with him - if he was doing school in his room - I would quietly look into his room and check up on him - OK - I would sneak up and spy on him. He never knew when I would pop in!
Also, Almost ANYTHING electronic has the internet! So hard!!!
I would recommend an internet filter like Net Nanny. And for things with passwords - make sure the password is random. Don't use a password that has lettlers or numbers that mean something (if you use your initials or special date - they will figure it out).
Make sure you tell them WHY you are concerned and talk about it. Because, yes, I have the above in place - but lets face it - kids are more technically smarted then us and if they REALLY want they will get around passwords, filters. . . I feel Putting these things in place makes it harder for them to do something I don't want them to and also sends a message.
For ipads, phones . . . Mobicip is good.
when my oldest was in high school - his dad thought he should have a computer in his room (ugh!). Needless to say - I took the internet OFF it after a while. He came home one day and I said - look your computer is now a word processor! He then had to use the computer in the kitchen/family room area.
Barb
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Lisbet
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| Posted: Aug 21 2012 at 4:46pm | IP Logged
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We have all remote acess turned off (through the whole house) for certain hours during the day, and all through the night.
__________________
Lisa, wife to Tony,
Mama to:
Nick, 17
Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
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kristacecilia
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| Posted: Aug 22 2012 at 3:47pm | IP Logged
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Lisbet,
That is a great idea! I might have to store that one away for later.
Mine are all young now- my oldest is eight- so regulating screen time is easy. I just put all the screens on high bookshelves where they can't reach them.
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God bless,
Krista
Wife to a great guy, mom to two boys ('04, '06) and three girls ('08, '10, '12!)
I blog at http://kristacecilia.wordpress.com/
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mommy4ever
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| Posted: Aug 23 2012 at 9:21am | IP Logged
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Lisbet, I do turn it off at night. It's harder through the day, as dd13 uses a virtual school. I have lots of files through the school board as well.
I have started setting up different ways though. I set up dd15 with drop box. She uses a netbook at school. I have troubles restricting access from my end, as it can block sites she needs access to if they aren't rated. So I am having her save all work in progress on drop box. the moment she enters the door, the netbook is mine. I have a restricted user on my laptop where she can do her work with minimal distractions. We have the same programs, so with dropbox, she can access them with no social media distractions. I think it will work. At night, my lap top is available. Dh will have the passwords to approve sites. This should get homework done efficiently.
Cell phones will be mine most of the time as well. They have been told that all social media forwarding is to be removed from their phones. It is calls and text only, or it becomes a pay as you go only. Meaning emergency and mom and dad contact only. They agreed. I said if it's a problem, and they show up on the phones again, we'll be deleting their accounts. So that got cleared up.
My only concern is they kids set up 'homework' on facebook for the group work, as there is only 3 schools city wide for the program dd15 is in, the kids aren't in the same neighborhoods, they can be 45 minute drive apart, not great for group work. I'm telling them no way. I will set up skype that I have the log in to, so they can do the work chats that way. It should work well. Especially with group video calling. Talking is more efficient than browsing facebook.
I am thinking we got it sorted out. Hopefully.
__________________
Mom to 4,
1 graduated June 2012
1 in Catholic school
2 homeschooled(one considering art school!)
ardently praying for a new addition to our family.
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4Real Forums : Planning and Ordering our Days
Topic: Screen time....
