Hello!

Ive tried keeping TV/Ipad and phones away and then Ive included it as a reward at the end of the week but my 3 yr old is obsessed and asks us non-stop. Ive decided to just throw in the towel and let him have it more often (still keeping the times and duration to what I think is appropriate) in the hopes that he will loose interest like he has with a lot of his toys and stop obsessing over it. Any advice?


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  • I limited my kids screen time quite severely. I think there are so many more fun things to do without a screen. When I got desperate, I pulled out a screen. But not too often then they enjoyed it much more


  • Get your egg timer or oven timer and say you get x amount of time and that’s it, onto another activity then.


  • I have a 2 year old who would sit and watch TV all day long if I let him, but as a mum I try to keep him amused and busy through the day with different things so he doesnt think of it. If I can do this, he plays all day without thinking of the tv at all! Lots of walks, playing outside with cars and trucks, sandpit, play dough, paining, games and books work really well!


  • Depends on what activitiss they do, i quite like educational apps like reading eggs. I set a 30 min timer on the ipad, once that goes off its time to go away. Sometimes they can have 2 goes, as long as they are playing outside or doing other stimulating activities


  • It’s a tough one but it depends what they are watching. All screen time isn’t equal. I think if you can make sure they get plenty of outside time and non-screen time activities you will find the right balance for your family.


  • I think when possible you need to keep the tv turned off – and only turn it on to let them watch a particular program, maybe 2 a day. As for the tablet – it is great to use it as a reward. Maybe you should explain that they can play on it for 10 minutes and use a timer or a clock or something. This might help them to learn about time at the same time.


  • Children don’t tend to lose interest in technology, it just grows as they get older so although I know it’s difficult to persist you’re better off not giving him extra time?


  • Yeah, pretty sure kids under 3 should have zero screen time, which is difficult, my son watches movies and stuff!
    But I think from 3 onwards, not more than 1 hour a day?
    We are trying to go off it more and more!
    I find if we ever cut screen time out completely, that they stop asking for it because they realise they won’t get it.


  • None in my opinion. I know it’s unrealistic, but ideally children shouldn’t have a lot of screen time until they are at least 7 because their brains are really sensitive at this time.


  • I feel like the recommendation can be so unrealistic. We are busy mums and often have a handful going on. I think if its educational then why not. Obviously treating it like a reward will only mean they’d crave it more. Make it feel the norm and they will be bored in no time


  • There are recommendations around for how much screen time is appropriate. I can’t remember the exact amounts, but I know it’s not a lot. I’ve been trying to limit screen time too. I find that trying to distract my son with other activities works. Limiting it to one or two shows a day – usually just before bed so that he has something to look forward to. It s a matter of changing the routine so he doesn’t expect to watch shows.
    There are still days though when I need to get things done and the ipad comes out.


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