When I say PC time, I don’t mean games. My dd types up reports about whatever is interesting her at the time and ds likes to use the paint programme. They use these probably once or twice a month so not a lot - but just wondered what you let your children do with regards to PC time?
I know of lot of you limit the screen time and I have posted about this already today - but I just wondered how much per day/week/month do you allow your children time on the computer?
Ignoring the DS for a moment as I’ve just posted our new plan for that - the only other screen time they have really is the PC - they will do what I said above or sometime they listen to music on it. But I guess all in all they probably have 1-2hrs a week of screen time (plus what they have had on the DS so as of now they will only have approximately 3hrs a week in total of ALL screen time - only 1 of which will be games).
Hmm, this is a tricky one I’m not sure anymore with mine. When Adam first got his DS he was on it an awful lot, then he would say can I watch tv, can I go on PC when we asked him to come off, so we devised “screen time” of 1 hr per day during the week and 2 hrs per day during the weekend. Which sounds like an awful lot compared to you, but I was happy with it. But to be honest now he’s settled down into things I don’t really use the “screen time” rule anymore as some weeks he’ll go days without using any at all because he plays out a lot now we’re in a different area, and other times he’ll want to spend nearly all Sunday watching DVDs and playing games on my laptop. Because he’s playing out a lot and reads a lot and plays with his train track and lego a lot, I’m quite happy to let him have whatever screen time, I only monitor it when I think his other activites are falling by the wayside really. I guess he prob has roughly 5-6 hours on a normal week though, but then I’m not 100% sure how much he has at his Dad’s so it could easily be double that :/
Argh I read this wrong sorry should’ve put on screen time post. Sorry!!!
Uhm, laptop time, not tooooooo much. Maybe a couple of hours per week? He likes playing games on it which I’m happy for him to do as he seems to like logical puzzle type games which I think are quite good for him. But for looking up information etc, I like him to read books first and only go on internet if he can’t find it, as I want him to not be reliant on google as so many people seem to be these days and we have lots of books so seems daft to waste them.
As much as they fancy. Which usually works out as Fliss occasionally watching animal videos on youtube and Leni spending an hour or so on poisson rouge or the cbeebies website a couple of times a week. We look up information quite often, but it usually only takes a couple of minutes…although the other day Leni was fascinated by some electron microscope cell pictures for aaaaaages!
I’m aware that I’m out of step with the majority on here with this, but I don’t see a need to limit access to technology any more.
We often look up info on the computer - while we have around 8000 books at home they are on a limmited range of subjects and if the subject concerned is not one of those subjects then the computer is the first point of call. I think it’s ok to be showing Grace a range of options when it comes to finding info - not that the computer is a last resort.
Google is a great starting point, but we make a point of bypassing the dross and going to reputable sites, rather than clicking the first link. We often use Google scholar and Google book to help us find reputable journal articles, rather than the general google site. Both are free and accessible to everyone.
We often watch TED lectures, and Grace will happily watch them with us, as they are quite short, and we love the internet for things like Ivor the engine and old, more gentle cartoons on Youtube. I’d say Grace probably watches a couple of Ivors a day - maybe 15 mins in total, but she is with us as we do other stuff on the computer too. She likes to play on the Fungoons website occasionally, and she loves to press buttons for my husband if he’s playing World of Warcraft (which, incidentially, isn’t anywhere near as violent as it sounds.). She has an amazing fantasy life too though - fairies in the garden, making apple pie, slinging soft toys and nursing them etc - so I’m not too worried about her enjoying the computer too. We don’t have any plastic, battery operated or non-open-ended toys though - I think if we did I’d be more concerned about her not getting enough open-ended play, and would therefore want to curb her computer time a bit.
As much as they fancy. Which usually works out as Fliss occasionally watching animal videos on youtube and Leni spending an hour or so on poisson rouge or the cbeebies website a couple of times a week. We look up information quite often, but it usually only takes a couple of minutes…although the other day Leni was fascinated by some electron microscope cell pictures for aaaaaages!
I’m aware that I’m out of step with the majority on here with this, but I don’t see a need to limit access to technology any more.
Clarexxx
hehehehe to be honest the main reason i limit, is so I can use the laptop, otherwise I’d never get a look in
I don’t tend to limit dvds anymore tho, I find during the day Rye wants to play anyway and it’s generally the evening he’s like to watch something.
When I eventually move, I will get a pc and he will have unlimited access to that…but for the time being I’m strict
As much as they fancy. Which usually works out as Fliss occasionally watching animal videos on youtube and Leni spending an hour or so on poisson rouge or the cbeebies website a couple of times a week. We look up information quite often, but it usually only takes a couple of minutes…although the other day Leni was fascinated by some electron microscope cell pictures for aaaaaages!
I’m aware that I’m out of step with the majority on here with this, but I don’t see a need to limit access to technology any more.
Clarexxx
I’m of the same opinion, it is such a wonderful resource available to us - we are often looking things up that our own knowledge or books we have don’t answer or to look into something further. Our dd doesn’t spend ages on there - just enough to fulfil the need to find something out or look at something that has grabbed her interest. I think by not restricting her she has self-regulated really.
Same as Frowstypink and Eden. No limits. I must admit to occasionally providing a possible alternative or saying “do you think it’s time to come off there?” if they’ve been on there for ages but generally no need. They go through phases of being on there LOADS then don’t touch it for days or just go on for minutes. I think they learn lots on PC and also learn self-regulation skills. Sorry for short reply - in rush LOL!
Think I must be the odd one out.we have a laptop but kids dont use it apart from 13 year old daughter who probably uses it for about half an hour once or twice a month to either look things up for homework or look up a song on spotify.My other two are7 and 10 and I just dont see the need for them to use it or have screen time for that matter-They never ask.We have a TV that we occassionally watch a family film on(about once a month) but that is the only screen time they ever get.If I felt like they were hard done by,I would change it but they dont seem bothered at all.
Same as mummybee. They dont ask, and I dont see the need really. If im honest, I dont particularly want to encourage it either just yet. They are happy finding info the old fashioned way atm, although of course that will change, but all in good time. I cant really see the benefits of them using the PC, they will develop those skills quite quickly when they need to.
I read ‘Remotely Controlled’ recently, cant remember who by, but it made me feel like im doing the right thing. My two do watch some telly/DVDs though but not generally during the week, unless they ask & I do limit it. I would prefer them to watch none atall tbh, but hey, sometimes I need a break. I also have good reason to limit it, any more than 45 mins and DD cannot deal with the stimulation overload.
I am interested in why people dont limit TV/PC time when all the research suggests (any) screen time is not good for little kids in particular? This is just a question, please dont anyone feel im being critical. I feel guilty putting the telly on sometimes to get a break.
Same as mummybee. They dont ask, and I dont see the need really. If im honest, I dont particularly want to encourage it either just yet. They are happy finding info the old fashioned way atm, although of course that will change, but all in good time. I cant really see the benefits of them using the PC, they will develop those skills quite quickly when they need to.
I read ‘Remotely Controlled’ recently, cant remember who by, but it made me feel like im doing the right thing. My two do watch some telly/DVDs though but not generally during the week, unless they ask & I do limit it. I would prefer them to watch none atall tbh, but hey, sometimes I need a break. I also have good reason to limit it, any more than 45 mins and DD cannot deal with the stimulation overload.
I am interested in why people dont limit TV/PC time when all the research suggests (any) screen time is not good for little kids in particular? This is just a question, please dont anyone feel im being critical. I feel guilty putting the telly on sometimes to get a break.
My children didn’t watch any tv/screens at all until they were about 2 - then it was the odd cbeebies programme but it was for one episode a day at most. Now they rarely watch tv anyway (we haven’t had tv for a few months and only just got it back but they never use it). We have family video night on a Saturday or they watch Deadly 60 on iplayer occasionally - thats about it. Mine are 6 and 8 though - not tiny.
I think what worries me the most wit the PC is that they look at screen virtually all day at school as they have smart boards instead of our traditional black/white boards. I hadn’t actually realised it was all on smart board until just recently when I went it to the school for some event. I asked DD and she said that the smartboard is on all day with writing and/or photos on. (For those of you who don’t know - it is a large computer screen at the front of the class instead of a white board (or blackboard in my day! Lol!). The teacher can virtually “write” on it with a stylus type pen and also use the keyboard. It’s all linked to his PC so all his lesson has been pre-written on a memory stick which he then opens in Power Point for the children to view/discuss.
My nephew who is 14 was told at 11 when he started his secondary school that he needed a laptop as ALL his work will be done on it! Hence the reason for considering HEing secondary years.
I am interested in why people dont limit TV/PC time when all the research suggests (any) screen time is not good for little kids in particular? This is just a question, please dont anyone feel im being critical. I feel guilty putting the telly on sometimes to get a break.
I don’t mind answering this, and don’t worry I won’t take it as criticism, it’s my decision - I’m old enough and responsible enough to make it
I think it depends on what research you have read, and how good the research was, was it it objective, etc, etc It is always easy to find some research to back up a belief or read a book that agrees with you, and I guess that then depends upon individuals evaluating things for their lives and their situations.
Speaking for our household, we have one daughter who does watch some television - mostly programmes about animals, arty stuff and she loves Horrible Histories; she also watches DVD’s - ones at her age level. I feel by not particularly restricting this she actually doesn’t watch too much at all, much less than some children I know. She is usually lost in imaginative play or creative drawing/writing and even sometimes with a programme she likes on so she hardly really watches it anyway, and often switches it off because she isn’t fully engaged in it.
The PC I just see as a window into learning about things she has an interest in. The PC isn’t always on but if it is I’m happy for her to have a look at something if no-one else is using it for something else. It can be many days or even weeks between times that she uses it, and yes sometimes it is to play some games - often educational ones.
I started writing this earlier and then saved to return after cooking tea and see there has been another reply which mentions screen use in schools. I have no problem with this either - I know my dd’s school do many things outdoors, and lots of creative things in their day - they’re not sitting around tables all day staring at a screen. Yes they use these smartboards or laptop projectors but not anywhere near all day (is it really virtually all day Skye-Blu? Just curious ), I spend some time in the school so see this often.
I think if we were talking about them sitting in front of a tv or pc screen all day, in which I mean many hours a day then I would have a problem with it. But I haven’t restricted per se and the result is a child who uses them sparingly. She is far more often found with her head in a book, drawing, writing, playing so I think I’ve done okay by her and I’m happy with my choices.
I am interested in why people dont limit TV/PC time when all the research suggests (any) screen time is not good for little kids in particular? This is just a question, please dont anyone feel im being critical. I feel guilty putting the telly on sometimes to get a break.
Yes they use these smartboards or laptop projectors but not anywhere near all day (is it really virtually all day Skye-Blu? Just curious ), I spend some time in the school so see this often..
Well, it obviously won’t be when they are doing PE or out in the playground but according to DD (who is only 8 but tends to get things right most of the time) - if they are in the classroom then the Smartboard is on with various things on - even if they are writing etc in their books. Obviously they do a lot of hands on learning but I guess it’s knowing they use it a lot. I suppose when you work out the hours they are sat looking at it, it can’t be much more than an hour a day in total what with all the other things they are doing but it is on in the background with the teacher stood in front of it. (According to DD - no proof of this).
I know they also do a lot of project work on PCs in the ICT suite and also on their tablets (which all children have in the classrooms). It was one of the things they were proud of when we went to look around the schools (all of our local schools had the same). That each child had access to their own tablets. Even in year R.
But you’re right - it won’t be ALL day - just a big chunk of it. Maybe I slightly exxaggerated that! Lol! x
Eden, that sounds like it really works for your DD. I guess maybe kids are different in the way they view? My two watch intensely when they are watching, they dont even seem to hear me when I speak to them. I personally find it does affect the behaviour of DD, though has no negative effect on DS as far as I can tell. I know what you mean about the research, I am aware that there is research backing up both sides of the argument, though my experience (of the effect of screen time on myself & certainly on DD & my nephew) tells me there is a lot of weight behind the argument that too much screen time is a bad thing.
Im not too convinced about the argument that all children are able eventually to self-regulate either. Some people are more vulnerable to the addictive quality of TV/computers. I find this forum addictive! Im not being humerous, it is addictive. Computer games are similarly addictive. Some adults cannot self -regulate atall (my DH!) and neither can some children.
I guess like everything, its individual.
As for Smart boards in schools, Im generally not a fan. Many teachers use them to enhance a lesson. Perhaps to show a relevant film clip. They shouldnt be on all the time imo, but it would be fair to say they are over-used by alot of teachers from what Ive seen in schools Ive taught in. I dont think they have any place in infant classrooms atall imo.
But you’re right - it won’t be ALL day - just a big chunk of it. Maybe I slightly exxaggerated that! Lol! x
I hoped that, poor kids if they were staring at it all day lol! It probably does happen somewhere
BluebellFinn - 11 July 2011 07:22 PM
Im not too convinced about the argument that all children are able eventually to self-regulate either. Some people are more vulnerable to the addictive quality of TV/computers. I find this forum addictive! Im not being humerous, it is addictive. Computer games are similarly addictive. Some adults cannot self -regulate atall (my DH!) and neither can some children.
I guess like everything, its individual.
As for Smart boards in schools, Im generally not a fan. Many teachers use them to enhance a lesson. Perhaps to show a relevant film clip. They shouldnt be on all the time imo, but it would be fair to say they are over-used by alot of teachers from what Ive seen in schools Ive taught in. I dont think they have any place in infant classrooms atall imo.
You’re right, I also don’t think all children (or adults!) can self-regulate, it works for us, if dd was different and it didn’t work I would take a difference stance no doubt.
Our school is much more down the lines of screens enhancing learning and the teachers don’t use them an awful lot, other schools probably do use them too much which I don’t really agree with. To be honest I don’t think the smart boards are in the infants school (can’t place them in there in my head!), I think they’re only in the juniors adjacent - I’m going to have a look tomorrow to satisfy my curiosity.
