Time limits on TV, Computers...etc...

[RCT]

the kids haven't really been watching TV very much since the holidays....finally have the toys that use thier imaginations and occupy them together....TinkerToys I love ya...LOL...:* so setting time limits on that isn't a big deal anymore....we watch 1/2 hour before bed or we can turn it off and read...we usually read....

but the computer has become an issue here....they love the reader rabbit collection of computer learning software....which is great each kid gets about 1/2 hour....which is more than enough for dd...:lol: but ds has gotten into a raceing game and I swear this kid is good...and could if you let him...stay on this puter all day.....thats not exceptable...so I have been limiting him to 1/2 hour of that game...then he can do something else...wow...you would think I had cut his arms off....he pitches such a fit....

so my question is how do you limit things in your house hold....and today I have had to limit myself so that they can use this machine too YUCK...:lol: I am selfish....:blush:

[AnnW]

Let him throw a fit. If that's the rule in your house, keep it. If he pitched a fit over brushing his teeth, you wouldn't back down.

DD can't sit still long enough to get hooked into anything..she NEEDS to be outside, so she is not a problem. DS, just by nature of his activities and homework has a fairly limited time during the week to do stuff like that. He is more of a problem on weekends. I tend to make him for every hour he is not the puter/video game...he has to be outside doing something for an hour. He also just likes to sit in his room and read.

I personally don't think it's the amount of time that's important but as long as there is a balance.

[RCT]

OUTSIDE? :lol: too cold right now...but I hear ya....I think we have a good balance with the educational stuff and the games....he really likes to play in his room too...but wants someone up stairs...not in his room but in the upstairs...our house is old...LOL...:ghost: thanks for your response...felt like I was going about it wrong....no, pitching a fit doesn't faze me....too tough for that one...LOL...:lol:

[lindaM]

We have the 1/2 hour rule on the computer as well. I have to include if you are watching your sister or brother on the computer that is part of your time also. They hate that!!!! T.V. really isn't an issue no time to watch. If we do have time they love watching wheel of fortune at night. But they have put it on at 6pm here now and we are usually eatting.

[Lynda/WA]

They drift away from the TV easily so I don't worry about that. I'm the one that needs the time limit on the computer so we don't do that either!

Our problem is the N64 and PS2 (Yes, we did buy it!). What I do is rather then set a time limit I make him earn time. DS(10) can read to himself, me, or his sister. For example - he reads about 1/2 hour every night plus reads bedtime stories to DD(6) many nights. He can help DD do learning stuff (mainly writing). They've started playing school every evening. Actually doing learning things. Lately he has been helping her write her letters. He takes the white writing board and has her doing her letters in proper form. Or he has her writing words. He's really a great teacher! He can do his homework (rarely has any). He can play with any of the *quiz* electronic games we have. He takes those along in the truck and earns time during what would otherwise be wasted time. When he had spelling words he would take the list with in the truck and I would quiz him as we drove. Or I'd ask him math problems as we drove. Sometimes we take the trivia cards along if I'm not driving and I ask him questions. He can do a science experiment with me or alone. Any of those things and he gets equal time on the N64, PS2, Nintendo, or GameBoy Color.

DS keeps track of his own time. He's fairly honest now. Last year I busted him cheating and made him earn 2 minutes for every 1 on the N64. It didn't take him long to realize that cheating wasn't worth getting caught! I haven't actually started keeping track of DDs time yet since much of it is spent with DS. She's getting the idea though.

I also give them free time in the mornings before school. I get them up at 7:30 to leave for the bus at 8:35. Any time that is left AFTER getting ready is their's for the PS2 for free. They don't have to earn it. Absolutely no problems getting them ready for school in time! I have warned them though that the first time I catch them playing PS2 with unbrushed teeth or hair and that will end.

Sounds like DS/DD spend more time playing PS2 then any of yours do in the computer but I'm happy. I figure he is working for it. If he wants more time he has to earn it. During long vacations I lax off on earning time. Like during Christmas break. He had just gotten it for his birthday (Christmas Day) so he had plenty of *free* time.

[kacee]

Lynda

I love the idea of having them earn it!! Currently, this hasn't been a issue at our house. DD was on the computer alot during Christmas break, but is was all language learning games. DD wants to learn 7 languages, so for Christmas she got french, spanish, italian, and Japanesse CD's. These I don't mind her playing. TV is no more than 2 hours. The only shows she watches are PBS, and she rarely watches for over 1 1/2 hours. (3 shows)

[bizymum]

During the week, when there is school, I limit TV time to an hour a day. My oldest DS can use this time either right after school or before bed.
Computer time is limited and earned. Only 1/2 hour allowed or they would be on it forever. My youngest DS earns his time by cleaning up his messes before playing, since he is only 4.

My oldest DS though, earns his time by getting his homework done first. Once his homework is done I don't mind in the least if he plays his games.

I am a little more realxed on these times during the weekend.

[Mickey]

Don't have cable and the t.v. isn't on that much. Ds watches a couple of PBS shows or a video now and then, but he won't sit there for very long--he has ants in his pants! LOL!

Computer isn't a problem now that we only have educational cd roms. He DID have a motor cycle racing one and a monster trucks one, but he became obsessed and when I put a time limit on them, he had a fit, too. So, to avoid that, I got rid of them. If it sucks him in like that, it's gone. Won't ever have Play Station or Nintendo for that reason.

[RCT]

Originally posted by Mickey
Computer isn't a problem now that we only have educational cd roms. He DID have a motor cycle racing one and a monster trucks one, but he became obsessed and when I put a time limit on them, he had a fit, too. So, to avoid that, I got rid of them. If it sucks him in like that, it's gone. Won't ever have Play Station or Nintendo for that reason.


WOW your good Mickey....I don't think I could get rid of that game...dh loves it too........I had to finally put down some serious rules where the computer is concerned with ds....he still has the racing game...but can only play after he has earned time by reading books... 10 minutes a book.....he can play any educational game on the computer he wishes...but only 30 minutes at a time....we don't have tv issues at all anymore...they like watching movies on tape now and then.....this post was really helpful to me...thanks....btw I did tell ds that if it was going to be a problem to follow these rules I would ban this game to weekends only and he would still have to read for time.....he didn't like that idea....thanks again.