A team of over twenty-five parents who have all sorts of parenting experiences. From the Mom of thirteen with one on the way, to the first-time Dad of one. From the experienced parent, to the rookie! If you want the truth…. we are all rookies. Each day presents something new, somewhere we have not already been, something that we have not already done. So, why not look to someone who has?!
The KP BTDT Squad will be sharing their experiences and answering two questions per month. Each parent will answer the questions if they can and their answers will be compiled into a feature post to share with readers. These will be general questions that many parents will wonder about as they raise their children. The BTDT Squad will be talking about subjects like potty training, how they dealt with picky eaters, their most favourite family adventures, and how they managed to ever sleep through the night!

KP Been There Done That

If you have any questions, or would like to get involved, simply contact elizabeth@kamloopsparents.com

Today’s topic is Screen Time

What are your thoughts on “screen time” (TV, Computer, Individual Game Devices)?  What place does educational media have in your family?

Francy
My son LOVES cartoons and the computer.  More than we’d like him to.  When this interest developed (around age 3) we didn’t immediately realize our need to intercept.  However, it quickly became his activity of choice and so we’ve had to limit it to two 20min sessions per day.  This is made up of any screen time that he wants to do (i-pad, computer games, typing, tv).  Some of his activities could be considered educational (leap frog) but at his young age we feel there are more benefits to his other activities outside of that 40 min a day.

Tamara V
We have found some unbelievable iPad/iPhone apps that help us to help our kids with everything from fine motor dexterity to early reading and math skills.  But at the end of the day we always pick up a real book in place of those we have loaded onto our handheld devices.  We also believe in the importance of putting pen to paper and so put limits on how much ‘homework’ can be done on handheld devices or the computer.  We have an app that shuts down all other apps based on a pre-set timer which I highly recommend.

Joshua M
We try to limit TV to 20 minutes per day, with a movie night per week. I find when we have too much TV in our house our sons get more anxious. Research shows contradicting evidence on the harm TV does or does not do, however with POSSIBLE links to attention deficit disorder, increased violence and obesity to name a few, I try to side on caution with TV usage. I disagree with individual game devices, and believe my child will get enough computer time at school. It seems children communicate more with their personal media devices than with real people, and although TV offers us relief we sometimes fall into a convenient trap of giving it a role as a third parent.

Erin
As with most things, I think moderation is key. I don’t think there has to be an educational component…kids also need some just for amusement time too.

Jennifer H
We have TV and computer in our home, but no gaming devices yet, as our kids are only 4 and 1.  I don’t mind us watching TV, but we tend to have 1/2 hour right after work (mainly so I can throw dinner together!) and a bit more on the weekends – usually for the eldest to have some “quiet time” while the baby naps.  Friday night is our family “movie” night – a Disney movie usually, where we have popcorn and watch a movie together.

Miranda
We are really watchful of what we allow into our home through screens. As our children get older we make sure we are watching with them so we know what they are seeing, and so we can shut it off if need be. Our little ones don’t watch much other than a handful of DVD’s.   As for the computer the older ones are never to be in  room alone with the lap top and always need to have someone with them. We don’t allow them to have personal email accounts or Facebook accounts at this pre-teen age and everything is pretty carefully monitored.

Sarah
Well, my kids usually only get about 1/2 hour of screen time a day.  Usually when I am finishing up making dinner!  My oldest also gets about 1/2 hour on the computer on a website called starfall.com because it’s an educational website.  So far my kids do not have any individual game devices but they are getting a leap pad for Christmas.  I plan on using it as a sort of bribery.  They will get 1/2 hour with the leap pad after they have 10 rocks in their container.  They earn rocks by doing good things (sharing with siblings, helping mommy & daddy with something, clearing their dishes, cleaning their rooms etc.) an they get rocks taken out for bad behaviour.  So far the rocks have earned them a new monster truck and right now they are working towards a couple of bowling games at the bowling alley!
The only time the t.v. is on a lot is when we are all sick.  That’s when we get to watch lots of t.v. and just veg on the couch!  Then when we are healthy it is back to 1/2 hour a day.

Kylie
I don’t think ‘screen time’ is horrible.  I for sure think that there need to be limits on how much of it is ok.  I know I find it hard to limit it at times, but I try.  I find with video games the more they play the more they want to play.  My 6 year old was constantly pestering me to be able to play his video games.  I then made the rule that we would only have video games on the weekend.  Usually we’re pretty busy, so often they only get an opportunity to play one of the weekend days.  This rule has helped a lot.  Since they know there’s no chance of being able to play during the week, they don’t bother asking anymore!  I find it harder with TV.  My kids watch too much tv.  But, I try to keep it at leave %70 in french.  Recently we made a trip to value village and picked up a couple new (to us) board games.  These have for sure been the favorite thing to do lately!  I think we’ll be raiding value village on a regular basis if this helps reduce screen time!

Amanda H
I think “screen time” is something that needs to be balanced within other activities. Yes my kids watch TV but I also spend time with them doing crafts, playing outside or inside, dress up, etc.
I also think it’s something that should be monitored and done together.  I’m always aware of what they are watching and try to watch with them so it’s more of a family time activity.  We really enjoy watching nature programs both my boys have a real interest in animals and I want to encourage them to learn more about animals and their world.

Jen H
I have to admit that the boob toob, and computer/video games play a role in my parenting.  When I have something to get done, like getting dinner made, house cleaned, banking done, ect.  I will set up the kids with a show or game and get to with whatever chore with, hopefully, fewer interruptions.  I make an attempt to try and keep the programming age appropriate, and when possible educational.  Treehouse and PBS kids are good channels for that.  During our pre-meal grace (usually a silly poem or rhyme) my son offers up a new poem that I had never heard before, after reciting it by heart perfectly he proudly told me that he learned it from the TV. After a moment of extreme guilt I realized that  there was nothing to feel guilty about my son was learning!  With the quality programming available to me I do enjoy some guilt free respite from the “Mommy Do” chorus that is my children.  On the flip side, we are quite an active family, and while TV does engage my children, so do I,  a TV show will never replace a good book read by Mom or a LEGO construction site with Dad.

Krystal
None to be frank. I don’t think that Console games, TV or anything like that are a sufficient substitute for practical learning. My kids are not allowed on the computer (they are 5 and at all and we don’t have cable or video games. We watch a movie once, maybe twice a week and only on my approval. No junk, garbage movies and for every Disney movie we have seen we have read the original or abridged version of the fairy tale it was inspired by along with several other versions. This is used as an educational tool to understand the concept of ‘adaptation’ of a piece or work of art.
Being that said Little Bear is the greatest TV series of all time and my kids can watch it whenever they want. It promotes wholesome values and being nice to your parents. I have zero issues with Little Bear.

Wendy
We usually don’t have a place for screen time of any sort as our son isn’t even 2 yet…although we have told  others they can try some educational videos if they are desperate and watching him. It has helped us make use of our time too… But this last week and a half has been packing and renos so instead of listening to his YouTube playlist of kids music we have given in to letting him watch…. It’s not what I prefer but it has been happening and I hope I can cut it back again.

Carissa
We allow screen time in our house!! I opperate a daycare for 10 hours a day without any screen time, so when the day is over
my kids like to come upstairs and watch tv and unwind a bit while I make supper. After supper, we usually do homework or other activities, but once in a while, we play Wii together as a family. Maybe once or twice per week for about a half hour. Our kids have never used our computer.

Tamara C
I believe that the less screen time the better.  Other than the occasional Baby Einstein video, our first born didn’t watch any tv at home (I can’t control what happens at nana’s house) until he was 2.  Once the 2nd baby came, I found that the tv was the only thing that kept my son out of trouble while nursing the new baby.  Unfortunately, he probably watched more tv in the first few months of his sister’s life than in the previous 2.5 yrs of his life.  But in the end, I had to do what was best for all our sanity.  Having a PVR has been wonderful in controlling his screen time.  I can record the shows that my husband and I approve of him watching and then can put them on when I need to keep him occupied (ie. while making dinner).

Danica
“Screen time” is actually not a concept I thought of much until I heard other parents talking about it recently. It hasn’t been a big deal in our family because we’re not huge television watchers, and the kids have been too small to use the computers much without our help. But in the last year my children both got their own computers and my oldest recently saved up and bought herself an iPod touch so it is becoming more of a concern. We originally were planning to get our kids Nintendo 3DS’s for Christmas but changed our minds because with the recent iPod acquisition, we think it will be just too much. It is important to have tactile fun too (hello Lego). And, we’re going to buy them new accessories to the gaming console they already have.I think that parents need to be aware that just like other issues, screen time is very much a ‘monkey see, monkey do’ kind of lifestyle. What are the parents of the household doing? Using their devices as tools when they need them, or a constant source of entertainment? Do the parents make a point to set their devices aside and engage with the humans around them, or are they too busy “engaging” with people on the screen and ignoring those who are present? Whatever the parents do, the children will, for the most part, follow suit. I think it is silly and unfair when parents get all worked up about the amount of time the kids spend staring at a screen when the parents are providing the example.

Lara
We have one TV, the kids get to watch a couple of shows and/or a movie on the weekends.  Other than the odd Friday night, they don’t watch any TV during the week.  Our TV is in the basement, because it is out of sight they rarely ask to watch it.  In general, my husband and I only watch TV after the kids are in bed.
Computers – our daughter just turned 6 and is allowed to occasionally use my laptop for educational games/websites.  Both kids have Leapster Explorers that they can use on weekends, or occasionally during the weekday evenings.  Mostly they use them on long road trips or flights.  We don’t own a portable DVD player.  I do have an iPhone, and both kids get to play Angry Birds occasionally or watch the odd video.
My kids probably get less screen time than the average children their age, but they aren’t missing it.  They are too busy with their toys and playing with each other to even ask about TV most of the time…

Sean
Screen Time is something we have an eye on.  We don’t have cable hooked up currently and it is something we have done off and on the last few years, usually getting rid of it in the summer, but this winter we didn’t bother getting cable again.  It makes it easier to limit the kids and our own use of the TV.  We also don’t have any gaming units and the kids exposure to video games is on their parents phone and ipods.  The computer is a source we use and occasionally let them play educational web games there.  I prefer this as they are learning some more useful skills as they play.  We find that they really get infatuated with playing video games (educational or not) when given the opportunity and we have to take it away unwillingly after awhile.  Sometimes I think they wouldn’t stop if given the opportunity.

Tracy
What are your thoughts on “screen time” (TV, Computer, Individual Game Devices)?  What place does educational media have in your family?   Less is more is my opinion.  We do watch some children’s TV, but try to make it educational like picking shows like word world over others.  But I also think it’s nice to once and a while enjoy something just for fun.  As far as TV for educational/teaching purposes, my preference is for hands on parent led educational opportunities.

Courtney
Our first daughter watched Baby Einstein movies – I suppose we were victims of marketing! Now, she likes TV a lot, but we limit her TV time and typically if she is watching TV, she is acting out scenes and playing make believe, rather than just sitting in front of the TV. And because I work on a computer, she is definitely is interested in that too. We allow her to play treehouse games and practice typing, but consider it basically the same as TV, so it’s limited in the same way.
Our second has never watched Baby Einstein videos. It honestly never crossed our minds to let her. She is far better at entertaining herself, and her big sister entertains her as well. We look back now and think that at her age (14 months) her sister watched TV, and it seems really strange. But, at the same time, I’m ok with the reality that sometimes parenting is tough and sometimes you just do what you need to to get through the day and if that means TV and computer, your children will survive!

Sophie
Our girls are only 3 and have shown no interest in the computer or video games. We do have the daily struggle over watching “Dora/Diego” movies. We started this summer using Dora/Diego episodes as rewards during potty training. Now, unfortunately, my girls are addicted and have turned into TV zombies. If we have all had a busy day (my girls are in a full-time preschool program), then we often let them watch a movie while we are getting supper ready. We also have “family movie night” where we snuggle on the couch and enjoy a good movie together. Other than that, the TV is usually off.

Holly
I hate to admit it but my kids get far too much tv.  Unfortunately, it has been a bit of a “mom” saver lately but I am busy generating ideas to cut the amount of tv they watch.  There are some great ideas out there for “quiet time boxes” that I am eager to try.  Ideally, I would like there to be more tv free days in a week than tv watching days and I would like to limit tv to no more than 1 hour per day.  Wish me luck!

Ben
As a major consumer of technology myself I find it especially challenging to justify the limits I impose on screen time without seeming hypocritical. Technology opens many doors in the way our children learn and communicate but we need to be careful such things do not take place of true interactive learning… with real people.  Screens regardless of the content will not teach children social skills or how to deal with their emotions.  Children learn differently from devices than they do from other humans and behaviour can be noticeably impacted by extended screen time. Technology should bee seen as a complimentary tool, not a replacement for traditional learning methods.  In our house we treat TV, video games, etc as a treat not a common place activity.  Such things are not baby sitters or educators. There is no substitute for human interaction, no matter how advanced the device.

About your Author | Elizabeth

Elizabeth is a Kamloops lifer. Born at RIH, she is happy to be raising her family here. Married with three wonderful children, Elizabeth is a full-time teacher and enjoys working with parents as she learns more about this "Mommy gig". Elizabeth is passionate about parenting and enjoys networking with other parents. She has been running KamloopsParents.Com since March 2010.