How much video game/tv time is OK for 7 yos?

[krissyjo]

I have two boys and 1 girl, all 7. We have a Wii as well as an Xbox 360 and a computer. The kids of course all love their games and tv shows/movies, but I'm finding that they tend to get a little obsessed with wanting to be on them all the time. I try to curb the time they spend on it, especially with one of the boys. He constantly asks to play a video game and when we say no, he literally sits on the stairs and can't come up with a single thing to do - even though there are plenty of toys in his room as well as things outside he can do. When any of the kids are done playing a video game, they'll immediately ask to watch a movie or tv show. I see it as the same thing - staring at a screen.

During the week, we typically limit the kids to 1 hour a day, but in the summer months, they would wake before us and be on it for a couple hours or more. The same thing on the weekends.

My boyfriend doesn't think there's an issue with them spending a few hours a day in front of screens, but I feel it's something that should be more of an "extra" for them instead of an all the time thing. When the twins (the video game obsessed boy and the girl) go to their mother's house (every other weekend) all they do is play video games and watch tv/movies with very little other activity. I know we can't do anything about what they do at their other parent's house, but that makes me want to curb their time during the week and weekends with us even more.

How can we curb the obsession with needing to be in front of a screen all day and how much is too much? On the flipside - how little is too little?

[mom2many]

This has become an age old question and I think every family has to figure it out for themselves.

I allow more then others, way more, but I also make sure that there is plenty of outside time. If they chose to sit on the steps and pout...ok, that is there choice but they will go outside and they will not play on any of the systems.

[dave]

I agree ^^^^
what about some kind of personality test. I did that with my 4 year old when he we took him to a speech therapist (he turned out not to be overly delayed) And they revealed he loved the outdoors ( i knew that) but that nature walks would be perfect.

I can captivate him now just on going in the backyard to examine leaves and blades of grass.

Find that thing you child loves. maybe its marksmanship, and daddy can take them to a firing range or archery range or magnetic darts, Perhaps nerf wars. also airsoft guns are really popular now and a GREAT physical activity. Thats more for teens addicted to call of duty but it works.

Try to replicate their game in real life as much as possible. If they like RPGs doing live action rpgs at the park(you may even have a local group they can join). If they play racing build a go kart or soapbox racer. Make it fun!

of course this will take alot of work from you and thats the rub.

[mesasa1978]

I think there are a lot of parents in this boat, particulary nowadays with so much out there as far as games and tv.

My 10 year old is much like one of your little'uns. He claims he is "bored" and has "nothing to do" even though there are lots of non-screen activities available. I locked his game systems up over the summer to try and increase his motivation to use his imagination and play inside or outside, but for a while, I had no success. Then he discovered army men (yes, the plastic brown and green ones). Now he devotes a lot of hours to building elaborate battlefields and warzones. The hippie peace lover in me cringes, but I'm so glad he's doing something that doesn't involve a screen.

The dad above says to find an interest that captivates the child, and I really do agree that that is important. I think it's also important to model what you hope your child will do. I often have to remind myself to shut the laptop and engage with the family. What's the point of me yelling, "No more screen time!" from behind my computer? It can be a challenge.

[parentastic]

Personally, I think what would bother me is much more the constant battering of commercials and brainwashing going on with the TV, the reality shows and the like, than with the use of the screen per say.
I also dislike how children get accustomed to a huge array of stupid choices at their fingertips on TV, while the parents have the increasingly difficult, if not impossible task to filter what is acceptable or not.

On the flip side, I have no problem with movies and TV series, if they are hand picked and played without commercials (like buying specific DVD and such).

As for the computer, and the use of internet, when we studied Family Communication, I learned that the consensus amongst child specialists is that children should not be allowed an individual, network-connected computer directly in their own room, because of the danger of cyber-bullying and cyber-stalking. Instead, a family computer can be placed in a hallway or in a room that is open and used by everyone, with the screen clearly out in the open; and internet can be available for children (both for fun and school work) on that computer.

[BayAreaLei]

I have two boys and one of them love screen time and the other does not like to spend too much time on that even he is allowed to. So, I guess it is a personality issue too.

However, I do agree that is not a good idea to let kids who loves screen spend too much time on that. There should be always other alternative choices to screen. E.g.: my older one likes lego would spend hours on it. We will suggest him do that sometimes and he will be happy.

[dave]

Originally Posted by parentastic

Personally, I think what would bother me is much more the constant battering of commercials and brainwashing going on with the TV, the reality shows and the like, than with the use of the screen per say.
I also dislike how children get accustomed to a huge array of stupid choices at their fingertips on TV, while the parents have the increasingly difficult, if not impossible task to filter what is acceptable or not.

On the flip side, I have no problem with movies and TV series, if they are hand picked and played without commercials (like buying specific DVD and such).

As for the computer, and the use of internet, when we studied Family Communication, I learned that the consensus amongst child specialists is that children should not be allowed an individual, network-connected computer directly in their own room, because of the danger of cyber-bullying and cyber-stalking. Instead, a family computer can be placed in a hallway or in a room that is open and used by everyone, with the screen clearly out in the open; and internet can be available for children (both for fun and school work) on that computer.

Netflix is your best friend. the children's suggestions are great and i believe there are parental controls.

[allegrasworld]

I had no limits on tv time when I was a kid, but those days were so different. I loved playing outside and there were always kids out to play with. These days with busy schedules it seems that there arn't any kids to play with outside. I do kick my kids off the tv and try and get them out and playing.

[mom.w.no.kids]

Im in the exact same situation. I think tv time should be an hour during the day and an hour at night before bed, if they're good. My boyfriend thinks tv is fine as long as she's watching something educational... But what 7 yr old does that? She gets so glued to the screen that there have been times that I've walked into her room to talk to her and she doesn't hear me. I get so frustrated with the thing I've taken it out of her room a few times.. not that it lasts very long thanks to her father. I've yet to find a way to eliminate this problem short of getting rid of the tv all together.

I know I wasn't much help in the advise dept, but just know you're not alone with this issue.

[parentastic]

Originally Posted by mom.w.no.kids

I've yet to find a way to eliminate this problem short of getting rid of the tv all together.

Sounds like an excellent solution to me...