How many hours of TV/Video Games/Computer Games?

[angiedora]

Please vote and help me settle a dispute.
My children believe I am unreasonable and that every other kid gets to have more of what we call 'Electronics Time'. So how much time do your kids get to watch TV and play games on the computer or gaming system during the school week? Thanks in advance!

 

[K and K's Mommy]

I voted none at all, but Sunday or Monday night Colts games are an exception. They can watch some of those.

I also just realized that we did not have a gaming system during second grade. I'll have to think about how much time he can spend on that! I guess it will depend on homework amount and his extracurricular stuff.

 

[TheDizMom]

I can't give you a hard and fast rule. It all depends on if the homework and chores are done, and they need to shower or bathe. If it is done I have no problem with them doing any of the above for an hour or 2 either before they go to bed or before dinner. Mine usually blow off some steam right after school outside for a while and then come in to do the homework and have dinner. Once all of that is done then they usually watch tv for about an hour or so before bed. I am lucky, if it's nice out, (which is harder in Minnesota come late fall and during winter) my kids prefer to be outside playing. They are also both big art fans and so will spend lots of time coloring and drawing.

 

[angiedora]

Thanks for replying and for answering the poll. My children get an awful lot of homework. I would hate for them to be sedentary all day at school and then more at home to do their homework and then more sedentary time to watch TV or play on the computer. I think I have an answer though. For Christmas I will buy a Wii! Then they can get some movement While playing video games!

 

[linda0706]

I voted for over 2 hours, but normally its closer to 1 1/2-2 hours after school/evenings. DD7 loves to watch Dora or Diego in the mornings while she eats breakfast before school. And that's fine with me because she eats alone while I'm getting ready for work.

(Yes, I realize she's a little old for those shows...again, that's FINE with me! I'd much rather her watch them than the violent kids shows.)

 

[Cindy B]

I have way older kids (almost 13 and 10) but I still voted an hour or less but that answer is during the school year. There are no video games of any kind during the school week--there is just too much homework/projects, etc...

My son will get computer playing time equal to his instrument practice time. If he practices 45 minutes, he gets 45 minutes, practices an hour, gets an hour..

My daughter isn't a fan of electronics so it really isn't an issue for her except for Webkinz time. We do have to limit that as well.

 

[1of6]

We have no hard and fast rule. On nights where there is little or no homework and no activities there is more "tv" time. Other nights it might be 1/2 hour.

 

[pixiewings71]

I said an hour a day but that really varies. During the week we aren't home until almost 6, I check their homework, we do a small snack, then dinner, then maybe we will have time for video games/computer time. It really just depends on the day. I've let my older DD11 play her DS for hours on the weekend.....it was a reward for something great that she did, that was what she chose so I let her do it. Those rewards are few and far between though! LOL

 

[PeterPansMum]

We use a point system for our kids. 15 mins of electronic time costs 100 pts up to a maximum of 1 hour/day (unless we're feeling generous).. If the kids use electronics (computer, TV, PS2) without permission it costs the kids 300 points. Works pretty good for us, most days DD 10 won't use the whole hour, DS almost 7 however ALWAYS uses the whole hour.

 

[dcforbreakfast]

I say, who cares what they think, you're the Mom!

You decide, they deal.

 

[nuzmom]

I voted for 1 hour or less per day, but it's really more like nothing for several days and then "a bunch" on one day.

We also call it "electronic time" - that's computers, DS, or gamecube time. My boys are given 1/2 hour per day for completing their school work (they're home schooled) and regular chores. They can earn more time for doing "extra tough chores" or being especially nice to someone. I don't tolerate them asking for time for "every little thing" and I will deduct time if I need to correct them more than once.

My DS11 saves his time until he gets at least 3 hours. He likes to play in large chunks of time. He says that it takes about 1 hour on a lot of the games to just get to the place where he's "stuck". My DS6 usually spends his every couple of days. He especially likes his computer games. I sometimes give some of his time back - I feel guilty because his computer games are mostly the "educational" kind (math drills and such).

We really don't have much issue with the TV in our house. It's rarely even turned on (before at least 9 pm). When the kids do watch, we tend to watch animal planet, discovery, and history channel shows.