Currently, I feel as though there are seven of us in this family; my husband, my four children, me and the computer games. The children are obsessed. I have no doubt that if R had to choose between me and his DS, I would be packing my bags.
Now, I’ve had enough. My children have turned into square-eyed zombies. They don’t listen. They are listless. They are argumentative. They are always in the middle of a battle/game or saving when i need them to come off and do something different. They are addicted.
It’s all my fault. We let them have computer games. They both have a DS, we have a family iPad and a Wii. We also have games on our phones and a computer of course. They are surrounded by technology and they have certainly embraced it, the only problem is that they are obsessing more than embracing and it is starting to be an issue.
We do set limits. I would never let them play computer games all of the time and over the last few months, we have tried different ‘rules’. We used to let them have an hour a day, but then the hour slowly gets longer and then with the ‘time to come off’ argument, it starts to take over. So then we looked at it and said that they could only play computer games at the weekend. This didn’t really work as they are always keen to get on as soon as they wake up and after their ‘game time’, they are lethargic and argumentative and I decided that I wanted our precious weekends to be family time and so we reverted to an hour after school.
At the moment, we are on a pattern of an hour every now and then, but I have noticed that their reaction to ‘game withdrawal’ is to go straight to the television and get more of their screen time fix.
It frustrates me and you are probably reading this and thinking that the obvious solution is to get rid of it all altogether. However, this seems to be harsh. I want them to reconnect with their imaginations by playing Lego and other games, by reading and drawing and being creative. All of these things, they love to do until there is an electronic screen switched on somewhere in the house which then lures them away. But, I also accept that this is the computer generation. All of the boys’ peers are playing games and we don’t want the boys to feel different. There can also be some educational value with some of the games. L loves maths games on the iPad and more often than not, you will find him creating PowerPoint presentations on the computer about his current favourite topic.
However, this week, we are having a week off. Last week, bad behaviour peaked in this house and I have had enough of the empathy and general lack of interest in anything that isn’t rectangle shaped and illuminated. The boys are banned from all things computerised for a week to see if they can rediscover their imaginations and creativity and see if I can rediscover my lovely boys who are alert and willing again.
I will let you know if my big ban theory works.
Really good idea! My children are a little younger but already love the TV and my Ipad! My friend allows her children to earn their screen time with chores. Good luck with the ban.
I completely identify with this re the TV and have recently implemented a ban. I’ve ordered 7yo a DS but am dreading it and know I will have to be vigilant. Their behaviour is directly affected and I have two boys who get on much better when playing normally. With ya sister!
We’re on a tv ban with 3yo again. 6 weeks without and he was a different child. Tried to reintroduce in a limited way, but behaviour went terrible straight away and after 4 days we’re back to the ban.
I’m due to write a post like this too – E is exactly the same and he’s been off school so for my sanity I’ve allowed him at them far too often. He starts school next week so that should help but I also need to introduce a better time management system for screen time! xx
Will be interested in how you get on. We have some problems like this too. This morning was lovely because H didn’t have any screen time and was busy playing and packing to go to Granny’s for the weekend.
I’ll be interested to see how this pans out. My almost three year old already loves the iPad and of course CBeebies. She didn’t watch anything on screen until she was 18M old, not through any great design of mine, just the way things worked out. But it is quite fascinating to see how quickly things served up on a screen create such a draw. At the moment I am noting that although she is desperate for me not to leave her at nursery, saying she ‘wants me’ the second she gets home, the first thing she asks to do is watch Cbees (as she calls it) and she couldn’t give a hoot if I am in the room with her or not. So, I’m currently operating a ‘divert’ to keep from switching the TV on the second she gets home. Though I must confess, that sometimes the only way for me to get anything done is for her to be sat in front of a screen!! Look forward to your update, Lx