How much do your kids get? To me, "screen time" includes computers and video games.
My kids get an hour after school once homework and chores are done, and they usually choose computer. They're into Moshi Monsters and Minecraft. They then get roughly half an hour of TV before bed. They are 6 and 9.
I ask because I'm beginning to wonder if I should cut back on their time. Last night my son laid down on the couch and CRIED because he asked to go back on the computer and I said no. They play well without electronics, typically role play games like school, house, they'll pretend to be animals etc, or build Legos or read. On warmer days they'll play in the yard or we'll go to the park, but we haven't had many of them lately.
Anyway, I'm not concerned about them not knowing how to play at all. I'm concerned that computer/TV is becoming an obsession and if maybe I'm giving them too much screen time and encouraging it.
ETA: After DS got all his tears out, he grabbed a pile of books and read without fussing anymore. Just the fact that he actually cried over not being allowed on the computer shocked me.
Re: Screen Time
Our electronics rule is very clear, I also restate it when they fire up the laptop or turn on the TV, as well as set a timer where they can see.
I never thought that maybe he was a little tired or had a rough day. He didn't mention anything to me when we talked after school, but its entirely possible.
We weren't even really in the path of Sandy, we got one night with rain and high winds that ended up being way over hyped, but SD came home from school that day going "I'm going to do my chores really fast and I did my homework at last recess because Miss said we might lose power and I need to check on my Moshlings before that happens!" Lol.
My DS is really, really into video games. He'd seriously go all day if I didn't intervene. It's only been very recently that he's had the maturity and self control to step away gracefully. Prior to that, it would result in tears or drama 50% of the time. The upshot of all this is that we have to have serious structure and limits on screen time.
We don't watch TV at all. So we've got that going for us, but my kids still get plenty of screen time between computers and video games.
Weekdays with no activities: 30 minutes, maybe up to an hour on computer after homework.
Weekends: Kids can play DS in the morning between waking up and breakfast time. Then in the afternoon they're allowed to take turns on the Wii or PS3. If it's nice weather, or either one has a friend to hang out with, screen time might be as little as an hour each. If it's rotten weather and/or no one can come over, they might play for 4 hours in an afternoon, taking turns or playing a 2 player game.
My kids also play pretend well together, even though my DD is losing interest in this. However, their first request is always "can I play on the computer?" If I tell them no, they'll find something else to do.
I struggle with screen time as well. I feel like they get way too much on the weekends. My kids are 9, 7 and 3. This is mainly for the older two.
We don't do any during the week. No tv, no games, no computers. On Friday nights they can watch about 1 hr of tv before bed.
On weekends we're more laid back and don't really restrict it. As long as their homework has been done we let them watch the Ipad or tv for an hour or so here and there when we're home. All in all they probably watch/play about 2 hours each day during the weekend. It still seems like a lot to me and some days we'll say no more if all they want to do is sit around and watch tv.
I really have no answers since some days I feel like mine are addicted too and they don't even really watch that much.
That is my kids to a T. As soon as they get home they're asking.
They have no school today and I had to tell them to get the heck out of the house, it's a beautiful day and they are NOT spending it vegging on the couch. I threatened with chores. They went, but I got "ugh, fiiiiiiiiiine" and "will we be allowed on the computer later?" on the way.
And DH wants to buy them iPads for Christmas! I'm fighting that one. It doesn't bother him like it bothers me.
We are also resisting iPads. It'll just wind up being another video game device -- for $500! Like my kids need MORE ways to play video games.
My kids are 5 and 4, so a little younger than yours which may make a difference. DS is in full day kindergarten and DD is in preschool 3 mornings/week.
They watch one show after dinner. They both like to play games on my phone but don't do that every day and when they do I limit it to 15 minutes at a time.
DD also watches one show in the afternoon after preschool. She also plays on my phone sometimes while we wait in line to pick up DS from school but that is 15 minutes once a week or so.
They do not use the computers at home and neither of them have a tablet or anything to play on.
My kids are 6 and 4. They each get to pick one DVR'd 30 mn show after school, and by flying past the commercials, it ends up being about 20 mn each. Sometimes they both watch the show, sometimes one doesn't like to watch what the other is watching, so that one will go play legos, or do puzzles, or....
On the weekends, they each get to pick a show in the morning, and DS will get some 3DS time during DD's nap. We will usually do a movie night either Friday or Saturday night (depending on our schedules, and how wiped out DH and I are).
DS and DD always fight us over wating more time. I think it's just the "no" they are protesting more than anything else.