Screen time: A clicky poll

hille12

Dh and have a constant debate about computer games (educational) vs watching tv.   [Poll]

KathrynMD

they are pretty much the same.

DD watches TV and plays some games though, but I'm not fooling myself that either are "good" for her.

franciscaz

I'm SS b/c I do think an educational game on a computer is better than Toy Story on the TV.  BUT I still really think kids are better off doing puzzles on the floor, art crafts at the table, or outside doing make believe.  They will have their entire academic life at school to be on the computer doing educational things.  Right now, IMO is the time for active play and discovery.

kmhunt11

franciscaz:

I'm SS b/c I do think an educational game on a computer is better than Toy Story on the TV.  BUT I still really think kids are better off doing puzzles on the floor, art crafts at the table, or outside doing make believe.  They will have their entire academic life at school to be on the computer doing educational things.  Right now, IMO is the time for active play and discovery.

 

Well said!  DD has learned a ton from educational iPad games, but she only gets to play it on airplane trips and in restaurants.  She learned to count on a flight from Seattle to Charlotte last year  We're (I am) very selective and it's not available to her often- usually not even once a week.   My DH works in the video game industry, so he feels a little different, but I feel so strongly about it he doesn't argue.  

luvmagoldn

My pedi was talking about how much sleep preschoolers should get a night (10 hours) an how much exercise they should get each day (1 hour).  She said on days when the weather is bad she lets her kids use the Wii to play fitness games and that it does not count against their screen time.  If they sit down - it starts to count.  But as long as they are up and moving she's fine with it.

I think some of that same logic can apply to educational apps.  I still wouldn't want kids playing on the computer/iPad endlessly but if you and DH want to grant some leeway it's probably fine IMO.

Does your DH want to allow unlimited educational games or just more screen time?

Mrs Manners

IMO, they are the same, primarily because both of them pull him away from interaction with others, make him inactive and take time away from pretend play. If ds is "on green" at school, he earns 30 minutes of screen time. He can use that for tv or playing games on the iPad. He gets to choose how to use it. I set the oven timer and his time is up when the timer goes off. On the weekends, we usually either listen to music or play or have stuff going on outside the house so we don't watch much. We don't have cable.  

hille12

luvmagoldn:

My pedi was talking about how much sleep preschoolers should get a night (10 hours) an how much exercise they should get each day (1 hour).  She said on days when the weather is bad she lets her kids use the Wii to play fitness games and that it does not count against their screen time.  If they sit down - it starts to count.  But as long as they are up and moving she's fine with it.

I think some of that same logic can apply to educational apps.  I still wouldn't want kids playing on the computer/iPad endlessly but if you and DH want to grant some leeway it's probably fine IMO.

Does your DH want to allow unlimited educational games or just more screen time?

Dh calls me the tv nazi. DD is allowed so much screen time a day. When that time is up - it goes off. No negotiations.  Dh is more lax than I am. He thinks as long as the game includes letters/numbers/problem solving she can be on there as long as she wants.  

luvmagoldn

hille12:

luvmagoldn:

My pedi was talking about how much sleep preschoolers should get a night (10 hours) an how much exercise they should get each day (1 hour).  She said on days when the weather is bad she lets her kids use the Wii to play fitness games and that it does not count against their screen time.  If they sit down - it starts to count.  But as long as they are up and moving she's fine with it.

I think some of that same logic can apply to educational apps.  I still wouldn't want kids playing on the computer/iPad endlessly but if you and DH want to grant some leeway it's probably fine IMO.

Does your DH want to allow unlimited educational games or just more screen time?

Dh calls me the tv nazi. DD is allowed so much screen time a day. When that time is up - it goes off. No negotiations.  Dh is more lax than I am. He thinks as long as the game includes letters/numbers/problem solving she can be on there as long as she wants.  

I have to say I'm with you on this one.  Unlimited time is not a good practice - no matter the content!