fatherverse

We tried to set boundaries around screen time, but my daughter broke her leg between 2 and 3. It was above the knee so she was completely immobilized for 12 weeks. We allowed unlimited screen time and a couple awesome things happened:

I found out she has a natural gift for video games (vis a vis the switch).

She's 4 now and mostly regulates herself. If she wants to play, she plays. If she wants to play with me and I suggest mario kart, she says "no daddyyyyyyy, I want to play ball catch (or whatever other thing she wants to do that is absolutely not what I want to do which is relax and play a video game.)

ETA: regulating sweets are a bigger problem for us.

Also, yo Gabba Gabba re-runs on youtube.

Chores earn points. Points can be redeemed for screen time, among other things. No screens Mon-Thu in the school year.

Weekdays we allow screen time for about an hour after bath time. Only curated educational and play apps. Absolutely no video, browser, messaging or video chat (kids are both under 6).

They get YouTube kids and Netflix kids enabled accounts on Friday and Saturday evening. Both only allow videos or creators we approve. Search is off.

Everything shuts off at least an hour before bedtime. Any serious arguing or fighting is tech timeout for the whole day or more.

It’s not perfect but it works for the time being. We use an app called Kidslox to manage their devices.

All bets are off for sick days.

Bluey, inspector gadget (my contribution), blaze and the monster machines, true and the rainbow kingdom, ada twist scientist.

Study, hygiene and food first before games or the internet. Bed by 10.

We lost that battle at home. But, now we’re reducing screens little but little. Not in the mornings, a bit in the afternoon, and the weekends just if we go outside to play.

Bluey was a success for us, even with the heartbreaking ending (sorry for the spoiler), but now they more interested in watching people playing video games :/