Hello!

My kids think I’m unreasonable with the time limits I put on playing video games. I don’t allow video games during the school week and on weekends and holidays I allow 2 hrs a day is this reasonable? Sometimes they get a bit longer but I try to limit it but they keep telling me I’m unfair and no body has rules for video games.


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  • You know your children best. I think it depends on the child. Some kids are great at monitoring themselves but others will spend all day online and will refuse to go outside and play even if a friend was to come over. When it becomes an obsession then there is an issue.


  • You don’t seem unreasonable to me and children will always try to put you on the spot by saying that their friends don’t have the limits you put on them. Later on you will find that most families put limits on things and your children are telling fibs. So don’t feel as though you are doing the wrong thing by your children at all.


  • Everyone has rules especially when it comes to video games. I don’t think you’re being unreasonable at all.


  • The old nobody-else-has-rules comment. It’s not true. Other families have rules too. It sounds like you are doing what you think is best and that’s awesome :)


  • That is pretty much the mirror of our screen time rules – my kids complain too. But I’m steadfast.


  • I really think it depends on their age and what else they are doing. I personally don’t set limits when it comes to screen time, however it’s also not all I would let them do.


  • You go mumma. I think that is totally resonable. I think weekends are fine for video games…. probably less if its a sunny day etc. I know that when its raining etc, they can have a bit more…. and when its sunny less time. I think you are doing well. Keep going!


  • We used to restrict our son to the end of the week when school was finished, so Friday to Sunday. Luckily, he had many other activities to enjoy so didn’t spend a lot of time on video games.


  • I was lucky my kids loved their team sports and after school activities. (Swimming, Ice-Skating, Netball, Softball) I didn’t have any iPads or Laptops available to play games these were used for business only. I would let them play video games on Saturday night for a while as well as Sunday as long as they were having fun. If I saw them stress out or carry on that would be the end of that game. I would distract them and have them do something fun.


  • Depends on the age of kids. On school days I really wouldn’t be allowing any more than an hour. My kids are 6 and 9 and don’t have any screen time on school days at all – except on a rare occasion when they have tidied their rooms and there’s nothing else for them to do while I’m making dinner or getting ready of a morning. There is really no need for video games at all, or TV, except for as a reward and it’s actually better for them to play outside and exercise. You’re not being unreasonable at all in wanting to put a limit on.


  • Same here. It is hard to limit and keep telling them to stop because of kids doing home schooling,


  • I think it differs for each child and family. So long as they’re not avoiding anything else they need to be doing I don’t think it matters. Are your children getting enough active time to be healthy, are they doing chores or homework they need to do etc. If all that’s done then don’t worry


  • My kids are not in to video games yet but they have like 30 min time on ipad for games or apps.


  • You don’t mention the age of your children. How old are they ?


  • That sounds really reasonable and like its working well despite the complaints, but I can totally understand going overtime too with the stress of covid and lockdowns.


  • I think 2 hours is a good time.
    Although it probably doesn’t seem that long when you’re the one playing the video games lol.
    I guess if your child has been good and done what they have supposed to for the day they can be rewarded with a bit extra.


  • Your time limits seem fair to me, sounds like the limits I had in place for my kids and they survived


  • If all homework and chores are completed and there’s been some outside play then I don’t see a problem with an hour of gaming during the weekdays.


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