I try and take screen time very seriously in my house. I prided myself with the ability to do no screen time the first two years of both my kids (which, no surprise, was much harder for the second but it just meant screen time was used during his naps) They have their own tablets at the ages of 5 and 3 which started maybe a year ago. But I specifically bought iPads because I knew how to control them the most. I remember someone gifting my daughter an Amazon tablet for Christmas when she was 3 (which, again as the first born I thought was crazy and now second born gets away with it haha). I turned it on and immediately was shocked by the amount of apps, ads, and junk already downloaded and impossible to control. She was never given the chance to use it and I can’t even remember what I did with it but it was out of the house fast. Fast forward to today and their tablets are simply set up with every parental control/kid log in for streaming services, and every game that is downloaded has been played by me first to ensure no ads, pop ups, and that I know it is testing them either creatively or mentally. They are given 1 hr a day in 30 min increments to use their “screen time” as they’d like for either shows or games and I am nearby to still supervise and help when needed.
Screen time is never used as my idea or for my benefit, it’s only used when they ask for it and even that has its guidelines of typically not allowed until afternoon and not close to bedtime. I don’t want them to wake and start their days with screens or use them before going to sleep, something I try and instill in myself as well.
Tablets do not come out with us for car rides (exceptions are road trips and planes but even those have their set of guidelines) or sitting in waiting rooms or eating out. I want to challenge my kids to be bored, engage in conversation, to use their minds and imaginations to help the time go by and accept you don’t always have to be doing something or looking at something. Again, something I try and challenge myself with as well.
Do screens make parenting easier? Absolutely. There are countless times I tell myself if I would just cave like the rest of the world I could be eating a meal in peace at a restaurant like the families all around me or not having to try so hard in a waiting room when I’ve run out of ideas. But do I look at the children holding the tablets and think they are benefitting from it? No. And that’s where I keep the focus.
My daughter is entering kindergarten and her supplies list has headphones on it and it deeply saddens me because I’ve worked so hard and the reality is we live in a screens world.
When we first saw the Nex in a target ad around the holidays my husband pointed it out and said we should get one (he enjoys his video games and looking forward to the day I agree the kids can start them). I almost immediately shot it down. He showed me a video of an interview on a news channel promoting it to try and change my mind. I gave it very little interest and told him you can’t just call it a playground and suddenly it’s the same as being outside and actually playing. I completely mocked the entire purpose Nex was trying to show. It’s still screentime, it’s still video games, it’s still not something I want the kids to be all consumed in. My husband tried again when it went on sale and I knew the battle would continue unless I had an open mind. So I watched more videos, I decided to give it a chance. And now Nex is the very thing that is not considered screen time in my house. As long as the kids are actively engaged and moving and interacting, it is allowed. Nex created something I never thought was possible in my home.
I grew up loving Nintendo. I have such core memories surrounded by those games and systems. It’s not like I’m anti screens and video games, but none of it was about the strong need to play, or the levels, or being alone or distracted by boring life. It was about the family creating memories and laughing and moving. And thanks to Nex, I have that exact same thing again.
Huge reply… what can I say.. I’m pretty passionate about screen time haha
Rebecca, thank you so much for taking the time to share your story. It really resonated with me as you had the same epiphany I did with Nex, and that’s exactly what motivates me to keep doing this work. My kids will ask, “Can I have screen time?” and I’ll say, “No… but you can play Nex!” 😉
I also want to say how much your message meant to me, this is my first time writing blogs like this, and I had no idea if anyone was actually reading them. Hearing that it gave you a space to share your story is motivating to keep it up.
Please feel free to suggest topics or questions anytime- I’d love to keep the conversation going and aim at topics folks want to read or dialogue about
Heather, thank you for sharing! So much of what you said really hit home for me. I was so motivated not to have my kids constantly begging for the next new game, and spending a small fortune just to keep up.
One thing I love about Nex is the variety, there’s something for every mood, energy level, and age. I sometimes wonder how we can get the word out that it’s not just for kids. My parents are nearly 80 and love playing with the grandkids. And, I love it too, it’s something I can do with my kids (and not so secretly even do by myself - it’s a great in between meeting break for me!). We jump, we laugh, and we actually have fun together.
Thanks again for your comment. Like I told Rebecca, this is exactly the kind of exchange I hope these blogs spark. If you ever have ideas or questions you want me to write about, send them my way!
I try and take screen time very seriously in my house. I prided myself with the ability to do no screen time the first two years of both my kids (which, no surprise, was much harder for the second but it just meant screen time was used during his naps) They have their own tablets at the ages of 5 and 3 which started maybe a year ago. But I specifically bought iPads because I knew how to control them the most. I remember someone gifting my daughter an Amazon tablet for Christmas when she was 3 (which, again as the first born I thought was crazy and now second born gets away with it haha). I turned it on and immediately was shocked by the amount of apps, ads, and junk already downloaded and impossible to control. She was never given the chance to use it and I can’t even remember what I did with it but it was out of the house fast. Fast forward to today and their tablets are simply set up with every parental control/kid log in for streaming services, and every game that is downloaded has been played by me first to ensure no ads, pop ups, and that I know it is testing them either creatively or mentally. They are given 1 hr a day in 30 min increments to use their “screen time” as they’d like for either shows or games and I am nearby to still supervise and help when needed.
Screen time is never used as my idea or for my benefit, it’s only used when they ask for it and even that has its guidelines of typically not allowed until afternoon and not close to bedtime. I don’t want them to wake and start their days with screens or use them before going to sleep, something I try and instill in myself as well.
Tablets do not come out with us for car rides (exceptions are road trips and planes but even those have their set of guidelines) or sitting in waiting rooms or eating out. I want to challenge my kids to be bored, engage in conversation, to use their minds and imaginations to help the time go by and accept you don’t always have to be doing something or looking at something. Again, something I try and challenge myself with as well.
Do screens make parenting easier? Absolutely. There are countless times I tell myself if I would just cave like the rest of the world I could be eating a meal in peace at a restaurant like the families all around me or not having to try so hard in a waiting room when I’ve run out of ideas. But do I look at the children holding the tablets and think they are benefitting from it? No. And that’s where I keep the focus.
My daughter is entering kindergarten and her supplies list has headphones on it and it deeply saddens me because I’ve worked so hard and the reality is we live in a screens world.
When we first saw the Nex in a target ad around the holidays my husband pointed it out and said we should get one (he enjoys his video games and looking forward to the day I agree the kids can start them). I almost immediately shot it down. He showed me a video of an interview on a news channel promoting it to try and change my mind. I gave it very little interest and told him you can’t just call it a playground and suddenly it’s the same as being outside and actually playing. I completely mocked the entire purpose Nex was trying to show. It’s still screentime, it’s still video games, it’s still not something I want the kids to be all consumed in. My husband tried again when it went on sale and I knew the battle would continue unless I had an open mind. So I watched more videos, I decided to give it a chance. And now Nex is the very thing that is not considered screen time in my house. As long as the kids are actively engaged and moving and interacting, it is allowed. Nex created something I never thought was possible in my home.
I grew up loving Nintendo. I have such core memories surrounded by those games and systems. It’s not like I’m anti screens and video games, but none of it was about the strong need to play, or the levels, or being alone or distracted by boring life. It was about the family creating memories and laughing and moving. And thanks to Nex, I have that exact same thing again.
Huge reply… what can I say.. I’m pretty passionate about screen time haha
Rebecca, thank you so much for taking the time to share your story. It really resonated with me as you had the same epiphany I did with Nex, and that’s exactly what motivates me to keep doing this work. My kids will ask, “Can I have screen time?” and I’ll say, “No… but you can play Nex!” 😉
I also want to say how much your message meant to me, this is my first time writing blogs like this, and I had no idea if anyone was actually reading them. Hearing that it gave you a space to share your story is motivating to keep it up.
Please feel free to suggest topics or questions anytime- I’d love to keep the conversation going and aim at topics folks want to read or dialogue about
Heather, thank you for sharing! So much of what you said really hit home for me. I was so motivated not to have my kids constantly begging for the next new game, and spending a small fortune just to keep up.
One thing I love about Nex is the variety, there’s something for every mood, energy level, and age. I sometimes wonder how we can get the word out that it’s not just for kids. My parents are nearly 80 and love playing with the grandkids. And, I love it too, it’s something I can do with my kids (and not so secretly even do by myself - it’s a great in between meeting break for me!). We jump, we laugh, and we actually have fun together.
Thanks again for your comment. Like I told Rebecca, this is exactly the kind of exchange I hope these blogs spark. If you ever have ideas or questions you want me to write about, send them my way!