How many hours should my son (8 yrs old) be limited to for (video games, tv, computer) on a daily basis?
I would respectfully suggest a limit of 2 hours per week, on Friday and Saturday only (not on a school night). Instead of playing video games, he needs to be out in the sunshine, in nature, exploring his world, developing and mastering his body and learning to love it. Kids’ developing nervous systems need lots of sensory input: lifting heavy objects, rolling down hills, swinging, spinning, climbing, running, and just lying under a tree and watching the patterns of shadows. He needs REAL life experiences in nature, not a screened existence.
how about for every hour he reads, he gets an hour of entertainment
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Comment by dj stevie — February 23, 2010 @ 3:51 pm
Considering kids that age spend around 7 hours a day at school, and only have about 5 or 6 hours at home before bedtime, I would say 2 hours is plenty. Three hours a day would half of his at-home wakeful time, and I think that would be too much. He also has homework (hopefully not too much at this age!), family dinner time, and should be active for a little while every day (think family basketball game after dinner, a walk around the block with Mom…). Also, it’s good for kids to have the chance to get bored once in a while… it teaches them to find creative things to do! Make sure he has access to lots of creative toys and activities, like Legos, K’nex, arts and crafts, puzzles, and books. Good luck, hope this helps a little!
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Comment by dreamy_eyed_sweetie — February 23, 2010 @ 4:23 pm
I say 2 hours per day on weekdays and 3 hours per day weekends, assuming that he has completed homework on weekdays and chores on weekends. But once he is age 12, decrease the hours.
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Comment by Team5D — February 23, 2010 @ 4:31 pm
I wish now that I had limited mine more as little children because now that they are teens I can’t get them away from the tv.
If I had it to do over again I would not allow them more than 1 hour a day of video games and tv and maybe an extra hour at the computer for learning games and the like. Other than that outdoor activity, reading, board games, etc.
I fear too much time at a young age on the video games is what is creating the problematic young folks we have who have no drive to work or have a life away from the tv.
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Comment by sisterjinx — February 23, 2010 @ 4:56 pm
I am around just what DJStevie said.
First of all I congratulate you for raising up that question. There are a lot of parents that use their TVs as a nanny and forget about their children. And many times not even care to see what are they watching.
I recomend you to look for a balance. For instance, try to have 1 hour playing/hanging with you, 1 hour listening to music, 1 hour reading, 1 hour practicing some sport and 1 hour watching tv.
During the hour you spend with him, just ask him how it went with sports, what did he read, did he meet someone new, something related to what he just did.
My personal opinion is that now is the time when you can actually have a direct influence on him and forge great habits. Probably when he’s 14 or 15, he just won’t pay any attention to what you tell him and just stay all day long in the tv and the computer. That is why it is important for you to teach him now how to spend his leisure time so later on, when he grows up, he is used to read, playing sports and listening to music. Know what I mean?
It is not about limiting your son’s time watching tv, but about making sure he diversifies his time, entertainment and knowledge.
Good luck!
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Comment by zetabosio — February 23, 2010 @ 5:39 pm
As the mother of a 9 year old daughter and 7 year old son, I can tell you what we do in our house. Television, video games, etc. are limited to one hour (total, not one hour of television, one hour of video games, etc) per day. IMO, that is PLENTY of time.
The only exceptions are when they are sick, when we watch a family movie, or when they are watching educational programming such as How It’s Made or what not, that I have pre-approved.
They need VERY little electronic stimulation. Instead of being glued to the television or computer, they should be reading, playing board games, doing projects, playing outside, using their imaginations to make up games. That is why <I> limit <MY> children’s time spent at the television/computer.
Most television programming and video games are inappropriate for children, anyway. No matter how much or how little time you decide to limit your son to, please make sure the content is apropriate.
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Common sense and research
Personal experience and opinion
Mom of two and one on the way!
Comment by BraxOwl — February 23, 2010 @ 6:02 pm
I would respectfully suggest a limit of 2 hours per week, on Friday and Saturday only (not on a school night). Instead of playing video games, he needs to be out in the sunshine, in nature, exploring his world, developing and mastering his body and learning to love it. Kids’ developing nervous systems need lots of sensory input: lifting heavy objects, rolling down hills, swinging, spinning, climbing, running, and just lying under a tree and watching the patterns of shadows. He needs REAL life experiences in nature, not a screened existence.
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Comment by stoneinthestream — February 23, 2010 @ 6:12 pm
Well that depends on the video games and TV programs the child was watching. If they are educational then as long as they are not inter fearing with everyday living let him enjoy them all he wants. If they are not then as long as he is meeting his family obligations and all then several hours would be appropriate. He should also be getting outside and getting some exercise too if that is possible Where you live. there are so many things to look at in deciding how much time is appropriate and no one rule works for every child or situation. Plan some activities you can do together getting out, go to the library things like that. If he does not want to go for TV or games then chances are he is doing too much.
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Comment by Sprit B — February 23, 2010 @ 7:01 pm
Since shcools out 4 hours but when school is back in 1 hour and once his homework is done he can watch tv but if he used his hour of computer or vidio games then he cant go on those but he can go on the computer!
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Comment by love_this_or_HATE_this — February 23, 2010 @ 7:46 pm
i would say two, one after he is done with hw and the other after dinner
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Comment by Trina — February 23, 2010 @ 8:07 pm