I must be a real mean mom! My kids were not allowed to watch or use any media in the car. This worked great for us because my attention wasn’t literally focused on them, they became a captive audience that would actually talk. I think it was me not sitting there making eye contact to be honest. They never felt like I was drilling them for info because I looked like I was doing something else. We talked about what was going on around us, played games, and talked about what was happening with their friends and at school. My kids are grown now, and they tell me they actually enjoyed that time in the car. And go figure, they are doing the same with their kids. (Just an aside, I have a large family and when they come to my house, they know their phones are off and put away. I told them very early on how disrespectful it is to me, when I spent hours preparing a huge meal for them, that they couldn’t be bothered to actually visit and appreciate the effort I made. It just took 1 time for that lecture to sink in! Sorry for the tirade, it’s a pet peeve of mine!)
I hear you! I resisted the cell phone thing for as long as possible, and when she was 15, I finally gave in. They very definitely are addictive on a multi-dimensional level.
I was the same with cell phones for the kids. Once they started driving, they got cell phones. At that point, it becomes a safety issue. It’s nuts to me that I see 4 and 5 yr olds with cells (sometimes younger)! It’s like going out to dinner and seeing a family of 4, all on their cells and no one is talking. Talk about a missed opportunity. And we wonder why people these days are so disconnected from each other! I have several (much) younger friends with kids ranging from 4 to 13, who limit their kids on screen time and use it only as a treat. The difference when interacting with these kids vs. others is astounding. They know how to communicate and interact even with adults. Limiting their exposure certainly isn’t harming them, that’s for sure! I’m hoping more parents are beginning to see the benefits of putting down those devices.
I must be a real mean mom! My kids were not allowed to watch or use any media in the car. This worked great for us because my attention wasn’t literally focused on them, they became a captive audience that would actually talk. I think it was me not sitting there making eye contact to be honest. They never felt like I was drilling them for info because I looked like I was doing something else. We talked about what was going on around us, played games, and talked about what was happening with their friends and at school. My kids are grown now, and they tell me they actually enjoyed that time in the car. And go figure, they are doing the same with their kids. (Just an aside, I have a large family and when they come to my house, they know their phones are off and put away. I told them very early on how disrespectful it is to me, when I spent hours preparing a huge meal for them, that they couldn’t be bothered to actually visit and appreciate the effort I made. It just took 1 time for that lecture to sink in! Sorry for the tirade, it’s a pet peeve of mine!)
I hear you! I resisted the cell phone thing for as long as possible, and when she was 15, I finally gave in. They very definitely are addictive on a multi-dimensional level.
I was the same with cell phones for the kids. Once they started driving, they got cell phones. At that point, it becomes a safety issue. It’s nuts to me that I see 4 and 5 yr olds with cells (sometimes younger)! It’s like going out to dinner and seeing a family of 4, all on their cells and no one is talking. Talk about a missed opportunity. And we wonder why people these days are so disconnected from each other! I have several (much) younger friends with kids ranging from 4 to 13, who limit their kids on screen time and use it only as a treat. The difference when interacting with these kids vs. others is astounding. They know how to communicate and interact even with adults. Limiting their exposure certainly isn’t harming them, that’s for sure! I’m hoping more parents are beginning to see the benefits of putting down those devices.