As parents I think we tend to get excited about all of the things that computers and technology are doing for our kids, but the reality is, sometimes we need help managing their screen time. I know I do! To be honest, our family is a bit technology-obsessed so we have experienced just about every new thing to come along. Desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones, gaming consoles, you name it…we have it. And as much as I enjoy the many options and opportunities these provide, I do sometimes worry that all these devices are taking up more of our precious time than they should.
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Did you know the average child spends almost 50 hours per week in front of screens? This is outside of school, and the average. That is more time than if they were working a full-time job; accounts for more hours in the day than any activity other than sleep; and is approximately 36 hours above the weekly recommendation for screen time set by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
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The floodgates open when children begin grade school, so how do we handle the grade-school surge?
Well, I’m going to let you in on my “secret weapon” – which ironically takes advantage of technology too! It’s an iOS application called OurPact that was created to help parents guide the mobile habits of their children, as well as teach responsibility through technology.
After conducting hundreds of hours of research with child professionals and then teaming up with parents and industry experts, the OurPact team has constructed an application that keeps the functionality of family life in mind.
This simple app gives parents to power to:
- Schedule internet and app use according to your child’s daily routine, and according to whether it’s a weekday or the weekend.
- Set the number of hours your children can spend on the internet and within apps.
- Block internet and apps, at a touch.
- Allow extra website and app access, whenever you decide, at a touch.
- Block apps (eg. Facebook, SnapChat, Instagram, Twitter, etc.) as you see fit.
In addition, OurPact also provides valuable recommendations (something I’m especially grateful for!) Based on child research they recommend the best Internet and App blocking schedules for your child’s specific age.
OurPact is like my electronic “enforcer” and, in those moments when I might be distracted by other responsibilities, plays the role of “bad guy” for me.
No more teenagers up until the wee hours of the morning on school nights, texting or interacting on social media long after we (their parents) have gone to bed! :-)
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My personal recommendation is to use the app with the following couple of extra steps:
- Set a timer on their tablets or phones that gives them a “2 minute warning” before the apps disappear, and have them decide – before hopping on their iPads – what they are going to do afterward.
And one more bonus? It’s FREE people! Download it now. (Sign up here to be notified when the Android app is available!)
Every family will have different amounts of time that they think is “enough.” What’s important is giving it some thought, creating age-appropriate limits (with built-in flexibility for special circumstances), making media choices you’re comfortable with, and modeling responsible screen limits for your kids.
Technology is an important influence in our lives and in our children’s. It’s important that we embrace the value it adds, while also making sure our kids don’t become so dependent on it for entertainment that they miss out on free, unstructured, and unplugged playtime using their imagination and creativity.
Do you have any tips for limiting screen time and increasing family time that work in your house?
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of OurPact.
What apps/services are out there for ipods?
My daughters(12 & 9) don’t have phones and won’t for a few years.
I just read reviews on the App store for OurPact. Older children will be able to delete the app. It is an all or nothing blocking, which means that if your children are using their devices as a timer, a research tool, or anything that requires them access to certain apps, they are out of luck. It also puts all apps back in alphabetical order once the devices is back on. This will drive anyone bonkers if they organize their apps. Also, be aware that once signed on, the company will collect any information that you input into the scheduling… Read more »
i babysit my grandaughter 5 days a week. She has 1 hour of computer time and one hour off to play outside, draw or do puzzles etc. We alternate 1 on and on off, that way she can plan other things to do. I guess for a 10 year old it works quite well. When her cousins (three boys) are over, we roll the dice and high goes first and so on. The timer on the stove gets set for 30 minutes instead of an hour as there are more kids to accommadate…………….
Great system Stacey!
This all sounds great, but I wonder if you should mention the importance of the parents practicing what they preach. If kids see their parents glued to their iPhones, of course the kids will think this is normal.
Great point Sarah!
This sounds like a great tool. We have always tried to control screen time for our two teens especially after we discovered our son sneaking onto the internet in the middle of the night. We now limit their access with the following: 1) No smart phones for them. Only talk and text access. 2) Phones are turned in to us by 10pm nightly for charging. We return them either right before school or at 10am. With some weekend/summer hours extended to 11pm 3) We installed a removable USB wifi connection to the family computer so they have to ask to… Read more »
I’m loving this idea! I worry about the midnight phone usage, especially now that we’re entering middle school. I was reading the reviews on the apple site and someone complained about the app hijacking their phone. Have you noticed any problems? Are you a user of the app yourself? Thanks so much for all of your very helpful tips and tricks…we all truly appreciate it!!
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