When we first introduced Kindle Fires into our home, we thought we were safe. They weren’t iPads, after all, and our kids didn’t even know how to access YouTube. We had kept them away from screens for so long. But, before we knew it, my children, who rarely watched television, became completely engrossed in Disney Plus and video games. It’s disheartening, and I feel powerless to intervene.
I used to be that parent who strictly limited my kids’ screen time. I barely allowed an old-school 8-bit Nintendo into our house. They spent their free time drawing, reading, and building with LEGOs. Outdoor play was a given, with no nagging required. They were imaginative and creative—qualities they still possess, but that creativity is starting to fade.
With my older children occupied at their various activities, it became all too simple to hand a tablet to my youngest. Transitioning from educational apps like Teach Your Monster to the addictive Angry Birds was seamless. Suddenly, they were obsessed with Angry Birds. My youngest particularly, who easily falls into screen addiction, would whine endlessly for more playtime. They huddled together on the couch, with one child glued to the game while the others watched, constantly discussing Angry Birds.
My husband suffers from a chronic illness, and I’m often busy with work, which makes it difficult to keep the kids entertained. When it was time to wind down, it felt easier to extend TV time from half an hour to an hour or more. Their long-standing love for Star Wars led us to subscribe to Disney Plus for The Mandalorian, but now they are fixated on Gravity Falls. Although I chuckle at the Twin Peaks references, I can’t help but fantasize about smashing the television with a hammer.
They can’t stop talking about their shows. They draw scenes from them and even choose to write about their favorite characters for school projects. It used to be lizards and toads, or even Macbeth, but now it’s all about screens.
When their father is away, I enforce strict no-screen rules. Television is off-limits unless we’re watching a documentary for educational purposes, and their tablets can only be used for schoolwork. Yet, every day, my two youngest wake up and immediately ask, “Can we use our tablets?” They ask again and again, and I snap, “No!” They simply roll their eyes in response.
My youngest has taken to counting down the hours until his father gets home, not because he misses him desperately, but because he knows that once Daddy arrives, screen time is a given. When his brothers go to their diving practice, he chooses to sit on concrete bleachers with his tablet rather than stay home and play creatively. For him, screens have become the primary source of entertainment.
They rarely touch their Keva blocks and have diminished their drawing activities. Although they do play outside and engage with LEGOs, it’s not enough. I know what you’re thinking: “You’re the parent. Establish rules and stick to them.” If only it were that simple.
I acknowledge the solution: I need to reduce my workload, and my husband’s health needs to improve. But we’re barely managing as it is, making simple solutions difficult. They’re losing their spark, becoming almost zombie-like as they crave more screen time. Only my oldest still reads frequently; the younger two are indifferent. When I deny them tablets or TV, I’ve seen them sit on the couch in silence for up to thirty minutes. I suggest various activities and even offer to join them, but it often ends in resistance, and we all know forcing kids into activities rarely results in enthusiasm.
I’m tempted to take all their electronics and destroy them.
Just moments ago, my eight-year-old asked if he could use his tablet. Frustrated, I snapped that I was writing about his obsession right now. “Why do you have to write about that?!” he exclaimed, flopping back onto the couch. “I haven’t been on a screen like, all day.” Of course, he just returned from his grandmother’s, where he likely spent hours glued to the television.
I feel like I’m losing the war against electronics, and it’s disheartening.
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Summary
This article discusses the challenges of managing children’s screen time in the face of busy schedules and the pull of engaging content. The author reflects on their previous strict rules and the struggles they face as their children become increasingly engrossed in screens, leading to frustration and a longing for creativity.