Screen Time

One thing I've noticed about homeschooling is that is brings my parenting abilities into sharp focus.  I feel like everything I do as a parent is magnified because it is no longer diluted by their time with other adult teachers.  This can be a good thing, but, I fear, is also sometimes a bad thing.  I am not a perfect parent.  I secretly suspect no one is.  

Since I've started homeschooling, I find that I agonize over my parenting decisions much more than I did before.  This may make me a better parent, but I think it often paralyzes me with indecision.  Or, worse, I vacillate from one position to another and my children end up confused.  

Screen time and how/when we limit screen time has been one such parenting decision that has caused me a lot of angst.  Before, when the kids were in school, this was not a big problem.  Most days they weren't even home until after 3PM.  Often they had activities and homework in the evenings that kept them off screens.  It was pretty easy to set limits.  Honestly, I didn't really  have to impose limits because other activities automatically limited time they could spend on screens.  

Now that we are homeschooling, the kids are home most of the day many days of the week.   We do have activities and we try to take frequent field trips, but there is a lot more at-home time than there was before.  School work can be accomplished much faster when you aren't trying to teach 25+ students and don't have to stop to take everyone to the bathroom, etc.  Most days we're finished with school work by 1:00 at the latest.  This leaves long stretches of "free time" that my children often choose to fill by playing with iPads or video games.  

I waver back and forth in how I feel about this.  Maybe writing all this down will help me to sort through it!

Cons of screen time:
Conventional wisdom says that too much screen time is a bad thing.  Even my pediatrician asked at the kids' checkups if we limit screen time.  One big concern is that, if children are sitting in front of screens, they are not exercising, playing creatively, socializing with friends, talking with parents, etc.  Basically, the opportunity cost of screen time is that they are missing out on many other beneficial activities.  

Too much of anything is a bad thing in my opinion.   A few days ago, I introduced my daughter to Prodigy Game, an online math game that I was hoping would encourage her to practice math.  She became obsessed with it and played it for 5 hours straight the first day and about 3-4 hours the second day.  While I was glad she was practicing math and having fun doing it, I started to worry that she was neglecting other subjects.  

My biggest concern with screen time is that I think children learn best if they are allowed to be curious about the world around them and can then work with an adult to find answers to their questions.  Boredom leads to creativity and curiosity.  Always turning to a screen when one is bored never allows that boredom to set in and lead to creativity or curiosity.  A few days ago when I told my 5 year old son that screen time was over, he told me everything else in the world is boring.  That concerns me greatly.  Five is far too young to jaded.  

Pros of screen time:
This is what makes it difficult for me to feel 100% confident in setting limits on screen time.  I think there are many positives to screen time and many things kids learn from screen time.  

First off, not all screen time is created equal.  Passively watching a completely mindless TV show is much worse than playing a video game even if the game isn't educational.  At least a child's brain is engaged when playing a video game.  Also, watching educational TV shows or documentaries is a worthwhile pursuit while watching Spongebob Squarepants is probably not as worthwhile.  Even some of the non-educational shows at least use a wide vocabulary.  I've even used Pokemon to point out Latin and Greek roots of words that are used in the names of some of the Pokemon!  

Kids can learn many things from iPad and video games.  Some games are overtly educational and, of course, kids can learn math, science, reading, and spelling from those games.  Why not make learning as fun as possible?  My daughter had to practice math problems on IXL online last year for her Catholic school homework.  She hated it and it was like pulling teeth to get her to do it.  Just because it was online, that didn't hide the fact that it was basically a bunch of boring worksheets.  Since we discovered Prodigy Game for math last week, though, she has willingly completed 456 math problems in 3 days and I had to convince her to stop playing to eat and go to bed!  

Even games that are not strictly educational can teach many things, though.  My son has learned how to figure out new games very quickly.  He can often pick up a new game and start playing before I have even figured out the object of the game.  This skill will certainly transfer to other activities in life such as being able to figure out how to use new devices, electronics, or computers.  Both kids have learned perseverance.   Even when games get difficult, they keep trying to reach the next level or conquer the bad guy.  Many games have taught them math skills because they have to keep track of how many coins they've earned or used and calculate if they have enough to buy various tools in the game.  I think Minecraft is a wonderful educational tool.  It is like electronic Lego toys.  Lego without the mess!  My daughter recently started taking a class through  GamED Academy where they use Minecraft in the assignments.  She learns about a topic by watching videos and then the assignments require her to build things in Minecraft related to what she learned.  She loves it and it is a great way to reinforce what she's learning and check for comprehension.  

Video games can also improve hand-eye coordination and quick thinking ability and can have other benefits.  Recent studies have found that gaming has many benefits including stress relief and a reduction in players' tendency to bully others.  A 2009 study even found that certain video games can actually reduce impulsiveness (Dye, Green, & Bavelier).

There is one other benefit to screen time- one that makes me, and most parents, feel guilty.  Screens can be wonderful babysitters.  On days when I need to get something done around the house, make some phone calls, or just need a break, screens are awfully useful.  I really don't think we, as parents, should feel too guilty about this if it isn't happening all the time.  My kids are with me almost 24/7.  We do school stuff together most of the day, but come 3 or 4 (or sometimes a bit earlier) I would like a chance to relax and gather my thoughts for a bit.  I often give them permission to pull out the iPads and play for a while then.  It's definitely a benefit for MY mental health!  

So, there you have it.  The good and the bad of screens.  I don't think we need to vilify them.  There are many advantages to screen time.  Like most things, I think moderation is the key.  I'm implementing a rule where the kids are not allowed to use iPads for "mindless" games until after 3:00 and only then if they've done the following:  

1. completed all school work 
2. done something creative for at least 45 minutes 
3. exercised in some way for at least 30 minutes 
4. read (or been read to) for at least 30 minutes.  

The same rules apply to television except I might allow one mindless show in the morning before we start school, while we're all still waking up.  This seems like a happy medium.