[theshrike79]

It's like prohibition, the forbidden fruit. Denial will only increase the want. It's better to teach moderation early than it is to try to curb the want for 7+ years.

My kid has had an iPad from age 1 or so, with kiosk mode enabled and a baby game that made funny noises when they slapped the screen.

They got a phone at age 7, just before starting first grade. No Youtube, no TikTok and screen time enforced per category and per program. The only one I "cheated" the age with was WhatsApp, because it's the default communication tool over here.

It's about 5 years later and I've still managed to keep them off Youtube by giving more screen time in Netflix/Disney+/our PBS equivalent etc, where the content is actually produced and not some youtube elsagate horror show or a screaming influencer hawking off whatever a sponsor is telling them to sell this week.

At this point asking for screen time with good grounds is a habit for the kid: "Homework is done and I read The Trials of Morrigan Crow for 30 minutes, can I get screen time?" It's also used mostly for background noise, iPad is on a stand somewhere with a random show running and they're drawing or doing some crafts while it's playing.

The rule we follow is that every 15 minute slot spent reading (comics or books) is given out double as screen time.

[boondoggle16]

That really doesn't sound healthy. Babies need real interaction, they don't need to slap a screen and make funny noises. Screens are flat, they have no texture.

Sadly, babies which are underexposed to stimuli often display developmental delays compared to peers.

[theshrike79]

You're commenting as if the iPad was the only source of stimulation and the poor baby lived in a white cube of flat nothingness with nothing but a locked down tablet for company :D

[erfgh]

I don't want to be that guy but this sounds horrible. You shouldn't treat reading as a chore or as something you have to do in order to watch TV. I think it's better if you let them watch TV for 1-2 hours per day and that's it. Let them read if they want to, don't force them like that.

[theshrike79]

Of course if you have a kid that enjoys reading, go ahead and let them read for 12 hours a day. That's what I did.

But if the options are no reading and 15-30 minutes of reading every day, I'll pick the latter even if I need a screen time shaped carrot to achieve it.

Just being able to read a full book without having a subway surfers video bouncing next to it is a superpower for under 15 year olds today.