Screen Time

[ExhaustedMomma]

My 5 year old son would watch YouTube kids on the iPad the entire day if I would let him. It’s the one thing that can keep his attention for longer than 10 min. I know this is common for ADHD kids, I guess my question is when is it too much? Do you limit screen time? We do not have a set time he can use it or cannot. During winter break I felt guilty as I realized just how much he has been on the iPad.

[MrsHall]

We limit screen time in our home to 3 hours a day as long as our son does his chores and homework. Over Christmas break he got to play more than usual because quite frankly it is way too cold to be outside. Dropped to almost -30. So we let it slide. And ya know what? It's okay. If you want to make the screen time more productive you could always try abcmouse.com or mylittlemonster (reading program). My boy loves anything to do with a computer or tablet. This helps me to feel better about the content. And hey, they're learning something!

[ExhaustedMomma in reply to MrsHall]

He likes those but they do not keep his attention as much as TV or youtube kids on the iPad. On school nights we are no where near 3 hours, but I am sure we are there on the weekends and yes much more over break!! 😬

[Paula331 in reply to ExhaustedMomma]

My son's teacher said that new research has concluded that playing games for ADHD kids actually help the brain to make new Nero connections. Also helps them socialize better because of online gaming and they have to problem solve. She has been great! Her daughter has ADHD and the teacher has been going thru this for 30 yrs with her

[ExhaustedMomma in reply to Paula331]

Makes sense. Also, AA of pediatrics I believe says that now it’s not necessarily a time on screen time but what it is they are watching or doing.

[anirush]

I have also seen the research about the brain benefit of games. ADHD kids can do what they call hyper-focus with things they love.

[cristinalasvegas]

I know is tempting because is the only thing that keeps them "quiet" and electronics video games etc ups their Dopamine that is extremely low on kids with ADHD bit the problem that I had was when it was time to get off that's when my son will have tantrums and meltdowns is was like taking drug from an addicted, very sad so opted for one or two hours max on the weekends, nothing during the week. I don't want my son to be one of those teanagers that spend hours on end on videogames with out any motivation to study or to work , I see in is very skeary future for kids like ours they need to get their Dopamine from other sources like sports , exercise etc