So my kid has been asking for tablet time and honestly some days I'm tempted to just let him veg out for a couple hours. He watches some educational stuff mostly but I don't want to mess him up. What are you guys doing? My pediatrician said max 1 hour a day but that feels impossible when you're trying to cook dinner and handle everything else.
Four year olds and screens is the endless struggle. We do like 30 minutes max on school days and maybe an hour on weekends. Some days I let it slide and just need the peace and quiet though, so don't beat yourself up about it.
At 4? I'd say you've got some room to work with but don't let it become the default. The trick is having other stuff ready to go when they ask. Keeps you from feeling like you're just giving in.
There's a difference between letting them veg out all day and using it as a tool when you need it. At four years old, getting outside and active matters more than limiting every single minute of screen time. Find your balance.
The experts say under an hour a day but real life isn't always expert-approved. Some days when you're just trying to get dinner made, a little tablet time is honest parenting. You're not failing if you use it strategically.
I was struggling with this exact thing last year. AAP recommends like an hour a day max for that age, quality content. But honestly some days I bend that rule and don't feel too bad about it.
I struggle with this too. My kid wants it constantly. I've found that having a hard limit helps me say no without feeling guilty. Like 20 minutes after homework is done or something concrete. Makes it easier than just winging it.
The vegging out temptation is real. I've been there. But yeah, screen time adds up fast. Maybe 30 minutes max on most days? And try to do something interactive together instead when you can.
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Some days when I've got all three, I get it. But honestly for a 4 year old, try to keep it under an hour if you can. I know it's tempting on those rough days though. Maybe use it as a reward for something else instead of just defaulting to it?