What's reasonable screen time for a 10 year old?

1w ago·1 min read

So my son wants a gaming PC and says all his friends have one. I'm not totally against it but I don't want him staring at a screen 6 hours a day either. Right now he's limited to maybe an hour on weekends. Some parents are saying I'm being too strict but idk. What are you guys doing? Is there a good balance between letting them be normal kids in 2024 and also protecting them from too much screen time?

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Comments(5)

JJustinRegular1w ago

The gaming PC thing is tricky. My kids want one too and honestly I think it's fine if you set boundaries upfront. We did 2 hours on school days, unlimited on weekends. Might sound generous but it keeps the peace and he's actually maintaining good grades.

NNathanNew Dad1w ago

Gaming PC isn't the problem, unlimited gaming time is. My son wanted one too and we said yes, but with screen time limits built in from day one. He's actually way more interested in it when it's not just available 24/7.

MMarcus J.Regular1w ago

I've been wrestling with this exact thing with my two. The key is setting clear boundaries upfront, not waiting to see if he'll self-regulate. One hour on school nights, maybe more on weekends, but make it a plan together so it doesn't feel like punishment.

TTom M.Regular1w ago

Depends on what he wants to play honestly. If it's educational stuff or creative games like Minecraft, way different than pure shooter games. We let ours game but we know exactly what he's playing and who he's playing with.

RRobertRegular1w ago

All his friends having one is such a classic line. My 10 year old pulls the same thing. Reality is most parents are probably lying or their kids are glued to screens more than they admit. I'd say start with a shared family computer setup before jumping to a full gaming PC.