What is the recomended amount of time a teenager should play Video/ Computer, etc games per day?

Maria - posted on 10/06/2009

On school days, they're allowed an hour together of playtime provided they're done with their chores and homework after dinner and they both show me that their grades are not affected by their videogames/spending too much time on the computer. I have an agreement with my kids that the computer is only for their homework and research. I will find out if they do otherwise. I still exercise parental control even at their ages (17 & 16). :) If their grades dip, their privileges are taken away and/or their time on the computer is monitored. On the other hand, we also give them some leeway since they have a lot of homework these days. During summer, they're allowed more time, provided their chores are done, but time with family is still a priority.

Kylie - posted on 10/02/2009

sunday nite thru to thurday nite is a flat no to digital game stuff...perhaps a treat on a thursday nite for an hour but thru the school nites its just too hard. fri, sat they can go hard all day for all I care, but we are pretty busy mostly and tend to be outdoors alot anyway, but usually no limit on those 2 days at all.

TV on the other hand, well I watch it before work, the news, then when we get home, that is our down time, when im cooking dinner, all 3 kids are at the kitchen table doing homework, as its a central zone of the house, so we are all there and no tv on at that time....after bath and dishes and pj's and teeth are done, then they are allowed telly til bedtime......I have a weakness for tv, cause I love it hahahaha

I dont know if its right or not, its just how we do it. My kids have a tv in their rooms, and they very rarely watch it, they prefer to be out with us, but if they dare give me lip I unplug the lot for a min. of a week at a time. they whine, its 2 weeks. hehe

Sherry - posted on 10/01/2009

oh how I wish it were just that simple...to just pick an amount of time, tell them, and they would do it...if you figure this one out...let me know...I have tried it all, I think...

Deb - posted on 09/29/2009

i have a 12 year old that is 4 ever on the computer and hs xbox i give hm couple hours durin the week but on the weekend i give hm maybe 4 hrs aday but i make sure thats spilt up over the time or otherwise he gets cranky at me and i/ll just pull the main line outa the wall that ends it all

Brenda - posted on 09/28/2009

We let our children have a couple hours on Friday and Sat. nights. None during the week.

Janice - posted on 09/27/2009

Personally, I say three hours a week!

M. Jessica - posted on 09/26/2009

My doctor is always repeating no more than 2 hours of tv/games/computer per day for anyone, especially children and teens. Hard to do, but we try to keep to that during the weekdays and allow for extra time on weekends once chores are done.

Kimberly - posted on 09/25/2009

I have two teenagers, 15 year old boy and 14 year old girl. I basically limit gaming and internet to three hours a day. I give them the choice of how they will spend their three hours and that makes it seem like they feel its enough. Three hours may seem like a long time and probably not the recommend amount but it seems to be working for me.

Natalia - posted on 09/25/2009

My son is 12 years old and I give him 1 1/2 hr daily, so he can spend that time continously or having any brakes that he wants to take.

In the weekends I try to keep hem busy by doing any other activity, visiting family, watching movies, going for dinner,,,, the important thing is try to spend the wknd sharing together.

Christine - posted on 09/25/2009

I have a 2kids, 16 yr-old and 11 yr-old. I discipline them by not playing any computer games during school days. On weekends, I give them 3 hours in the morning, and another 2-3 hours in the afternoon.