How much time does your child use a computer (in a day?)

[AllisonR]

I have stolen Anns poll idea exactly. Same thing, just computer instead of TV.

In our house, we watch very little tv. 3yo DS much prefers the computer, he can play, interact and learn much more on pbs.org and starfall than TV. If it is a choice, he picks the computer. For the record, I have no problem with either, just not in excess.

[straighthaircurly]

My DS (4yo) doesn't use the computer everyday. He usually asks to use it once or twice a week (he spends 30-45 minutes before he is bored). He enjoys pbskids.org and he likes typing "email" (I have a word processing file for him to do his typing and he likes to play around with the keyboard this way). Every couple weeks he likes to sit on his daddy's lap while they play Nanosaur (he helps by keeping track of "supplies" and looking for eggs). I have never felt the need to limit his computer time and rarely his TV time (he always turns it off by himself after he watches 1 or 2 PBS programs)

[honeybee]

My kids are 4 and 20 months. They don't use the computer... except occasionally ds1 will at the library. I just don't think it's necessary for little kids.

[Twocoolboys]

I anwered the poll based on my 3 yr old and chose option 2, none in a day, but over a longer period of time a bit. For my 8 year old, the answer would be 1-2 hours a day.

[Kidzaplenty]

With my children it varies. My Olders can have up to 2.5 hours a day at two seperate settings, the Middles can have up to 1.5, and the Youngers 30 minutes. We have scheduled times, so if they miss their alloted time then they skip it for the day. With so many educational resourses on the computer, that is just how it is. But I don't want them to be on too much, as some of their friends are.

[Tanlines]

i said "None in a day but over a long period of time a bit". I have a 4 and 2 year old and they don't ever use the computer, except once in a while if i find a cool site for younger kids I will show my 4yo DD.

[Iris' Mom]

I picked less than 1 hr for ds, age 6, who has been spoiled by X-Box. DD uses it for hours though, anywhere from 4 to 8, I'm guessing. She's 17, and does everything from homework to listen to music to socialize on the computer.

[sweetcheeks]

Option 2 for us also. DS (4.5) usually has about 1-1.5 hrs of computer time/week. He usually plays on treehousetv.com or nickjr.com. DD (2.5) will sit w/him some of the time and watch him but it doesn't hold her attention for too long yet.

[UnschoolnMa]

Mine are teens and they are on the computer quite a bit each day usually. I'd say anywhere between 3-6 hours? It varies.

[mammal_mama]

I checked "other" because it varies from day to day, depending on their moods and interests. My 7yo generally gets on the computer waaay more than my 2 1/2yo does. They just do it whenever they want, for as long as they want.

[mammal_mama]

How come there's no, "as much time as they want" option?

[mama naturale]

On their own not at all. My daughter got a computer for her forth birthday (from her uncle who works in IT) but it needs a mouse. I have another puter they could use but they don't really want to use it. They want to see YouTube and play computer games which I prefer to limit. My daughter sometimes writes emails. So they don't use the puter on a daily use.

[aprildawn]

I said 1-2 hrs/day. My 5.5 yr old plays online a lot. pbskids.org, noggin.com, nickjr, mylittlepony.com, and some disney stuff.

She doesn't play every day. But some days she plays a lot.

We found a great site the other day. http://www.panwapa.com. It's a pbs site and teaches foreign language. DD1 is learning mandarin at a weekly chinese playgroup. So she plays panwapa a little bit to reinforce what she's learning.

My 2.5 yr old spends a lot of time watching DD1 play on the computer, too. I'm sure it's as matter of time before they're fighting for who gets to use it.

[NaomiLorelie]

5yo DD doesn't use it every day but she does like starfall.com and a few other sites. The computer is integral in DH and I's lives for news, research, entertainment, etc so I'm sure that she will use it more as she gets older. In ten years I can see us having 2 communal computers.

[Jessy1019]

My five year old falls somewhere between none in a day but some over a longer period and under an hour a day . . . I'd guess 1-1.5 hours over the course of a week.

[blazer]

My almost 5 year old get about 2-3 15-20 minute intervals during the day. She does ok. I try not to let her zone outon it but rather stay engaged. She loves Starfall.com

[bobica]

my 4 1/2 year old plays on the computer a few times a week. when she does, she's usually on for about an hour. she does everything from starfall to pbs kids to playhouse disney.

[CortLong]

Maybe 1 hour a week or so...

[*LoveBugMama*]

My son (6,5 YO) uses the computer when he wants to. I`d say he uses it maybe 3 hours a week? Something like that. He doesn`t use it everyday (he has his own), but will use it a few times each week.

[indignantgirl]

As I posted in the tv poll thread, my oldest is 7 and he's allowed 30 minutes of tv or computer each day. He always chooses computer, but doesn't use his time every day. Probably 30 minutes 3 days a week, max. But he could have 30 minutes a day if he chose to.