I use technology to keep kids happy

Do you use screens to keep kids occupied? Photo / Thinkstock

I met up with some friends for dinner recently. We went to a cosy English-style pub. In the corner sat a family, the kids looked around the ages of 10 and 14 and both of them were engrossed in an iPad. I didn't take any notice, but one of my friends pointed it out saying she would never let her family become so antisocial.

Absolutely, I thought. When we go out to eat my family will be seated around the table having dinner-time conversations, cracking jokes and enjoying each other's company. Until I remembered that I never go anywhere without my iPhone and it has pre-loaded episodes of Peppa Pig ready to keep my kids entertained when they're acting up. I rely on it often. Probably far too often.

At home I'm big on everyone eating together. My children and I have our dinner every evening around 6pm, and my husband joins us if he's home from work in time.

Initially, the reason behind this was to encourage my children to eat what we were eating but now it's more about having the time together.

However, when we go out for dinner and the night wears on a bit I pull out my phone and let the kids watch a few episodes so the hubby and I have a chance to talk. I'm one of those parents I was tut-tutting the other night.

Perhaps we've become too reliant on electronics these days.

I remember my mum making me a bed out of her jacket and handbag if I got tired and ratty when we went out to eat. I guess then the options were interact at the table, or have a lie-down.

When my friend told me she banned her child from TV for a week I thought I would never use that as a punishment. I need the TV to have a break, get dinner on or to do some work. I restrict the time to around 45-minutes each day, usually between 5pm and 6pm when the kids are cranky and I've got stuff to do. But not a day goes by when they don't have some screen time. Gasp.

I know screen time is bad for kids but is there a 'safe' amount? I quite enjoyed this article which says limited screen-time is fine, but make it an interactive experience.

In this day and age, when electronics are part of our lives and children have to take tablets to school, shouldn't we look at how best to use these devices with our kids, rather than turn our noses up at them altogether?

What are your thoughts on children and screen time? Do different rules apply to different ages? Does it depend on what's on, and how long it's on for?