Almost teen issues..... ???

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-23-2006
Almost teen issues..... ???
6
Sat, 07-07-2007 - 12:16pm
I am having an issue with my almost 13 yr old that I didn't encounter with my older two and I am looking for a good way to handle it. She is not following the rule I have laid down as far as what time to get off the computer and phone. When school is out I don't really care if they are up late and sleep in.... but I am to the point with her that I don't see any good that can come out of her being online as late as she is or on the phone so late. Is there any way to limit the hours one can long in on the computer through their profile? My son came in last night and told me she was still on the computer at 1 a.m. and then he got up at 5:30 to get a drink and she had gotten back up and was on it then. By the time I got up she was back in bed and now at 11:15 is still sleeping. Before I confront the issue, I want to have my "ducks in a row" so to speak.....
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-14-2007
Sat, 07-07-2007 - 12:49pm
I've seen others on this board recommend removing the keyboard when you don't want your kids on the computer. My kids' computer has a little device that needs to be plugged in in order to access the wireless network in our house, so we usually just remove that. You could also password-protect their ID, but then it's a pain to have to sign them on every time they want to go online.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-23-2006
Sat, 07-07-2007 - 1:19pm
When I saw the post about removing the keyboard I thought it was a great idea... except that my ODD also uses the computer and for me to remove it would mean before I got to bed at 10 or so and I don't think it is fair for her to not be able to use it after that time..... I need something to where I can limit one without punishing the other who is older and doing what she is supposed to at this time.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-06-2003
Sun, 07-08-2007 - 10:45am

"now at 11:15 is still sleeping"

Don't have a lot of advice for you. Good luck on finding out the info you want. One thing I would have to suggest though, is when it's a reasonable time for her to be awake, like 8-9am, or whatever time YOU set, I'd go wake her up. Let her be tired and grumpy, that's a natural consequence of staying up so late and missing out on her sleep. Don't let her take a nap. Let her go without sleep for a couple of days, and maybe she'll give up a few of the late hours.

Might want to check out just who she's talking to so late at night. Are her friends actually up that late? She's "almost 13" which means that she's really 12, and there's no good reason for her to be up so late, IMHO.

Good luck nipping this in the bud!

Sallie

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2004
Sun, 07-08-2007 - 2:20pm

Go to your local electronics store (like Radio Shack) and ask if they have timers. You might be able to control use of the computer by putting power to the computer on a timer. No power, no computer.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-23-2006
Sun, 07-08-2007 - 4:14pm
Good idea... I have spoken with her and made myself clear to her and the older two what I expect from her..... and what will happen if it continues... In the meantime I will check out this idea.... Thanks.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-1999
Mon, 07-09-2007 - 3:57pm

My 17 yo DSD has been the worst (and only) offender w/ regard to being on the phone and computer late at night. Part of this was DH's fault. He allowed her to have a computer in her room where my kids were using the one in my office, so she could (and did) things like wait til we went to bed, pretend she was asleep and then go back on the computer. Only she didn't realize that when all the lights are off and her computer is on, you can see a blue light glowing under the door. The only solution for her would be to take the computer out of her room because she has repeatedly proved she couldn't handle it, but since it sounds like your computer is in the main part of the house, the only thing you can do is make sure she is in her room at a certain time.

My DSD also was on the cell phone late at night, sometimes until 3:00 a.m. on a school night, which is why she ended up flunking 2 classes last year and has to go to summer school. Again, she lost the use of the phone several times, but every time she would get it back, would start up again. So now DH makes her leave her phone downstairs when she goes to bed. I think that the only thing to do w/ the phone and take a regular phone out of her room.

She really shouldn't get into bad habits of being up late and night because high school is a lot harder and they have to get up so early as it is.