Reasonable Amount of Computer Time?

in my house, it is a reward...so they have to have school work done, chores done and then they can have 30 minutes. i will let them bank it though so if they don't use M-F, i will let them have longer on saturday, which is what my daughter likes.....she won't touch it all week, but on saturday, she sits and plays her jumpstart learning game for like 2 hours and that is how she likes it....my son takes his 30 min. every day. hope this helps you.

Our current rules for our 8yo (they change over time)

After chores until 10am (when school starts, and I should note we homeschool) as much as you like. Skip your chores, and no electronics tomorrow. During school as needed. Afterschool only on special occasions. Weekends as much as you like IF AND ONLY IF you pop off with a good attitude each and every time asked. If grumping/ etc... then no electronics for the rest of that day and all of the next.

All in all (including school time, and not including sick days) kiddo is on about 4 hours a day. That works for our family, however. In part, because those are pretty much the only hours he's sitting down. We lead very very active lives most of the time. So it's not like he's sitting down for 7-8 hours in school and then has 4 more plugged in.

30 mins a day
and usually none on week days unless all homework is done and everything is ready for the next day

I think your SD's behavior tells you alot! It sounds like 4 hours is way too much for her

My 8 year old son loves the computer and does very interesting research and projects on it, but I also limit the time to around 30 minutes after other things are done. There is certainly some push back from him when it is time to end and he asks "can I go on the computer" a lot. I'm going to take some of the feedback from the other moms to address this!

I share your concerns about electronic time interfering with creative play.

Our rule for our 8 yr old is 30 minutes on school nights and he gets to choose if it is computer or Wii and two 30 minute sessions on Saturday and Sunday (or days off from school). He is more than happy with this. He sets the kitchen timer and quits when it goes off. He has decided on his own that he likes to get his homework done before playing on school nights and I am thrilled with this!!!!!