Parents disconnect children's gadgets

London: It is most children's idea of living hell — a home where computers, games consoles, television and even mobile phones are banned.

Instead of spending hours in front of a screen, the six children in the Jones family have to fill their spare time by working, reading books, playing and — remarkably — actually talking to people.

Yet somehow they've managed to cope.

According to parents Miranda and Richard Jones, both 42, the gadget-free lifestyle change has been a success that has benefited the whole family.

‘Less grumpy'

Their social experiment began six years ago when the couple noticed how one of their children was ‘less grumpy' when he wasn't allowed to play computer games.

So, to the astonishment of friends, the parents gradually instigated a technology ban for all the children.

The games and computer were taken away, mobile phones never bought and initially television was limited.

Three years ago when the family moved to Ilkley, West Yorkshire, they never installed an aerial so the television became redundant.

Joshua, 17, Sacha, 15, Theo, 13, Rudi, seven, Moses, three, and Nestor, one, are allowed to watch DVDs at weekends and will get a mobile phone when they turn 18.

Miranda, a psychology graduate who manages her husband's veterinary practice, insists it has worked for everyone.

"I wanted the children to have a proper childhood," she said. "They have accepted that spending time on computers and mobile phones is something other kids do and they don't. Instead they go out more and see friends and have face-to-face conversations with them."

Inevitably, the couple have come up against opposition. The main problem has been in dealing with schools who believe children need access to the internet at home to research their homework.

Tech facts: Gadgets ‘depriving' children of sleep

Computer games, mobile phones and TVs are depriving children of vital sleep, research shows.

A survey of 1,000 British children aged nine to 11 found that such gadgets encouraged many to stay up past their bedtime.

While most of the youngsters said they nodded off by 9.30pm, a quarter turned in at 10pm or later. Lack of sleep has been linked to problems at school and experts recommend that 10-year-olds get at least 10 hours a night.

What do you think of the family's social experiment? Do you think youngsters are too dependant on technology? Are they losing out on their childhood in the process?