Stay at Home Moms

Tv time..allowed or not?

Being a SAHM, I am constantly engaging with my son. I am eight months pregnant with our second and our son is 2.5.
I always feel guilty if I let him watch tv. He loves Cauloi (or however u spell it) and Sesame Street. If I'm getting lunch ready, he is right there under my feet wanting to play or "help" with dishes. Which would be fine if a gallon if water didn't end up all over the floor every time. So, sometimes I'll turn on the TV for about 30 minutes or maybe an hour if I'm really busy. Why do I feel so guilty? What are your standards? Please help.
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Re: Tv time..allowed or not?

  • I see no issue with a little TV. During the school year we allow 30 mins a day, over the summer it's been a touch more with a few very bad tv-heavy days thrown in. I usually reward them cleaning up at the end of the TV with one show while I cook dinner.
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  • I think you do what works for you/your family.

    That being said, what works for us is no TV. We actually don't even have a TV. However, if we had one, I wouldn't feel guilty about 30 minutes a day.

    I get that it's hard to do things with LO underfoot. (I am 377 weeks pregnant with LO3. The others are 3 yo and 18 months.) 

    The cooking thing is especially hard. Our kitchen is the only room downstairs (well, there is an entryway, laundry, and bathroom too. But those aren't really good playing areas). So they definitely like to be down there when I cook. Thankfully during nice weather they can play outside where I can keep an eye on them. If they are inside, I reiterate "I'm cooking. This is your playtime."

    Long story short: I don't think you need to feel guilty. 
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  • We are a no tv house.  DD has no idea what to do if we do try to show her tv and DH and I are both very happy with that.  I plan to continue that for the foreseeable future.  However, you should do what you and your DH are comfortable with.  If it's the only 30 minutes of sanity you get each day then do it!  
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  • I don't see an issue with TV at all
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  • During the summer we are out of the house for the majority of the morning: 10-1/2 and then a nap. She watches tv while I eat breakfast and usually make dinner. The TV tends to be on, but many times it is just because I don't turn it off---she is in a different room entirely.

    The weather has been TERRIBLE here this summer---either 100 degrees or rainy and 70's. No middle ground. And living by the beach--there are tons of things to do outside when the weather is nice; but except for running errands and the mall--we don't have any indoor things. 
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  • You don't even want to know how much tv my son watched when I was pregnant. Between all-day sickness (I had HG with both kids) and then bed rest for placenta issues...I got really lax on tv/iPad time. I would not bat an eye at letting a 2 year old watch 30 minutes a day. Since having dd things have returned to normal and he gets about an hour a day of tv. Sometimes more, sometimes none at all so I don't stress if one day he watches a little more than usual.

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  • We don't have cable, and our TV is on the lower level, where we rarely go, so right now we don't watch any TV at all. However, I don't see anything wrong with 30 mins/day to get a break when you're pregnant and feeling tired, achy, etc. An hour seems like a bit much to me... but you have to set your own rules. 

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  • I'm pretty strict with TV but even I don't feel guilty if he watches a little now and then. It just depends on the kind of day we're having, but he usually watches no more than 1 episode of something (Yo Gabba Gabba or Daniel Tiger) once a day. Sometimes he doesn't watch it at all.
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  • Thank you ladies. I haven't posted on here in a long time and forgot how encouraging/helpful you all are. I wish we lived close to a beach like one of the ladies was saying! We are in TN and it is HOT! Unless, we are at a pool, it's hard to do a lot of activities outside right now, which makes me super sad, as I am a total outdoors person. If my LO is outside for more than twenty minutes without water play, he is drenched in sweat. Definitely looking forward to fall! I think teaching him how to entertain himself while I cook without tv is a really good idea. I will start doing that asap.

    Thanks again ladies!!!

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  • I generally try to go the day without TV.  I have found that on Fridays I'm weaker and they tend to get a show in the afternoon.  It probably helps some that my girls play together.
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  • I think it's sad tv gets a bad rap. There is much evidence that quality, educational programming provides benefits to children. Sure, in large doses its not good. I think the reason why we see negative outcomes with kids exposed to too much television have more to do with the qualities of parents who allow overexposure vs the television actually causing the harm. *steps off soapbox* lol

    With that being said, my children do watch television. I try to keep it to the hour mark but don't lose sleep if they go a little over on occasion. The other 11 hours a day they're awake are filled with plenty of learning opportunities and a little downtime for everyone is a plus in my eyes.
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  • I let my kid watch TV.

    TV is one of those things I just can't get all up in arms about. It naturally limits itself in the summer because I live in the country and have an outside sort of girl. She watched a 1/2 hour of TV last night after bath for a bit of wind down time and it was like the first TV she's seen in 3 weeks.

     

    In the winter I'm more lax. My child is well entertained and engaged but by hour 12 of that when 30 below and blizzarding whatever works is my philosophy.

    And I admit. Of course I want my child to entertain herself, but sometimes things like making dinner or mopping the floor are easier and get done twice as fast if I know she's thoroughly distracted.

    We also don't have cable or anything exciting so she's stuck with whatever is on PBS kids. She also loves Thomas the Train on Hulu. I don't find anything harmful in those shows.

  • edited August 2013
    I wouldn't feel guilty about 30 min.  I do feel guilty about the good hour mine watches throughout the day...but it's two shows!  He loves Super Why (and learned every single letter) and Arthur. Oh and Thomas.  God, the Thomas the Train.  I blocked it out. I like Arthur and end up watching it with him half the time.  We started more TV when I was pregnant and nursing a newborn.  I was worried, but now I'm more like, whatever.  I have to take care of two of them and get dinner cooked and occasionally attempt to clean. 

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  • I don't think there's anything wrong with some tv. My take, she's not going to combust into flames. Both Dh and I watched tv as kid, I did great in school and never had any issues stemming from watching tv. Dd watches the most tv in the morning, before we eat, etc. She then watches a show at 12 if we are home and since I'm pregnant and getting tired now, occassionally, even more then that. She has her set shows that she loves. Except for message boards, I don't know of any parents personally who ban tv.
  • KC_13 said:
    I think it's sad tv gets a bad rap. There is much evidence that quality, educational programming provides benefits to children. Sure, in large doses its not good. I think the reason why we see negative outcomes with kids exposed to too much television have more to do with the qualities of parents who allow overexposure vs the television actually causing the harm. *steps off soapbox* lol

    With that being said, my children do watch television. I try to keep it to the hour mark but don't lose sleep if they go a little over on occasion. The other 11 hours a day they're awake are filled with plenty of learning opportunities and a little downtime for everyone is a plus in my eyes.
    Agree 100% 
    DS (7 years old) from FET in 2010
    DD (5 years old) from IUI in 2012
    TTC 3rd and final!: IUI #1 in progress!
  • They don't watch it on a regular basis, and watch about 30 minutes on days they do get it.
    DS1 - Feb 2008

    DS2 - Oct 2010 (my VBAC baby!)

  • My 9 year old has watched TV since she was 2...more than 30 minutes. She has ADHD, but she's also one of the smartest kids I know and reads on a 7th or 8th grade level.
  • I think it's sad tv gets a bad rap. There is much evidence that quality, educational programming provides benefits to children. Sure, in large doses its not good. I think the reason why we see negative outcomes with kids exposed to too much television have more to do with the qualities of parents who allow overexposure vs the television actually causing the harm. *steps off soapbox* lol

    With that being said, my children do watch television. I try to keep it to the hour mark but don't lose sleep if they go a little over on occasion. The other 11 hours a day they're awake are filled with plenty of learning opportunities and a little downtime for everyone is a plus in my eyes.
    I agree with you. My DD seems to pick up on really cute concepts from shows. Like she learned to not get frustrated when things aren't going her way and to "just keep trying you'll get better". She got that from Daniel tiger. Or she will watch a show and then reenacts it with her dolls. It's really cute and I don't believe it to be harmful. Of course I'm not letting her watch sponge bob or other ridiculous shoes like that. We only watch PBS and doc McStuffins.
    I agree too!  DD has learned so much from Word World and Barney.  She loves Daniel Tiger as well.
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  • I think it's sad tv gets a bad rap. There is much evidence that quality, educational programming provides benefits to children. Sure, in large doses its not good. I think the reason why we see negative outcomes with kids exposed to too much television have more to do with the qualities of parents who allow overexposure vs the television actually causing the harm. *steps off soapbox* lol

    With that being said, my children do watch television. I try to keep it to the hour mark but don't lose sleep if they go a little over on occasion. The other 11 hours a day they're awake are filled with plenty of learning opportunities and a little downtime for everyone is a plus in my eyes.
    I agree with you. My DD seems to pick up on really cute concepts from shows. Like she learned to not get frustrated when things aren't going her way and to "just keep trying you'll get better". She got that from Daniel tiger. Or she will watch a show and then reenacts it with her dolls. It's really cute and I don't believe it to be harmful. Of course I'm not letting her watch sponge bob or other ridiculous shoes like that. We only watch PBS and doc McStuffins.

    Dude, we use Daniel tiger songs all the time! The one about taking a deep,breath when you're mad helped a lot when DS was going through some stuff.

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  • Dang, now I'm getting daniel tiger songs stuck in my head.  "if you can't do it alone, work together"
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  • My twins watch TV and I don't feel guilty about it at all.  I don't even know how much... but I make sure their days are filled with fun and learning so I don't see the harm in it.  Every day is different around our house so I just go with the flow on what needs to be done... I literally don't fret about it at all. 

  • vlagrl29 said:
    Dang, now I'm getting daniel tiger songs stuck in my head.  "if you can't do it alone, work together"
    Yup, me too. The second I hear or read the words "Daniel Tiger" it's already too late.

    When something seems bad, turn it around, find something good!  Friends help each other, yes they do, it's true!  When we do something new, let's talk about what we'll do!

    There goes my night lol
    DS (7 years old) from FET in 2010
    DD (5 years old) from IUI in 2012
    TTC 3rd and final!: IUI #1 in progress!
  • vlagrl29 said:
    Dang, now I'm getting daniel tiger songs stuck in my head.  "if you can't do it alone, work together"
    Yup, me too. The second I hear or read the words "Daniel Tiger" it's already too late.

    When something seems bad, turn it around, find something good!  Friends help each other, yes they do, it's true!  When we do something new, let's talk about what we'll do!

    There goes my night lol
    You can't forget "if you have to go potty stop and go right away! Flush and wash and be on your way!"

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  • Kimbus22 said:
    QueSyrah said:
    vlagrl29 said:
    Dang, now I'm getting daniel tiger songs stuck in my head.  "if you can't do it alone, work together"
    Yup, me too. The second I hear or read the words "Daniel Tiger" it's already too late.

    When something seems bad, turn it around, find something good!  Friends help each other, yes they do, it's true!  When we do something new, let's talk about what we'll do!

    There goes my night lol
    You can't forget "if you have to go potty stop and go right away! Flush and wash and be on your way!"
    Dude.  That stupid song is seriously the only reason I am EVER allowed to use the bathroom.  Ever.

    I give Daniel tiger and that song all the credit for DS not waiting too long to take potty breaks when we PT'd. He's finally stopped singing it every time he has to go

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  • QueSyrah said:
    Kimbus22 said:
    QueSyrah said:
    vlagrl29 said:
    Dang, now I'm getting daniel tiger songs stuck in my head.  "if you can't do it alone, work together"
    Yup, me too. The second I hear or read the words "Daniel Tiger" it's already too late.

    When something seems bad, turn it around, find something good!  Friends help each other, yes they do, it's true!  When we do something new, let's talk about what we'll do!

    There goes my night lol
    You can't forget "if you have to go potty stop and go right away! Flush and wash and be on your way!"
    Dude.  That stupid song is seriously the only reason I am EVER allowed to use the bathroom.  Ever.

    I give Daniel tiger and that song all the credit for DS not waiting too long to take potty breaks when we PT'd. He's finally stopped singing it every time he has to go
    you guys crack me up.  I feel a little less crazy knowing i'm not the only one!
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