TV/Screen Time

julesg86

I am just curious about how much screen time or TV you let your little one's watch. Before my daughter was born I swore that I wouldn't let her watch anything until she was 2.

Boy, was I wrong!!!

At first it was a little bit of Baby Einstein here and there and now she watches more Mickey Mouse Clubhouse than I would like to admit. How old are your little ones and how much (if any) TV do you let them watch? 

DawnLilly

DS doesn't really care yet but he KNOWS when Tec the Tractor is supposed to be on. Like half an hour to hour a day where he is actually sitting and really watching. Today he watched a full X-Man movie with me though. We are both sick.

schafer17

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is the only thing that ever makes my little guy drop what he's doing and run to the tv.  He absolutely loves it.  I let him watch a few episodes a week.  I don't think it hurts anything and we practice animal sounds and colors while he watches. 

LyndseylovesHugh

My DD has no interest in TV.  I often times will have Live with Kelly and Michael on in the morning while we get ready but she is usually in the other part of the living room where her toys are.  She could walk over to the other side where the TV is and watch it if she wanted, but she does not.  That is usually the only time it is on during the day, but on weekends we will have football or something like that on and same thing, no interest.  The only time she pays attention is if there is a commercial with a catchy song, she loves music (we do have music on most of the day while we are home).  If it gets to a point where she actually stops what she is doing to start watching what is on I will no longer put it on while she is awake, but for now it is fine. 

maryxc1

My LO is 17 months. He watches one episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse almost every day while I fix dinner. By that time of day he is getting cranky so he doesn't play well independently.

jnnfrrose6

DS doesn't seem too interested yet.  He has more fun turning the tv on and off through the stereo receiver that is at his level.  Last night he did sit on my lap and watch whatever was on disney jr for5-10 min, but he wasn't feeling well, so I figured that's why.  The TV is almost always on in our house, but it's background noise more than anything else.  Occasionally something will grab his attention, but not for very long (yet).

youngNYCmom

The TV is on occasionally in my house, but DS is not interested in it. He may watch the opening song to a show if it's catchy enough and then he continues playing or looking at his books. He's not one to sit still, he likes to move around and be engaged in activities.

mb314

I don't put on shows for DS.  Sometimes when DH watches DS, he'll put on a football game or a fishing show, but DS isn't interested in those.  We've played some Elmo videos on our phones, and DH will show him videos of fish he caught on his phone. 

I'm toying with the idea of putting some shows on our tablet for a 5 hour drive over the holidays, but even then, I'm not sold on the idea. 

allardr

My LO doesn't watch any toddler shows, during baseball season sometimes I'd have day games on and from time to time I watch The Voice. She never shows much interest but may watch some time to time. It's more my weakness than her wanting to watch any.

monkeybutt61612

Our tv is on constantly during the day (I like the noise) but I don't put on toddler shows, usually the news. He will watch the commercials, but generally ignores it. I feel bad about, but I get so unbelivably bored when we are home.

izziebee

DS2 doesn't really sit down to watch TV but he is exposed. We have a 3 1/2 year old that watches Disney JR and Nick Jr plus Disney movies so there is no way I can keep DS2 away from the TV. Plus, in our house the TV is on all the time. They are both in a very structured daycare that does not have a TV anywhere near them so I'm not concerned at all about their exposure at home.

Personally, I think it's overkill to try to keep a child from seeing a TV, it's going to happen...plus, DS1 has learned so much from the shows he watches, Nick Jr and Disney Jr really has some great programming for preschoolers (I don't let him wanch spongebob or Phineas and Ferb or stuff like that, it's all Mickey Mouse, Jake etc)  it's how much you let them watch and what they are watching that matters. Some people use it as a babysitter and that's just not good. But that's my opinion, I realize many people out there don't approve of it at all and that's just fine.

mommymegan831

DH needs the TV on all the time, and alot of times he'll put it on kids shows, but I really work on keeping TV shows off until after bath time.  DD (3 1/2) will sit and watch TV for hours if I let her, DS (1 1/2) won't sit for more than 10-15 minutes, and even that is recent.  I'd love it if he'd watch a 1/2 hour show or something, but he just doesn't have the interest yet.  It would be nice to get something done while he stays busy, or for cuddling time, we're going on a cruise in April, I'm praying he's into TV by then so if I need to keep him occupied at a long dinner I can.

Sparks in training!

I have this issue with my DH! When DH is "watching" LO, he has Disney on and now LO cries when I WONT turn mickey on for him. I personally dont like the TV on. I let him watch baby Einstein while falling asleep at nap time.. .but thats about it for me. So weekdays- no more than 1 hour. Weekends-tops about two hours broken up througout the day.

zbeesma86

Our TV is usually background noise. It maybe a show, news or pandora radio. DD likes Daniel Tiger and Peg + Cat and may watch an episode a day before nap time. The TV doesn't really catch her attention- maybe the beginning part while the intro song is playing but after that she doesn't really notice it.

At night she watches a Yo Gabba Gabba before bed and cuddles with me- again she pays attention randomly, then we read, and I rock her for a little bit.

emberlee3

DH has turned Sesame Street on a few times when dd was sick, but she usually only watches for a minute or two. DS watches Dinosaur Train once in a while. Mostly the TV is only on now for football, and Dd completely ignores it (much like her mama).

Meery82

I'm in the camp of TV isn't that big of a deal. My kid probably watches way too much of it though. He usually watches Baby First TV and occasionally the Sprout channel. And he flips his shit for Barney. Oh well, at least most of it is educational.

Meery82

Nicb13 said:

Meery82 said:

I'm in the camp of TV isn't that big of a deal. My kid probably watches way too much of it though. He usually watches Baby First TV and occasionally the Sprout channel. And he flips his shit for Barney. Oh well, at least most of it is educational.

There's gotta be something educational in Curious George right?! Because my child is addicted!

We've never watched it, but I'd bet there is!

DawnLilly

Meery82 said:

Nicb13 said:

Meery82 said:

I'm in the camp of TV isn't that big of a deal. My kid probably watches way too much of it though. He usually watches Baby First TV and occasionally the Sprout channel. And he flips his shit for Barney. Oh well, at least most of it is educational.

There's gotta be something educational in Curious George right?! Because my child is addicted!

We've never watched it, but I'd bet there is!

DS watches Tec the Tractor when it comes on in the morning and when it comes on in the evening. He's not learning shapes or numbers but he's definitely learning. The show is actually fairly accurate when it comes to farm life. Some days its just not not nice enough to go up to the farm or they are not able to include him. DS rode in the combine with his God father for an hour last week and in the tractor with daddy hauling liquids (shit) today. Some would say this show is folly and not educational at all but to DS it is. Educational is relative. I'm sure their is something your LO is learning from Curious George!

lana22

one of these seems to come up every few weeks. i'm in the minority in that my 23 mo and 7 mo don't watch tv. i hadn't thought much about it and then saw this shortly after my first son was born: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoT7qH_uVNo

i decided to leave the tv off during the day and avoid it until they're over 2. don't get me wrong, i marathoned tv shows while nursing at night (i will forever think of nursing my first son when i watch good wife), but as soon as they started to pay attention to it, no more. i think it does more harm than good, and it's something i can easily control. i love that my son has no "brand" loyalties, and isn't bombarded with commercials (obv not an issue w/ pbs or netflix, i know).

there are exceptions. my husband watches football on sundays and i usually get the kids out of the house, but there are times that it's on and they're in the room. i watched bball games during march madness and a few tennis matches during us open. i'm usually behind so i can ff through commercials.

i will say whether you need to use tv to get stuff done prob depends on the kid. tonight my older son played in the upstairs playroom by himself for 20 min while i put the younger one down. i could hear him talking to himself while he played, and he was perfectly happy and chill. when i was done putting the 7 mo down i went and got him and we went back downstairs.

i'm not really sure how i'm going to "introduce" tv to him, and figure it will likely happen organically as he gets older and his friends are talking about shows or they're on during playdates. super excited for the day we snuggle and watch finding nemo.

izziebee

Nicb13 said:

LalaMama81 said:

Nicb13 said:

LalaMama81 said:

It's not impossible to keep a younger child from watching tv even with an older sibling. People say this a lot, but if they wanted to they could keep it from happening, it's not rocket science. I get that you don't care about your toddler watching, which is fine, but don't use the older as your excuse. I don't think it's good for anyone, toddler through adult, to have the tv on all day.

And I'm the opposite. I think there are way worse things in this world besides TV.

Of course there are. Just b/c there are things that are worse doesn't mean that constant TV isn't bad. That's backwards logic. There is research about passive TV watching, it can have negative effects. Sometimes we need silence. 

I get plenty of silence! But there are times I want to watch TV. I just don't think TV will have these horrible lasting effects on myself, DH or DS. I realize there is research but that's just how I feel. I don't want to waste my time thinking too much about something like this.

Do you not ever watch TV?

Ha, did you read my post? I didn't say YOU had the TV on all the time and I wasn't speaking to your TV watching habits or your sons. Other posters said the TV is on all the time as background, that is what I was commenting on. 

Of course I don't think TV is bad period. I watch plenty of it and my kids (2+) watch what I think is an appropriate amount. My 5 year old is watching a movie right now.  

I don't think it's every a waste of time to think and reflect upon our habits. 

I know you weren't talking about me specifically...duh, but I am commenting on what you said because we do have the TV on all the time. Your statement actually related to me. I agree that it can be good to take a step back and look at the things we do. I've done that with TV and am happy with the amount DS watches. Guess that's all I can do.

I haven't been on here since I posted so I'm jumping in late but I just want to say that we don't have the TV on ALL DAY. If I implied that, I mis spooke. My DH and I both work full time, our kids are in a very structured daycare where they have a ton of interaction. DS1 is in preschool and even DS2 has 'lessons' whether it be counting, sign language or just sensory type things. So when we get home at 5:30, if we aren't outside playing then we are playing inside and the TV is usually on. Around 7:30 we try to settle down for the night and that usually involves Disney Jr - DS1 watches while DS2 plays with his toys. And sure, it's not 'rocket science' keeping DS2 away from the TV but this is family time for us, where we are all cuddling on the couch or on the floor playing - depending on the child. I'm not about to take DS2 into another room just b/c DS1 is watching TV. It's my personal belief that exposure to TV is not the worst thing for a child. I'm sure most of us on here were exposed to TV as a toddler/child and we probably all turned out pretty good.

skibunny59

I am not a tv person at all and I personally don't like it.  DH does like it but honestly in our house the tv is never on.  We don't even have cable.  DH watches some things on hulu at night after DD is asleep.  I have one tv show that I watch religiously every week on hulu.

DD (19 months) does watch some tv at my mom's house.  My mom takes care of her during the day while we're at work.  I don't love it.  I'd rather she not watch any at all BUT I just ask my mom that she limit it to no more than 30 minutes total.  My mom never has it on all the time.  She just puts it on usually when DD is getting ready for nap just as a wind down for her. Also, my mom does a ton of activities with her.  They read, play outside, take trips to the library, do arts and crafts.  Since my mom is doing so many other things with her,  I try to not worry about the little bit of tv she's watching.