TV for preschoolers - HONESTLY how much do yours watch?

[DorsetLass]

I have a 3.8 year old DD and 2 year DS - we have some days when we watch no TV (and therefore feel like a very good and proactive parent but get no chores done at all) or on other days I have alarmingly realised up to three hours when added up (if I were to be totally honest I am a little concerned it may be more!). It adds up quite quickly - if watched in short bits! Just wondered what others do?

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

Mine can go several days and hardly watch any, and then other days they will watch several hours.

Don't stress, it doesn't harm them at all. There are far more important things to worry about.

[riksti]

About the same really. More if I need to get something done, less if I have time to play and entertain her. Daughter is 2.7

[forevergreek]

None, but we have no tv so it's not an option.

[cassell]

None at all during the week. I don't agree with tv for small children. Ds1 (4yo) watches about half an hour/hour of a DVD on Saturdays with dh which I'd rather he didn't.

[Passthesaltdear]

Same as you

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

cassell - why be so uptight about it?

The children I know who are denied TV are the ones who sit glued to one whenever they get a chance.

You do realise that they watch TV at school, and probably already at preschool?

[MimsyBorogroves]

DS1 (4) watches an hour or so on a Saturday morning. In the holidays I might let him watch a film every 3/4 days.

DS2 (1) watches very little. He sometimes glances at the TV when DS1 is watching, but that's it. He gets nothing on that's "for" him, and when DS1 is at school the TV is never on. That said, the TV wouldn't be on at all, ever, except for Big Bang Theory once a week if I wasn't with DH. TV isn't my thing.

[MoreBeta]

Well DS1 was 13 a few weeks back. He used to watch Thomas the Tank Engine and many other similar tapes until they practically wore out.

We did talk to him a lot and do things with him but sometimes you just need to get stuff done. Its about the quality of the time you spend with your children not the total time (within reason).

No harm done. Dont sweat it.

[patchesmcp]

In the last few months DS has started watching more TV. I reckon he watches 30 mins in the evening and sometimes 30 mins in the morning depending on what time he wakes up and what day of the week it is. Some days he won't watch any in the morning and occasionally he's been known to watch an hour if he wakes up very early, although it tends to be on but he'll be wondering round the bedroom "helping" me get ready rather than sitting engrossed in it.

I'm not massively keen on it but I think as long as they don't watch too much and they do lots of other things it doesn't really matter.

I do remember being when my friend asked me what DS liked watching when he was about 8 months old though.

DS is just over 2 if that helps.

[Aldwick]

As long as there is enough 'balance' in their lives - lots of outdoor activity, reading stories, singing, drawing, play doh, role play etc. And they are watching age appropriate tv I have no problem whatsoever with it and given that my pre schoolers are regularly up for 13 hours a day we have plenty of time to watch TV and fit everything else in too.

Personally I hate the 'tv is the work of the devil' attitude and agree that in my experience it is those kids who watch as much as they can when they get the chance.

[DorsetLass]

We have lots if balance - outdoor with dog twice a day, swimming, gymnastics, ballet, lots of friends in and out. Good advice though thank you Aldwick. Discussion on channel 5 news about it this evening funnily enough -missed it though so can't tell you how much I'm damaging my children or not!!!