To think a toddler watching a bit of TV isn't that bad??

[SquidwardTortellini95]

Hi all. I have an 18 month old DD and admit that, sometimes, she watches TV. Mainly Mr Tumble and other CBeebies programmes. It's not on all day every day, it's on for maybe 20 minutes at a time and she'll only sit and watch it for maybe five minutes at a time before she goes off and plays with her toys or something else catches her attention. I hate silence though so if the TV is off the radio will be on.

To be honest, with my partner at work most of the time, the only chance I get to actually do anything like cleaning or cooking with DD around is when she's distracted by the TV for five minutes! I still play with her, talk to her constantly, read to her everyday ect. Even when she's watching TV I'll 'narrate' what's going on and ask DD questions (what's Po doing? What colour is that? Ect).

I only ask this because I was discussing children and TV with a mate recently, and she seemed horrified when I said DD sometimes watches TV! She claims that her son, who is now 4, didn't watch any TV at all until he was 2.5! And that the AAP doesn't recommend screen time at all until 2 ect.

Now, since the COVID pandemic the AAP have relaxed their stance on screen time, but it is true that they normally don't recommend any screen time until a child is two. However, after reading into it a bit, it's not so much the TV itself that's the problem, it's more that if the TV replaces human interaction such as talking, playing, reading ect that it can negatively impact development. Which makes sense. I'm sure anyone would agree that a kid being plonked in front of a TV for hours without being spoken to or played with is a bad thing! But 10 minutes here and there? Is that really so bad?

DD is perfectly happy and healthy. She knows loads of Makaton signs thanks to Mr Tumble and can count to four thanks to nursery rhymes on YouTube. I don't think a little TV has harmed her!

I worried about this too when DS was your childs age. Wish I hadn't bothered. TV is ace

It's perfectly fine. TV or any screen as part of a day balanced with other activities like reading, singing, chatting, exercise and fresh air are totally ok.

I'm with you - DS has the odd bit of CBeebies and we'll sometimes watch TV while he's in the room with us (eg DH will watch the F1 or something). He sometimes shows a bit of interest but he won't sit and watch for more than a couple of minutes either and - like you - it doesn't replace human interaction. I am generally of the opinion that banning things - whether TV or chocolate or playing with particular things - makes them more interesting to a toddler!

Your friend is a absolute loon and probably a liar. If we didn't have the TV to act as a babysitter I would get nothing done. I have a demanding 5 year old and a VERY clingy toddler, neither of whom will leave me alone to wee by myself, let alone hang up some washing or sweep the floor. I stick on 30 minutes of Little Baby Bum songs on Youtube and leave them to it.

Pffff, sounds fine to me!!! DS hardly ever watched TV but that's because we don't either, not for some moral reasoning. He does have a tablet that comes out when he's fussy and we need to get home (car) or cook dinner. And what even is the AAP?

My tv is on about half the time and my toddler is showing no signs of being behind with speech or development or whatever it is they say it affects! Ignore your friend 🙄

I'm in the "no screens at all for small children" camp...but honestly 20 mins isn't going to harm her. If it was 20mins five times a day, then obviously that will have more of an impact, but talking face to face with your child is what will have the largest effect on her, and it sounds like you're doing that.
Keep encouraging independent explorative play- that is what will.free up your time the most!

Unless you’re leaving her watching telly tubbies for 6 hours straight she’ll be fine.

I should have chosen YABU because you will end up with a toddler who likes to count everything and it will drive you mad when you are out and about.

I've never seen any convincing evidence that's it's bad for them in any way.

@Letmegetthisrightasawoman American Academy of Pediatrics.

@RedRumTheHorse Too late

And we had no television at all until my youngest was 8 when we got a set for playing games consoles on. They entertained themselves far better when they were small than they do now we've had it a couple of years (we still don't have any television network access, they can only watch DVDs or play games).

Everything in moderation, and especially at the end of the longest summer on record! A bit of age-appropriate Cbeebies, especially with a parent taking an interest, will do no harm.

I think I'd worry if a toddler was watching for much more than 20 minutes, because that might suggest that there was not enough other stimulation available to them, or that they were sickening for something!

(I know some toddler groups have put song/story times up online while they've been closed - are those banned, too?!)

IMO, whoever it is can recommend whatever they want. They arent in my house in the morning when I need to do the washup or sneakily eat my own breakfast in the kitchen so I dont have to give my DD half of it. They dont have to try pack a bag or the car for a day out with a dog and a toddler as their shadow. That TV gives me that opportunity to get myself sorted so I can do other things with her throughout the day and she gets my attention.

There are MANY things you can do that will genuinely damage your child's development. I say stop googling things, and say 'oh right' to your mate, and then let them do their thing and you do yours. Parenting has become ridiculous. You are expected to be perfect and follow every bit of research and guideline. You do you. Your kid will be fine if you are a Mum who is worrying about TV time.

I was quite strict about screen time too but lockdown soon put a stop to that! Working from home with a small child meant some days the tv was on literally all day. 20 mins here and there is fine. You do what you need to do to get through the day!

I should have chosen YABU because you will end up with a toddler who likes to count everything and it will drive you mad when you are out and about.

I think my eldest could count to 20 by the time she was 2 - I took all the credit but I'm pretty sure I owe it all to Baby TV And we also have the obsessive counting whenever we leave the house - how many dogs we've seen, how many steps until we get home, how many ducks on the pond arrrgh.

How does anyone get anything done without the TV babysitter. My son comes into bed first thing and we (he, I keep my eyes closed) watch one of the Julia Donaldson films and cuddle. My favourite half an hour of the day.

I think I'd worry if a toddler was watching for much more than 20 minutes, because that might suggest that there was not enough other stimulation available to them, or that they were sickening for something!

Can your young toddler concentrate for that long on TV?

Unless it is Peppa Pig mine gets bored and starts wandering around so I have to time doing things by how long the CBeebies program is.

As a mum of a 17 month old who is a wild boy TV is a must at times, even for my sanity to give me a minute. I think that as long as they aren't glued to it all day then it is fine x

My son was very difficult, only sleeping 9 hours a day from birth and needing constant attention (later diagnosed with autism, which we've been told may explain it). Brought the "Brainy Baby" DVDs which were colours, letters, shapes and faces etc, put him in his bouncer aged 8 weeks old and for the first time since he was born he was awake AND content.

He loved it. I see no harm in TV and think it benefits children if mixed with adult interaction too. My son knew a lot of his colours by his first birthday and his alphabet by the time he was 18 months. Not boasting re the age, his ability to pick this up so early was an autism thing, but the point is he learnt it from TV. I would never have taught him the alphabet that young (why would I?!) but kids learn so much from TV. I think it's great. My daughter aged two would sign in makiton as she spoke - all thanks to Mr Tumble!

Meh!

I'm a total tv addict having been raised by one and its on all the time and it was probably on a lot when dd was this age, although we had the radio on a lot too as she was and still is music mad.

She was an early chatterbox (seriously it was like she never shut up!!) and her language and academic abilities are not only fine but excellent!

She's about to start uni for teacher training.

FYI your friend might be interested to know that when fictional books first were published they were viewed in much the same way as tv/screen time is now! Especially children's books!

They were seen as corrupting young minds and detrimental to good educational/academic achievement!

As long as they're well cared for and educated tv watching is not the devil!

Like pps I strongly suspect said friend is lying too!

Relax you're fine - and take anything this "friend" says with a large pinch of salt!

@Graphista "FYI your friend might be interested to know that when fictional books first were published they were viewed in much the same way as tv/screen time is now! Especially children's books!"

Spot on! You explained just what I was thinking. In years to come older generations will complain that children shouldn't be doing "insert futuristic thing here" they should be watching good old fashioned TV, just like they used to do in the olden days!

Love a bit of tv- gives me an extra 30mins in the morning in bed- the odd bit whilst I’m making dinner- really couldn’t care less what some of these “never has juice, never had a McDonald’s” parents think. My child is articulate and healthy and confident and I’ve met many children who don’t watch tv who aren’t. Engaging with your child and watching tv are two separate issues.

Its fine.
Just wait til they are older and you want them to get off their phones to watch TV