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!

Having a child who woke up from 5-5.30am everyday, the tv saved my sanity. Anyone who questions why I wasn’t doing colouring/playing/running around/games at that time can piss off.

Without Cbeebies during lockdown I would have lost my job - the TV was on pretty much all day. We'd hold out as long as possible, but it was often the only way to get anything done. Obviously not ideal, but I really don't think it's harmed my 18 month old.

He will also sit and look through books for a while, gets engrossed in stacking things and playing with stones... it's not like TV is the only thing that holds his attention.

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!

Exactly!

When I was young and computers first came in as a normal thing at home (yes I'm ancient!) TV watching became slightly less "demonic" for a short period of time and computers were demonised instead!

That's still true of course with thread after thread on here of people concerned/complaining about children/partners spending too much time on computers/games consoles

If you read sources from "way back when" it's amazing the things that were considered in the past to be "common" and detrimental to a child's development

These included but were not limited to

Speaking English
Playing - yes playing at all!
Playing/being outside
Being indoors "too much"
Having a pet

Loads of stuff that we now recognise as not only normal but beneficial

DS used to love watching Thomas the Tank Engine whilst I nipped about tidying up or getting a load of washing put on.

We'd sit down every day to watch In The Night Garden - he'd sit on my lap and I'd be the Pinky Ponk and bounce him about.

We used to watch Alphablocks - taught him sounds very quickly!

If I was really tired (and DS was a 4.30am riser sometimes - those were (not) the days), the TV would go on for longer with lots of things for him to play with on the floor. Gave me time to get rid of the 'muzzy head' of tiredness.

It's done him no harm. He came 6th in his 11 plus in his school, regularly gets 90% plus in exams. A lot of the things he knows he's picked up from TV - often encouraging him to learn other things. For example, he watched a Percy Jackson film, asked for the books by Rick Riordan and now dives in on programmes like Only Connect if there's a Greek mythology question. I have no problem at all with TV as long as it's not on all the time and is sometimes used to stimulate things. Like we'd watch Show Me, Show Me and I would think 'teddy bears picnic for lunch'. Or let's play trains, after watching Thomas.

Everyone needs a break and TV can teach children without them knowing they're being taught. Just be selective sometimes.

I used to worry about how much screen time children had until I had children, then I realised how much you could get done while the TV was on!!

When DS2 was around 18 months old I came down very suddenly with an upset stomach, he spent most of the day sitting in an empty bath watching the iPad while I sat on the loo. Really don't know how I'd have coped otherwise.

I have 3 kids...23...22 and 17.....i never restricted tv when they were growing up...mine spent hours in front of it...the older 2 now have masters degrees....i had bigger things to worry about when mine were growing up.

DD2 is currently getting as much screen time as she likes. I mean, ok she’s in hospital, but I wouldn’t care if we were at home. I love tv, but I also love reading and knitting and cross stitch.

You're not sticking her in front of scarface, it's fine. One of my friends had her DC the same time as mine was born and she was adamant hers wouldn't know what tv was until they started school. That didn't last and she put herself under so much pressure and guilt from it. Yanbu.

I have three children, including an 18 month old. My older 2 were reading fluently before they started school, are extremely eloquent, have sporting hobbies, 6 year old plays the piano... they watched loads of TV as toddlers.
My 18 month old gets up at 5.30am and until the others are up at 7 the TV is on. He watches for a bit, potters round, brings me toys to play with, watches a bit more. I’m at home with him while the other 2 are at school. None of the groups we go to have reopened, and won’t be until after Christmas. We go for lots of walks and to the park, but if I want to get something done then CBeebies goes on. I have no guilt over it!

Tv is a lifesaver and your friend is bit of a dick

@haba

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!

No, it still wouldn’t have an impact.

My TV is always on when we’re in. My 4 year old is advanced for her age. In fact, she learned lots of sign language from watching Mr Tumble when she was 11/12 months. It helped with her language.

It makes no difference!

We have pretty much unlimited screen time for our 3yo, but he's learnt to self regulate so will watch a programme and then go and do something else. I had heard how bad TV could be for your kids () when he was younger and I stressed about it for a bit, but then decided that it was a major help in terms of giving me a break/time to cook/clean, AND he learnt so much from watching TV that I was happy to let him watch it. We also like to watch stuff together and chat about what's on, and I really enjoy it too.

It's absolutely fine. If you read the guidance in detail it says it's really only an issue if that's ALL the child does.
Really don't beat yourself up - in moderation it's really not a problem

My oldest is four, and when she was two I was pregnant and had horrendous morning sickness. Peppa Pig essentially raised her for a few months there 🤣 It did her no harm! TV is only a problem when it’s all kids do, day in day out, with parents who don’t give a damn about them! My kids probably watch too much but we do loads of other stuff too - baking, walks, singing, trampolining, games, coloring... it does no harm!!

I had the tv on a lot when mine were little. I'm not sure why it's meant to be bad for them? Both Dc are in top sets at school. One struggles socially but is autistic, the other is popular and has a lovely group of friends.

TV’s fine, ignore people being snobbish. My mum used to sit my younger sister in front of Sesame Street for a hour a day so she could get on with other stuff. Sister into Cambridge. I think Sesame Street probably gave her the edge.

YANBU. The wiggles are our go to though.

I'm a Speech and Language Therapist. My 18m old watches 20mins of TV most days. As you say, the main issue is if you watch too much it limits your time doing other things like physical play, imaginative play, communicating with others. Supposedly under 2 children don't learn from the TV, as it doesn't respond to them, so it's fairly dead time (although enjoyable). As a parent however it's very precious time if it allows you to cook dinner without a small child hanging off your legs or have a cup of tea without worrying they are trashing the place! Keep doing what you are doing!

My DD2, 14 month olds first word was TV and says "oh dear" if it's not on! I didn't let my first watch it until she was over a year 😂 I actually promised my kids would never watch it

I can’t have the tv on in the background as my 2 yr old will just stand and stare at it. As such, the tv generally stays off until after dinner, when he can have tv time. It was about 20 mins when he was younger. Now he’s pushing 3 yrs, it’s about 45 mins max.

However in March we were hit with a perfect storm of lockdown, second HG pregnancy, DH working from home and no nursery! Putting the Polar Express on every morning allowed DH to get some work done while I felt sorry for myself in bed. Far from ideal but so was the situation. DS is none the worse for it.... aside from his Christmas obsession having deepened further