To be feeling guilty about putting the TV on at 5.30

[Eileen101]

My kids are 3.5 and almost 18 months. They are early risers (as are most kids I think) and are both generally up by 5.30. I end up putting the TV on to occupy them while I drink my coffee so I can wake up a bit..it's generally around 30-45 mins, then we read, have breakfast, play. This is non nursery days so 4 days per week.
Feeling guilty about giving them this TV time. AIBU?

Yes. You should be using this time to teach them a foreign language

My kids are 3.5 and 7, they wake generally around 6.30/6,45 and play on their tablets until breakfast. It keeps them quiet usually. I do use a gro clock to stop them playing before 6,40 though

I love that Olivia Coleman thing that's on at 5.30 on CBeebies. It's so lovely and chilled out. Way better than getting up and going straight into Bing as we did this morning.

From what I remember the issue with TV and small children wasn't that it's necessarily a negative force.
It was more that it took away parental interaction and could impact some children's speech as they aren't practicing talking.
If your kids speech is ok and you are regularly interacting with them the rest of the time, then it's probably fine.

It's nice to know I'm not alone. I think the only reason I feel so guilty about it is that MIL is, or at least was, quite vocal that young children shouldn't have screen time a d should be outside/reading/playing with wholesome toys etc
@edgeware
I didn't, to be honest, I've never actually read into it.

God, 5.30 is prime TV time for sure! DD wakes up at 6 usually and she goes and gets a snack and juice that the snack fairy (my husband) has left outside the room for her, then gets back into bed beside me and I put the TV on for her and doze for a while. She wouldn't be getting any quality communication or interaction from me at 5.30 anyway!

Anything to get you through the early hours or early risers. The gloves are off, tv doesn’t count before at least 8 am.

Tell your MIL she's welcome to come read to her GC at 5.30am! I mean what else are you supposed to do at that ungodly hour. Every parent of an early riser uses the tv/screens of some sort. Anyone who says they don't are most likely lying.

One of mine used to get up at 4.30 every day. I made myself a hot chocolate and we cuddled on the sofa watching TV for at least the first hour. I loved it - no guilt about doing nothing except cuddling my baby, and s he was little enough for me to pick the cartoons. It was a bit like the newborn days! Do whatever sets you up for the day, because your kid needs a happy mum more than anything!

@edgeware

Did you know there is no credible evidence that TV is bad?

I do hope this is true!

Real world evidence would suggest it is, but I would love so see it written in black and white

Your MIL isn't up with them at 5.30am is she? I bet she'd change your tune if she was.

When mine were little a very close family member was always saying to me that TV was bad (even though for my first at least tv was very limited, I got more relaxed once I had more than 1!) - but whenever said family member watched my child/ren I noticed the TV would be on.

It's a lot easier placing impossible standards on others than do it yourself.

I'd suggest to MIL that she comes round to do the 5.30am shift if she thinks them watching TV is bad.

I also think it's important for children to recognise that parents are human and sometimes have needs too.

Oh honey... If my children ever woke me up at 5.30, they would be watching TV until about half 9 when I had finally come to life after 33454e espressos! Just kidding, but do not feel guilty! There is nothing wrong with taking time for your self, it's not like you leave them there all day every day xx

Hi OP. 5 30 is a wholly unsociable hour so I completely understand the need for TV.

I helped teach my DD6 how to tell time with their early rising during lockdown.

"It's 5am, when the big hand is at blah blah blah... "

Then, they would watch a Disney film from start to finish and I would have woken up way more and even emptied the dishwasher in peace. You do what you need to do. Enjoy your cuppa and gentle wake up. :-)

I’m curious to see how the voting is going, not matching the comments. I suspect that the way your question is phrased is causing that.

YABU to feel guilty about it.

YANBU to have the TV time. As others have said, there’s no evidence TV is so terrible and it’s not like you are plonking them there for 12 hours.

I used to put the two of them in my bed we'd start with milkshake on channel 5 and move onto to cbeebies. No way could I have got up at 6am

We did that with DS. He’s 7 now and still wakes up at 6am. He reads in his room until 6:30 but we still have 30 minutes of TV time before breakfast whilst DH and I have our coffee.

I always feel content is more important than the time. I loved cbeebies or the similar Irish version. No adds, play appropriate shows. Or I think it's called Baby Bum ....as headwrecking as it was.

Don't feel guilty xx

What else are you supposed to do with them at that time of the morning?! I often manage an extra 30 minutes doze on the sofa while DS watches Cbeebies.

Oh I just remembered cbeebies doesn't start til 7 or something. But ya- little baby bum I think 🤔

Mine were babies in late 90s/early2000s and Teletubbies was a morning staple.

@edgeware

Did you know there is no credible evidence that TV is bad?

Exactly - this!

TV is not bad for children.

What is bad is when parents dump their children in front of the TV at the detriment of everything else i.e. They also don't communicate, interact or play with their kids.

That is definitely not what you're doing. You're absolutely fine OP!

Imagine if you bought the most wonderful mobile for them. It was brightly coloured, in fact it was changing all the time, a kaleidoscope of colours. And it made sounds! It could read stories to them, and show them pictures, which could actually move. It was educational in a way that was so wonderful it could teach them things without them even realising they were learning. On top of that, it kept your children amused while you had half an hour to 'come to' in the morning, without harming them . Just imagine if you had something like that...

9 and 5 here and they still do this at the weekend and school holidays. Just be grateful they are not pestering to watch Mindcrack videos on YouTube instead of lovely CBeebies.

GroClock might help you to get a bit more sleep if it works for them though. Mine are firmly trained not to venture out of their rooms before 7am now, which is a much more respectable time for me to have my first cup of tea.

Good grief, no need for guilt.
Children’s TV is excellent now (assuming your not switching re-runs of Eastenders on )