How much screen time does your preschooler have - be honest please!

[ElusiveMoose]

Sorry, this has probably been done before, but I'm interested to see how DS1 compares with his peers. Until recently we've never had an issue with screen time at all, because he was never overly interested in TV (liked it, but never asked to have it on). He usually used to have 20 mins or so while I made lunch, and then 30 mins or so of the Beebies bedtime hour.

Now, it's suddenly become more of a concern, for a number of reasons (BTW he's just turned 3):

1. He's getting interested in longer programmes now - films like The Jungle Book and so on, not just 15 min programmes.
2. He's suddenly discovered our computer, and actually asks for that much more than the TV. Most of the stuff he does on there is pretty educational (his favourites are Alphablocks and another excellent reading website), but it's still screen time.
3. I had another baby a couple of months ago, so we're tending to stay in a bit more than we were (plus the weather is not exactly conducive to extensive outside play).

So, we're suddenly having battles about it - him always asking to have TV or computer (usu the latter), and me saying no, or only 10 more mins, or whatever. So I'm interested in what others do. How much time do your children spend per day in front of a screen (and do you count computer time the same as TV time)? And does it bother you??

I'm in almost exactly the same situation as you so I'm interested to hear what others have to say. Trying to entice them to do a jigsaw when they want a tv fix is near impossible!

I've been worrying about this today so thought I'd join in! My DTs (3.5) are ill at the moment and watching loads of TV, it's all they want to do and are way too miserable to do much else. Was going to come on here and ask how much damage it really does if just for a short spell. Anyone got a view?

In answer to your question though, my two have about 1 hr a day on average, but more likely no TV for 2 or 3 days, and then a film the next day (so maybe 2 hours). I don't count the computer as the same as it is generally more interactive (playing on the iPad), but they don't do alot of it as it makes them squabble like mad! DS rarely asks for the TV but nags for the computer endlessly, DD loves watching TV and I have to be firm about turning it off or she would happily watch all day!

Hi sorry not sure how old ds is. My ds of 4 watches about 20-30 minutes of tv in evening. Sometimes at weekend after long outing we'll watch a bit in the afternoon. Sometimes if with other kids or on holiday will watch a film but never watches to the end. Computer? Almost never. Moments on cbeebie website about ten minutes rarely has a go on my phone. But he's not very interested tbh

DS is 2 and watches Thomas DVDs ad nauseum.
DD is 4 and will watch probably half an hour a day in between pretending to be a fairy/doctor/artist

We watch Timmy then do the Timmy jigsaw etc.

Oh. When ds ill he can lie limply on the sofa and watch all day if he likes!

Oh god loads I reckon! About 4-5 hours a day during the week (most of that on the PC). I am not too bothered as he kind of plays on it for a bit then buggers off and plays then comes back. His sister was the same with TV and she got less into it the older she got (plus she is at school a lot of the day now). They don't have much screen time at weekends as we are usually out and about though.

I probably should cut him back though.... I just think it seems pretty educational....

Oh dear - bad mother alert. Another thing I need to deal with

I think I'm in the minority here, but I don't see TV as evil. I watch TV and I like TV.

We have TV on after school/work, when we're all tired and in need of 'down time'.

My DS1 is an addict too! He's just discovered the games on the CBeebies website and he'd happily play them all day long!

I limit him to 1 hr's telly in the morning and 1 in the evening, plus maybe an hour on the laptop. That's at the weekend, it's less midweek due to preschool etc. It sounds a lot written down!

His younger brother, who has just turned two, isn't that bothered about the telly though.

oh, and I like mn the computer

DS1 (nearly 4) probably spends far too much time in front of the TV (a lot more than your DS), however he tunes in and out and loses himself in other play while programmes are on. I've also recently had another baby and have to admit TV as a diversion has been helpful. Our house is one of those where TV is turned on a lot of the time. (Don't shoot me).

It does bother me from time to time and I think about reducing the time he has, but so far haven't really followed it through so obviously not bothered enough to do anything about it at this stage.

I'm also not too concerned about everything being educational. Maybe I'm too laid back about that, but hey-ho. He's recently discovered Baby Loony Tunes (pointless crap) but he finds it soooo funny and gets so much enjoyment that I'm happy for him to keep watching!

He goes to pre-school each day for a few hours, meets up with wee friends and sees grandparents/family, goes to parks/outings etc regularly so I think he gets a decent balance of activities. He's articulate and inquisitive and I'm happy with his development.

HTH

I think it's fine as long as they don't become obsessive and it doesn't exclude other types of activities.

My DD might have the Jungle Book on but will play games at the same time - have little scenarios with plastic animals or do some drawing, build some lego, wander in and out of the room.

But a friend of hers will watch tv and give it his full attention. For him I think his mum does limit screen time because he doesn't do much else when the TV's on.

The only rule I have is that the tv/computer are off if we have friends round. She's just started school so tv is on from when she gets home to about 6pm a couple of days a week. The other days we are out or have a friend round. At the weekend, it will go on at breakfast time until we go out around 11am usually. then back on again if we get home about 4ish.

I think your instincts will tell you if it's harming him. Maybe the battles will end and he'll lose interest a bit if you don't time it. You could then see if he gets bored and goes and plays with something else, or picks up a book.

Hope it works out for you.

Yes i count tv, cinema and computer all as screen time - not sure if I'm in the minority though?

Like you my kids have to ask permission for the TV to be on and it will be on for a select programme or two only(we check the listings and together choose what to watch). They turn it off after and go do somthing fun

Mine watch about 4 or 5 hours a week in total - so not much really. Odd days they watch no TV - they are too busy doing other stuff to care.

Sometimes i use a TV programme as a reward or I switch it on for a bit at the end of the day when they are exhausted.

Occasionally we watch more TV but it will be due to illness or having a new baby.

A while back someone suggested allowing their kids 'screen time' tokens in exchange for doing homwork/helping tidy up/playing nicely etc.. I though that was a fab idea bbut then completely forgot about trying it out.

My parents had the TV on endlessly when i was a kid and it was so very very boring. Even now i hate the endless back ground noise of a telly.

I have read books/articles that frown upon telly for under 2's but I am yet to meet a toddler who hasn't sat through an episode of peppa pig!

When my DS was a preschooler, he was allowed to watch a DVD 30-40 minutes a day while I made tea. After he started school in September, he was so exhausted that it crept up to about an hour after school, but since half-term I've tried hard to go down to 30-40 minutes again. He's allowed to watch a film each Saturday. He's not interested in the computer - asks for it maybe once a month. With the TV I always turn off if he starts doing something else. It's supposed to be bad for their concentration if the TV is on in the background while they're playing.

My preschooler and his older brother (almost 7) watch about 4 hours a week - most of this is movie time with the family. We are more outdoorsy-types - I do worry that this means they will miss lots of cultural references and make them complete social outcasts

I refuse to let them watch most children's TV - Ben 10 is a horrible little boy, for example - I would cringe if my kids started to talk like that!

When my two are in desperate need for some vegging downtime, we have a Bagpuss DVD they both love (me, too)!

My DD is 18 months - watches Driver Dan (15 mins) then we turn Waybuloo off cos I think it is just too freaky (!) then back on for In the Night Garden (20 mins?)

So 35-40 mins?

Mine watch usually 3 or 4 Fireman Sams a day. I think they are 10 minutes each.

Might have a bit more if either of them are ill.

Does anyone else find that if the telly is on all day for whatever reason, their DCs behave badly? Mine do! Unless I limit it to key times of the day, i.e when I am trying to get tea ready. They fight like cat and dog!

DS is just 3 and he's at nursery 3 days a week. On nursery days, he just gets 15-20 mins of TV before bed. Usually a Cbeebies programme or a bit of a film.
On days he's at home he'll also always have 15-20mins after nap and possibly another 15 mins while we make lunch, or do chores.
So max 1 hour a day of TV, giving it his full attention. We usually watch with him before bed. I think having set times to watch helps. He does sometimes ask to watch at other times but is usually easily distracted.

He sometimes uses a computer at nursery and likes to look at our computer at home, mainly watching videos of people falling over on YouTube.

He sometimes watches podcasts on my Ipod or plays with apps but I keep that for dire emergencies when I absolutely need him to be quiet!

We had a couple of months of DS (almost 3yo) watching 2-3 hours of cbeebies every school day, plus watching his brothers play games sometimes, plus what little TV or DVDs DC watch, plus TV in evenings with Daddy (DS stays up later than other DC because he naps in the day).

Anyway, it was too much! And DS was clamouring for TV constantly which drove me batty. Must have been 4-5 hours/day of screen time. I've gone cold-turkey on the cbeebies, convenient babysitter that it was.

I don't think he's ever seen Peppa Pig, though :). What network is it on?

Gosh, do you let your dc's watch television, are you not doing something constructive with them? Mine find sorting and pairing socks and helping with household chores just as much fun.

Thats what a fellow playgroup Mum told me this morning, when I said we were off to watch Peppa Pig!

My dd aged 3 probably has 1 - 1.5 hours of television a day sometimes more sometimes less. SHe does have a older brother though age 6.

However she is normally doing something else aswell as watching tv. Drawing or jigsaw or something.

Peppa Pig is on Nick Junior

Lotkinsgonecurly, I agree it is a lot of fun for them to help arround but does not necessarely make the work any easier. I am not keen on DD4 watching too much telly but 30 minutes in the morning so I actually get to sort things arround the house is really a lifesaver sometimes.

DS (21mo)- no screentime whatsoever- don't think he knows what the television set does tbh.
I don't believe in under 2s having screentime, and there are more and more studies saying under 2s shouldn't watch television, so I'm glad we did that.

DD (4.8)- about 20mins a week, usually 10 mins on a game of some sort (angry birds atm!) And 10 mins something like Charlie & Lola, or Mr. Benn (we don't have the television connected to a receiver, so DVDs only).
She has been very poorly this week, and cannot concentrate on anything, so has had 30 mins yesterday of short 5 min stories, but she doesn't want them today, as it's all too much for her.

I think you have to ignore the pestering, and just allow what you're comfortable with- they quickly learn what your rules are, and as long as you're consistant its fine.

lotkins do you want to swap kids? :o

my 18 MO is not interested in telly at all, my eldest (4.6) LOVES telly and would have it on constantly. he started school in september just gone and i got in the habit of switching it on most days when he got home until bedtime (7pm) but i hear this is REALLY REALLY bad so have been trying to cut it down to about an hour a day (still bad probably)

but its especially hard when its so cold and gets dark so early as they can't play outside.