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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

ok honestly now, how much TV does your two year old get?

92 replies

kjaysmum · 20/09/2006 21:52

My ds is a very stroppy 2.4 and TV/DVD is one of the biggest points of contention in our house. I have set some rules, no TV before 8 in the morning then a baby einstien video (essential for a stess free nappy change) and we try to have a gap but not always, then Bob the builder for 20 minutes at 9 (if no playgroup) then off. He is waking up from his daytime nap screaming for a DVD and I've reached the end of my teather so have said no TV in the daytime until is time to cook tea then he has another hour or so until his dad gets home and then it's off. Does that sound reasonable?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

maisiemog · 21/09/2006 21:06

I must admit I was being sarcastic. If somebody just doesn't like TV or the cinema and prefers playing football in their spare time I'm not complaining, each to their own. I'm sure those peoople that don't like watching TV have lots of other things they prefer and I wasn't trying to offend those people.
Just to clarify - I do get fed-up with the tone of some posts about TV, as if watching TV is like picking your nose. It seems like a form of predjudice against people who choose to watch TV.
I don't see that there is any reason to make excuses about watching TV, be proud - seriously.
It's a form of entertainment at the end of the day, and a great information source, so what's the problem with how much time you or your children spend watching TV?
I wonder if people think there is a problem with spending 3 hours a day reading for example, if not then I would say there is an element of predjudice against TV.
IMO as long as you don't forget to feed your kids and they get their homework done and don't weigh 23 stone what's the problem?

handlemecarefully · 21/09/2006 21:13

I agree with you to a point Maisiemog - but surely you agree that there should be an upper limit and it's worth monitoring tv veiwing; since tv watching is relatively passive compared to other ways of spending time.

samnbabes · 21/09/2006 21:23

Humm, interesting. My ds (2 1/2) hasn't watched tv yet other than a bit on hols -partly (I agree with you maisie) out of an inexplicable 'tv is somehow bad' thing in my head which I DO think is totally snobbery actually, but also b/cos I reckoned complete avoidance was the easiest way to avoid the inevitable 'how much is enough' discussions which I never seem to win with a toddler. We (ur, I mean he) don't have chocolate for the same reason. I'd love to introduce some cbeebies (quite fancy Charlie & Lola myself...) but how do you limit it???

FrannyandZooey · 21/09/2006 21:24

Maisiemog, I certainly wouldn't talk about TV watching as if it was like picking your nose. Picking your nose is harmless

accessorizequeen · 21/09/2006 21:47

Sometimes ds (2.9) will watch a whole dvd (50mins?) if I'm getting tea ready or he's obviously shattered but won't have a nap. But we have plenty of days with nothing & he often turns them down if I offer. If I was at home with him 5 days a week (I work 3 days) I think it would be more quite frankly! And with no.2 on the way, I will buying some more dvd's because I can't see how I'm going to bf without them...He doesn't watch tv, just dvd's like Maisy, Hairy McClary, Wiggles. I like to control things & tv makes it harder to do that coz there's always something else on (and I hate most of them).

Such a personal issue, this one, unlike Hunker I responded to my dad's tv restriction rules by becoming just as restrictive myself!
I think it's a godsend tbh, but if ds started whinging for one after a nap every day like yours kjaysmum then I'd do exactly what you're doing - you're in control after all!

Original poster

kjaysmum · 21/09/2006 21:48

hmmmmmm took so long to read them no time to reply thanks

OP posts:

suburbanjellybrain · 21/09/2006 22:05

Interesting posts here - I have to admit I do let ds watch cbeebies quite a lot some days - I like the fact there are no adverts and the progs are age specific. He enjoys dancing around and identifying his fav characters. It allows me breathing space to deal with dd 5m. Before she was born ds only watched thomas and baby einstein dvd's so I do feel guilty but we do lots of other things as well and he still much prefers reading a book with me and he would spend all day every day at the park if he could so I try not to obsess about the amount of tv. We alwayseat at the table but the beebies bedtime hour is a firm fav and part of his routine - I have to admit I love story makers (and hate the f'in fimbles!!!)

My brother has no tv and his 3 little girls are fantastic individuals - I will never let my children have tv in their rooms and intend to be careful about what they watch - but I have fond memories of Grange Hill and Jackanory from my childhood and I don't think that has harmed me in any way. Everything in moderation

CrocodileKate · 21/09/2006 22:07

My dd doesn't watch any telly!
She has absolutely no interest in it. Ds aged 6 is a telly addict though.

hunkermunker · 21/09/2006 22:12

Franny, TV's harmful?

I'm a subtitler, sugarfree.

maisiemog · 21/09/2006 23:40

I know what you mean about an upper limit. I agree there should be some kind of restriction on how much you pursue your 'pleasures' like you should probably go to work rather than stay off and watch 'Location Location Location' repeats (although it's a tough call).
I just think watching TV should be moderated as much as you would moderate any other leisure pursuit, rather than applying some random value judgement.

hunkermunker · 21/09/2006 23:42

MM, I watch Location Location Location repeats at work

maisiemog · 22/09/2006 00:01

I don't like the Fimbles much either. Tweenies are sweet, the stories are quite good and the characters are totally narcissistic in a funny kind of four year old's way.
All lost on DS though, I end up watching it whilst he arranges his toys into lines. Not really sure what age group Tweenies is aimed at.
The only programmes that seem to be aimed at two year olds are those like the signing one, or Boo or the Tellytubbies, the others are just over their heads I reckon, apart from any singing and dancing bits.

NotAnOtter · 22/09/2006 00:01

sounds sexist i know but i think boys need so much more regulation with all screens as they get older

maisiemog · 22/09/2006 00:05

That's a dream job Hunkermunker.
I still remember some programmes from when I first started school - there was one called Busy Lizzie which has stuck in my head. Can't really remember much else before that.

mymama · 22/09/2006 00:58

I personally don't think it depends on number of hours watched. My 3 yo (birthday today) is 3rd child and watches hours of the stuff most week days whilst I do my thing. However, he will still choose any other activity over a favourite program. If I offer colouring, playdoh, outside play, even hanging out the clothes with me (thinking that is an Oz thing) he will still get excited and come with me rather than sit in front of the telly. If he started complaining about watching tv instead of other stuff then I would cut the viewing right back.

Original poster

kjaysmum · 22/09/2006 08:22

yep that's about it mymamma, before moving to lovely NZ and our beautiful garden, we lived on the third floor in an apartment in Holland, we did a very harsh winter there then did a pretty dire winter here, this resulted in my ds watching far too much TV/DVD. I didn't realise we had a problem until he reached his TANTY TWOS now I think I am seeing the effect all this TV has had on him. We are doing very well at his new limited TV time and as summer comes in and he starts Kindie it should only get easier. So IMO be cafeful of giving them too much too young.

OP posts:

FrannyandZooey · 22/09/2006 08:32

Hunker, yes, I know this is a controversial view but I don't think that TV is harmless, in either its medium or content. I have done a lot of reading on the subject to come to this conclusion - it is not just a knee jerk reaction on grounds of taste, or anything superficial like that, so I resent it when people imply that it is. I would recommend the books Remotely Controlled or Set Free Childhood if people want to find out more.

hunkermunker · 22/09/2006 09:45

I respect what you're saying, FAZ, but I'm afraid I won't be doing any reading on the subject, because I might not go to work if I did

I know I put enough decent food in them, decent experiences in them and give them loads of love and tickles - so a bit of telly's not the end of the world, as far as I'm concerned.

I do respect that it's your decision and I don't think you're holier than thou or anything like that - you're just doing things differently from me, is all.

MamaAfrika · 22/09/2006 10:12

Ooh, breadandroses, that's harsh! But that's probably the difference between my 'strict' and yours!

Btw, say a toddler's awake for 12 hours a day, having two or three hours of telly is not that much. DD1 is always multi-tasking anyway, bouncing in DD2's chair, helping me loading and unloading the washing machine (wish she wouldn't...), drawing or getting all the books down from the shelves - all while keeping an eye on Noddy's latest adventure. I don't leave her to it either, but talk to her about what she's seeing.

Before DD2 (now 14 weeks) she had me all to herself, now I need someone/something to help entertain her while I look after DD2, the household, uni papers, work. We also go to the park (DD1 insists on running everywhere), the library, friends, galleries, so she's certainly no couch potato!

newlyreformedhandlemecarefully · 22/09/2006 10:39

I don't think you are holier than thou either Franny

FrannyandZooey · 22/09/2006 11:51

Cheers hunker, I don't need or want to have a big debate about it, and I also respect the fact it's what you do for a living. I just didn't want to ignore your question or to completely avoid the fact that there is another point of view from the ones already stated on here.

HMC that new name is a hoot

aviatrix · 22/09/2006 14:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Drusilla · 22/09/2006 15:04

Remotely Controlled is a fascinating book. One of my friends ditched their TV completely after reading it and her boys don't even miss it. I would miss my Channel 4 house programmes though!

Pastarito · 22/09/2006 16:14

I'm going to look at that book as well. I cut down my dss tv when ds2 was 2 and only had a vocab of 6 words. I don't know how much of it was linked to tv as he didn't watch nearly as much tv as a lot of other kids I know but it scared me.

Now my dss are 7 and 4 and they have no tv at all in the mornings before school and then very limited in the evening (if we don't have anything else to do, and often we do). My older son, who never slept, now sleeps, my younger now interacts better with other people. It might have nothing to do with tv but I feel somehow that they are a lot better off with limited tv now.

I do feel though that tv has a place in modern society and I wouldn't cut it out completely. Everything in moderation. I don't want to raise kids that look like oddballs to their peers either.

Thanks for those links Franny.

Highlander · 22/09/2006 17:14

none, absolutely none. I think he gets 15 mins of a DVD before I pick him up for lunch from nursery (3 days/week).

Under 3's do not have the cognitive ability to decipher most of the cartoons on TV.

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