Opinions on tv time

[popperdoodles]

I was wondering how much or little other cm use tv? During the daytime e.g school hours the only time I generally put it on is for a short while like 10 mins or so maybe after lunch as part of our wind down for nap routine and I let ds watch it if he wants while mindees sleep. His day time naps are quite hit and miss these days but he still needs that rest time.
Now sometimes, and please don't shoot me, I will put the tv on to watch something specific with the children. I am only talking about 20 min program like "Tikabilla" or "something special". We watch together and sing along, copy the signs and actions, generally joining in rather than just staring at the screen. It's fun and they are playing and learning. I really don't see tv as the route of all evil but ofcourse know it is not the best use of the day.

I think what you are doing sounds fine, although I am sure you will get somepeople come and say otherwise. I don't like TV being on much of the day but I don't see the harm in it some of the time and I think it is good to have some. I find my DD sleeps so much better if she sits and calms down for a bit before bed, and therefore when mindee goes home, she has dinner, bath and then watches whatever is left of the cbeebies bedtime hour. It works for us so why not? As long as they are getting fresh air and other activities I think it is fine.

i dont really have the tv on at all through the day but do have it on when get back from school for my kids dont have after school kids and my mindee 1year goes at 430 and isnt interested in the tv also generally getting ready for tea and tv off when sat at the table .

I'm a CM,tv is not feature in my setting. We are always having too much fun!

We have tv or computer on before and after school...but very rarely during the day.

as i now only have 1 child, and she wont play by herself, i tend to put it on for about 30 mins while shes waiting for her parents. while i do things like load the dishwasher, tidy away activities. i dont stick her infrount of the tv and leave her to it, i walk in and out of the room and talk about whats going on, dance and join in with what they are doing.
when i had 2 the tv was never on, because they played with eachother meaning i could go and clean without them standing behind me staring at me!

I don't use the tv at all with mindees, and my ds doesn't watch it either when he is on his own.

I have it once a day and once a day only - for 20 mins after lunch as our "quiet time" to aid digestion and recharge batteries.

And its not TV its a DVD. DVDs work really well for us. We choose one for the week and one disney film tends to just about last the week.

I'm considering phasing it out completely as I am getting more and more Steiner I've noticed in my approach to childcare. I think tv has its place but it can be used too much like an electronic babysitter.

leonifay - How old is your mindee? Did you see my thread about my mindee that won't play on her own? Thread was a disaster, but if they are similar ages , we could share ideas?

I use tv as a wind down for my mindees, as their parents do at home, after mid morning snack we watch maybe ballamoray and they always cuddle up, wind down and nap. They need this down time just as much as all the
other activities.

We have down time with story time before parents arrive.

Kids cant always be painting, sticking and singing, drive them mental.....
Tv used appropriatly can be fun too Active8. its just one in a huge number of recources.

Just a note can we all PLEASE NOT TURN THIS SIMPLE THREAD INTO A WAR ZONE.
Popperdoodles you are one brave lady, ask Chloemillijess.....

sorry that shoiuld be ChloeJessmeg!!!

As a parent, I wouldn't mind that level of TV. Our nanny pretty much forbids the tv full stop. I didn't realise she was doing this until DD complained about it. It seems the nanny has higher standards than I do. (Good for her!)

I don't mind if my kids watch tv at their childminders - I know it's not on often, and we watch at home too for a 'break'

I do have a problem when it's on afterschool when her own kids get home and it's inappropriate stuff for my 2 and 4 year old, often Tracy Beaker or other dross from CBBC and they sit in a row like zombies.......

i let mine watch 2 videos a week. they choose which days and we only watch u.

i have the TV on the morning because my first mindee arrives at 7 when DS, DH and I are getting ready for the day. Mindee arrives in his pyjamas with his blanket and cuddles up on the couch til about 7.30 when he has breakfast. It goes off at 8 when we have to get shoes and coats on.

I might have it on for a bit while I get lunch ready, but then I have two toddlers and DS who is ocassionally intersted.

Afternoons i might have it on again but the kids are not always interested. I find it useful again (as an electronic babysitter, some would say!) when i need to tidy and sort out things just before the last mum arrives.

I have no objections to TV but i cannot stand it being used as electronic wallpaper, as someone once described: always on in the background regardless of whether anyone is watching or not.

have it on from 7 until 7.30 am tehn at the end of the day (about 5.30 till 6)

very occ have it on during day but not often

only ever cbeebies

In my view, it is better to have the the TV on for 20 mins then have a hectic time of day, where you have loads of children to sort out, who would all then be unhappy because you are running round trying to sort somthing. Like in the morning before school or when getting lunch ready. It is better to have happy children watching TV for a bit, then unhappy children while you juggle things on your own IMO.

Thanks for your views ladies. I didn't want to start a row about it and fingers crossed it hasn't turned into one...yet. My feelings are that tv/dvd is a useful resourse sometimes as as long as it is not abused then I see no harm in it. In schools they use all sorts of media including ICT and TV and I try and do the same.

my thoughts exactly, popperdoodles.

DD (12mths) doesn't watch tv at all at home, we don't have it on until after she's in bed. I know she watches it occasionally with her CM and although really I'd prefer she didn't I'm not so bothered that I'd say anything. My PILs always have the tv on when their GC are visiting and that bothers me more, TBH.

I also think tv is a useful tool, we have it on when i'm preparing meals, so the children watch it on their own. But then we also sit down to watch certain programmes together which we talk about and then do some play/art etc about afterwards. TV can be so useful to describe certain events, bring up topics and explain emotions and behaviour.

When I was teaching the tv used to be fought over and now loads of the educational programmes made for schools are shown on cbeebies like Barnaby Bear.

We then watch some tv at calm down time, I let them watch a little on their own whilst I tidy and then I join them.

So in total we watch about 1 hour a day, 30 minutes independantly in 3 x 10 minute slots and 30 mins altogether.

ohhh I would def not want my kids watching 1 hour of tv a day at the childminders though!

WE don't have tv on at all during the day but that's not because I don't think it has it's uses! We're usually at toddler group in the morning, then home, lunch, nap and while they sleep I cook dinner, then we're usually in the garden (if it's not pouring with rain!) or doing something else. If it were the other way round (as in if my DD went to a CM) I wouldn't have a problem with a low level of tv being on, I would howver have a major issue if it was on all day and my child had square eyes

Lisa

I don't think an hour is bad out of a 10 hour day when 30 minutes of that is spent with the childminder discussing the programme and then doing follow up activities as a result.

I was talking about my kids at my childminders - they are there for 8 hours, and one is there for only 5 hours so it's my opinion that 1 hour would be too much. I wouldn't be happy with that. But you do what's good for you.