How much TV is ok?

[Keepgoing88]

I'm a mum of 3 aged 6, 4 and 1 and really struggling to entertain all 3. So far today we have done play dough, drawing, making biscuits, garden Easter hunt...and it's only 1040!!! My 4 year old is the hardest to deal with. I've caved and let them watch tv. I'm not against tv they usually watch a lot anyway around school.. prob 2 hours per day. How much TV are your kids watching? More than usual? Mine watching more than usual I know that.. I def have mum guilt but need some peace!!

Honestly, don’t worry and don’t beat yourself up. These are not normal times! 95% of kids in the nation are watching a lot more tv than usual now. I’ve just shared my Disney plus login with 3 coworkers who have openly said they are planning to use it to babysit their kids so they can get some peace and some work done.

Ahh thanks. They all want to do such different things that's hard. The 6 year old can play games etc that the just 4 year old simply can't. The 1 year old obviously likes to bomb around a lot but I can see he is frustrated I'm not able to cuddle and pick him up as much! He's going for a nap now so st least that's one less to look after for an hour or two!

Might be time for a nice competitive game of ‘who can lie down quietly for the longest time?’

Seriously though, give yourself a break. You can only do what’s possible!

Of course my LO is sadly watching more tv- 2.5 yr old, is entertained by anything for a max 3.5mins. I’m also vaguely trying to work.
No judgement from me, god love cbbeebies- my only reason for a tv licence.

Tv is fine - I feel sorry for previous generations to be honest.

There are some good resources out there and if I’m honest my daughter (4) is far more receptive to learning things off tv/YouTube than she is off of me!

My two DC (5 & nearly 2) are definitely watching more tv but I'm rolling with it.
This morning we've had child-led play, been in the garden planting potatoes & now about to watch live feeding of sharks at Plymouth Aquarium.

I would just go with TV and not worry too much. There is tons of good stuff on iplayer. At least they're safe and well.

Unlimited. Don't stress yourself out and use up all the activities in one day.

At the moment I would suggest you deploy the “Whatever gets you through strategy”. If that involves free range TV then so be it.

This is not a normal situation - put the mummy rule book in a locked box for as long as lockdown lasts. For all of us, this isn’t just about physical survival, but psychological survival as well.

My 18 month old is loving having free rein on CBeebies. I’m too sick to parent properly (pregnancy sickness, not CV!) and DH has to get on with housework etc at times! His language is fantastic at the moment and he’s still running around loads so I’m not beating myself up about it!

Oh gosh as much as they want before getting bored! My and DH still working so have no problem with them watching TV! Peppa pig is on Netflix which my 2 year old is glued to!

Honestly let the guilt go. We've done: lego, making biscuits, reading books, colouring and sticking and gone for our allotted wall. It's 11.41am and my youngest is napping while the 3 year is sat watching nursery rhymes on tv.

I'll worry about tv time when this is all over!

Allotted walk not wall...

Right now? Loads. Rules are going out of the window at the moment

Our tv is on non stop at the moment. And I’m letting them have as much screen time as they like. Fuck it all, it’s an extreme situation and anything goes.

As much as you like. Life is about survival right now, nothing more. The whole country is the same. Don't worry about it

Tv is a sanity saviour. Ffs just do what you gotta do.

I really really wish my 7 month old was old enough to be entertained by the TV. Go for it.

As much TV as you need them to watch to allow you to function as a human, these are tough times and whatever you need to do to get through the day is fine as long as the kids are fed and loved

TV is not crack cocaine.

Fuck it all, it’s an extreme situation and anything goes.

Just repeat this to yourself, I'm going to.