If your dcs don't watch much TV can I have some advice please?

[Elf]

Ours don't BUT they always have a video after lunch. The youngest goes to bed = peace and the other two watch a video or DVD while I get some peace. The six year old would happily listen to a tape or CD story but DS is three and can't really get into a long story.

What do you do? I really find that I need that time as a rest from the endless questions and just genreal interaction really. Then I can face the afternoon. I just wondered what those without TVs do?

I don't want to get into a debate about how much TV or video is ok, I'm just interested in this point ATM. thanks

Sounds perfect to me. Mine don't watch much TV at all, but they do watch it if trhey need some down time - or if I need some peace! I think TV's fine if it's managed properly.

Well we don't have a TV, but the dc's do watch DVDs on the PC in much the same way as yours do. Either just after lunch or just before tea, depending when I most feel in need of down-time.

Sometimes getting them sitting at the table doing something artistic works just as well - but DD2 is only two and her concentration span is obviously limited!

What I don't do is switch a DVD on every time they ask. Generally if I suggest something else, it distracts them long enough that they forget they wanted to watch it in the first place.

If it makes you a more patient, tolerant mummy who can answer endless questions after a nice uninterrupted coffee, I think what you're doing is fine.

Ds really doesn't watch that much but I am now 28 weeks preg and I have to say, it's creeping up a bit!

I think it has its place. I am really not convinced that it has any value for babies or very young children but ds is now 3 and clearly engages with the characters etc. Am constantly asked to "play numberjacks"...

I will only let him watch Cbeebies though, some British hangover about the BBC offering better quality!!

I don't think TV is evil, watching too much of it is. I think what you are doing sounds fine.

Agree with other mums here who have said that it sounds fine what you di with the moderation thing.

Is the 6 year old at school? How many on a daily basis and what ages? Perhaps booking self up in a parent and child group a day a week, swimming another day a week, park to feed ducks another, friends over another. That way will get you some interaction with others as well and give the kids chance to play with other children their ages.

See that youngest has a sleep, dont knwo age but if baby could sleep in pram, although obviously not so practical for the swimming activity

We have tea time TV 4.30 - teatime whilst I cook... CBeebies only, occassionally a DVD. Max 60 - 90 mins as they don't ever eat later than 6, usually before.

We're not always in at teatime so usually 3-4 days per week. No TV at weekends as we're so busy!

DD doesn't know that Cbeebies is on the rest of the day LOL - although when the hour change happened she was up at 6.30 on the Sunday morning and DH let her sit in front of the box whilst we lay in!

No TV here, and no nap for ds1 either (he dropped it around his second birthday). I struggle grimly on... He loves sitting on the sofa reading books, so that's a fairly quiet and peaceful if occasionally tiring activity ('read that [mindnumbing-book-someone-gave-him-as-a-present-and-I've-not-been-able-to-'lose') again').

Agree with needing quiet time, a rest for mummy. If tv works then go with it.

I dont stress about the tv, i just leave them to it and generally they dont watch much. Nothing much more than an hour a day.
And they have free reign to it, can choose when and how much and they dont really bother until i say i need them to settle down for a bit.

I try really hard to not let DD (2.7) watch it much. Some days are easier than others.
Sometimes she'll happily play by herself while I settle DS (7 Months) for naps or at nighttime, but other times I have to put it on so that he can have the quiet time he needs to fall asleep.
I always used to watch it with her, and feel bad now that she ends up watching alone, but needs must...

Ds was never interested in the TV as a toddler, not really interested in anything that involved STOPPING I had fond ideas of instigating nice quiet reading books time at points throughout the day in order to get that quiet, non interaction time, but ds had other ideas, and those usually involved haring up and down the corridors with sword in hand so I'm afraid I'm not able to give you any ideas on alternatives!

i think your routine with TV sounds very sensible for all of you.

dd doesn't ever watch tv, but then she's young - not yet 2, and I don't have another two! Ask me again when I've got three to look after / entertain all day. I think what you're doing is okay.

I do the same - we don't have a telly, but DD (3) watches a dvd after lunch while ds sleeps. If I have time, I put on a short DVD, or only let her watch one or two episodes, and then do something nice with her - painting or baking. But if I am exhausted or very busy, she watches for about 1 hour until ds gets up.I'd like her to watch less, but its what works for us at the moment.

LOL at everyone completely ignoring the actual question and answering their own question

I used to try to do "quiet time" when ds would play upstairs for a bit with toys in his room. He didn't like it actually so I only did it when desperate, which I often was when he first gave up his nap time. I found he was ok with audio tapes personally - would your 3 year old not listen for say half an hour if the 6 year old was? Or would they play upstairs for half an hour together - I think it is fine to explain that you need a rest and some peace and that they need to entertain themselves quietly for a bit. It may not WORK, but worth a try?

hey franny,
where do you get audio tapes from? or audio CD's in fact. do they come with books to follow along with? i'd like to try them with dd - she's only 16months so maybe too young, but we have no tv and sometimes i'm just desperate for a bit of quiet time!

I borrow them from the library and buy cheap off eBay. You can get very very simple ones such as Miffy, Meg and Mog, Bartholomew Bear etc. Plus we occasionally ask for a new one for Christmas. I think 16 months is quite young but worth a go perhaps?

F&Z - what exactly was the question?

What can the op do instead of letting her dcs watch tv

at my skim reading and self centredness! We do all love the chance to talk about our selves

oh I wouldn't know about that

Did I ever tell you that I got the National Geographic kids Doco for DD and she loves it? Its called 'Wonders Down Under' - got it from Tesco direct.

(It was you who I talked to about this wasn't it??)

thanks franny,
i think 16m is a bit young too. sometimes i just sit on the sofa with a cuppa and look dozily at her as she patrols up and down with a bag full of bits she has collected from all over the house. she's quite good at patrolling in fact. chats to herself a lot and lets me be.
sometimes i think she senses that i'm not up for a whole lot of play and as long as i'm sitting (or lying) somewhere near by, she'll play by herself quite happily for a good while.
HTH Elf..

works have you tried deliberately giving her lots of household and natural bits to muck about with? You know, heuristic play? It is marvellous for this age group and the whole idea is that you just sit and vaguely supervise and make sure they don't eat anything unsuitable

can give you more information if you like

Astrophe - I am not sure (brain like sieve) - but sounds fabulous! I think I would like it myself

It was a long time ago (if indeed it was you) -are you home edding your DS?

There is a whole series of the dvds - farm animals, jungle animals, antarctic etc.

yes I am, but he is only just of school age now and he doesn't watch any tv or dvds

I think it was probably someone else - Filly?