How much TV is too much???

[mojoawol]

Am a bit concerned now, have just been looking at similar thread in parenting, and been told that DS is watching too much TV. As an SP, how much do you allow?
DS usually has TV on while I get ready for work in the morning (about an hour, but usually playing at the same time rather than glued to it).
Sometimes he'll watch a dvd or a bit of tv at the childminders, and then often in the evening (we get home around 6) he just wants to watch something for an hour - especially if he's tired and I'm cooking. This works out to about 2-3 hours a day. But no-one else around to play with him, what else can you do? I can't always wait til 7.30/8 before I cook my dinner as, frankly, I'm starving!
Any opinions/advice? He doesn't seem to suffer, he's generally pretty well behaved etc.

How old is he? The advice on no television, etc, is mainly for littlies I think. We don't have one to remove any temptation I might have - so DD has never really wanted it. She is nearly 2, btw.

Definately dependant on age I think, and up to parents to make their own judgement of how muhc is too much.

Sorry, he is 4 (just)

If you left crayons on the table with paper would he be happy to veg doing that instead? I havent got a telly either, but my dds are older. They did watch a fair amount when they were little.
I do think its better to stick the telly on and both be happy, than switching the telly off and you being tired and ratty, and him being tired and ratty, and getting on each others nerves, for the sake of not watching it IYKWIM.
Can you batch cook and freeze in small portions? Or grab take out a couple of nights a week. Your guilt would be eased

I am not a single parent ( so I hope I'm allowed to post here) but, bad mother that I am I just leave the tv on cbeebies all day if we're in. dd2 (3) either watches or plays with her toys nearby or goes into the dining room and does some drawing/playdoh. I don't really monitor her (or dd1's viewing). We do lots of other things as well so I try to stay relaxed about it. TV was a lifesaver for me when I had severe PND.

I wouldn't worry too much. My kids probably watch about the same amount as yours and I do sometimes worry. But not for long because I agree with UMM , and how on earth would you get anything done. Actually, DS1(6) has learned quite alot from TV so it's not all bad.

Oh and they are not 'glued' either.

tbh sounds about right for us as well - unless i'm poorly or DS is then we can have mary poppins/bambi/chitty chitty on about 4 times during the day!

I think thou as long as they're having a good balance ie real life people talking to them, otehr activities etc a little bit of telly won't hurt to much. it's when they're plonked in front of cartoons all day and not talked to at all theres a prob imho.

I'm not a lone parent, ds is only 17 months and I worry sometimse that he has tv on far too much. But I think so long as we and cm play and talk to him and take him out and don't use TV instead of doing any of those things, and I'm sure we don't, it won't hurt. He often watches for a few minutes and then wants to do something else.

i have cbeebies on half the day probably but DS watches for a few minutes then wanders off and plays.

im sure he's learnt to count to ten so early because of numberjacks though