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Parenting

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Original poster

Do you let your under two watch TV?

51 replies

roseability · 30/11/2010 23:24

Okay I will probably get slated for this but my 17 month old appears to love Peppa Pig

I would like to add that I have a 4 year old with whom I was quite strict about TV exsposure. He didn't watch any until he was about 2 and a half and even then only about half an hour a day. Even now he could take it or leave it and isn't that fussed about it.

For one reason or another my 17 month old has had more exsposure. Initially I only put it on when she was asleep so that my ds and I could have some rest time. However he now goes to nursery when she is asleep and I was finding dinner time incredibly stressful so I put it on for ds who is tired after pre school and so I can get dinner cooked. He likes Peppa so I tended to put this on and my dd seems to love it. I initially thought she wouldn't be that interested but it wouldn't harm to be on in the bakground to distract her a bit while I got tea on and tidied up.

She will literally sit and watch it until I turn it off, when sometimes a meltdown ensues. She isn't that interested in other TV but at 17 months I don't understand how she can concentrate so avidly on it. I feel guilty but it buys me peace and sees me through the last hour of the day.

She also loves her books and drawing and her speech/development is normal. I would say the TV is on for no more than an hour a day.

So will this damage her? Do other under twos watch TV so avidly? She will get excited and make pig noises when she sees the DVD go in! She seems to understand what is happening and I have watched it with them from time to time so that I know every bloomin episode myself. Or is she just transfixed by the images and if so is this frying her brain

OP posts:

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kreecherlivesupstairs · 01/12/2010 07:39

My DD refused to watch any telly until she was about 18 months old. Someone gave me a copy of the fun song factory and Barney. She was transfixed. We were living in Oman so quite often it was too hot to do anything outside, the telly kept her amused while i got on with stuff.
She is now 9.7 and watches a couple of hours a week compared to a couple of hours a day.
Don't beat yourself up and be thankful you've got Peppa. I had Barney

spidookly · 01/12/2010 07:57

"For one reason or another my 17 month old has had more exsposure."

It's one "one reason or another" is it?

It's the perfectly good reason that she has a 4 year old brother.

I'm like you, I don't like under 2s to watch a lot of TV, but the thing is, second children don't matter so much.

Original poster

roseability · 01/12/2010 08:14

Spidookly I presume you are being sarcastic or trying to be funny because my dd matters just as much, hence posting here worrying about it!

It is just more difficult with two pre scool children at home. There are other reasons beside my ds e.g. bad weather, illnesses, the simple fact that she will sit and watch it.

I could go without it and be more inventive trying to get the tea cooked etc but I can't resist the temptation to get that bit of peace and safe teatime stress. Maybe this is just bad parenting and lazy mothering but I can assure you I love my dd just as much as my ds

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Crazycatlady · 01/12/2010 08:25

I don't know if there is any official research that shows under-2s shouldn't watch telly. I'm sure someone will be along soon who knows...

What I do know is that Peppa Pig is an absolute life saver when you need to get something done quickly and you have a whingy, bored tot who won't be put down! DD, 23 months, has enjoyed Peppa (and Roary, and Ben & Holly) since about 20 months. She watches about 30 minutes a day - a little in the morning, a little in the evening.

I don't think it's great for anyone of any age to sit staring at the box for hours, but for short periods of time, honestly, there are worse things they could be doing.

You mention meltdown when you switch it off - one thing we've found works is to get DD ready to say bye-bye to Peppa when the episode finishes, and wave together as the TV gets switched off. Seems to work.

spidookly · 01/12/2010 08:41

OMG, sorry that was a joke, but not a sarcastic one, a kind one, I promise :) There was meant to be a follow up, but I forgot all about it.

Of course seconds are just as important

mamaloco · 01/12/2010 08:42

DD2 (10 months is an addict) DD1 didn't watch anything before 2.5 yo (she wasn't even interested in it).
I fell asleep after BF when she was 10 weeks (baby asleep on cushion me on sofa). I woke up to her happily watching CSI.
She will stop and watch what ever her sister is watching or me or DP.
But I can't punish DD1 and ban her from her cartoon/cooling time after school.
I am sad that I don't raised both exactly the same though!

spidookly · 01/12/2010 08:44

is not bad parenting, in case there was any confusion

lukewarmcupofmulledwine · 01/12/2010 08:49

Blimey, chill out! So long as your dcs do a variety of stuff (and it sounds like they do), and have caring and responsive parents (and it sounds like they do), and aren't plonked in front of the tv all day long (and it sounds like they're not), I wouldn't worry. It works, prevents meltdowns, keeps you all sane, and it might even be developmentally helpful as well .

ItsJustMyOpinion · 01/12/2010 08:54

My dd is 2 and she has always had the tv on. Not for a whole day though. She used to like to watch Milkshake on 5 in the mornings, but nowadays she always chooses to watch cbeebies or her Peppa Pig dvd. We have no problem with her watching tv, and like I said it is not all day. We have found that she has learnt a whole lot of stuff from watching cbeebies like colours and counting etc. We have only ever let her watch "educational" childrens tv as opposed to watching things like cartoons and the Tiny Pop channel (example)

Crazycatlady · 01/12/2010 08:56

Honestly OP, don't worry...

I don't think there are many mothers of toddlers who don't know the Bing Bong song off by heart or wonder why Daddy Pig never seems to go to work.

There's a reason for that. It's a lovely little programme, with simple storylines and cute characters that toddlers love. It's not like the kids are sitting there watching horror movies.

HumphreyCobbler · 01/12/2010 08:59

it is not bad parenting

really it isn't

spidookly · 01/12/2010 09:00

To me Peppa Pig is like a horror movie - with their giant heads and their tiny, physically impossible little stick legs.

Balamory is the big favourite around here. DH sings DD1 the Balamory theme song every night - he makes up his own words and everything :o

lukewarmcupofmulledwine · 01/12/2010 09:02

Do you know, I never noticed daddy pig doesn't go to work! Doh....

Another thing that might make you feel better, mine have had fairly free and easy tv access (cbeebies, maybe 1-2 hours a day off and on, depending what we're doing), and my 3 year old will actually turn it off now and ask to do something else. So it doesn't necessarily turn them into passive tv addicts.

EightiesChick · 01/12/2010 09:03

The not before 2 thing comes, I think, from the American Academy of Pediatrics? or similar saying kids under 2 shouldn't watch at all. Deeply ironic as I should imagine there is hardly a 2 year old in America who hasn't seen some TV. Personally speaking, my DS has had TV on for periods from quite a young age, but I do try to make it kids' channels. Baby TV still works, but he now likes CBeebies and Milkshake. I think we should all learn to live with our imperfect parenting. They could be stuck in front of Jeremy Kyle or Road Wars for hours, after all...

By the way, OP, my DS also had a spell of Peppa Pig obsession but has now broken it, though Chuggington has taken its place to some extent. These fixations don't last forever is my point.

llareggub · 01/12/2010 09:05

If it makes you feel any better, my second son's first word was Peppa. Now that made me feel like a bad parent, I can tell you!

My boys both have horrid colds at the moment so we've spent the last few days curled up together on the sofa watching cbeebies and NickJr. They've enjoyed the relaxation time and I've enjoyed the cuddles.

My older son has learnt quite a bit from Come Outside. I am selective about what they watch but I do watch Merlin with my 4 year old on a Saturday night and he absolutely loves it. It has inspired plenty of imaginative play, he has asked for books about Merlin and now wants to be a Knight when he grows up. What's wrong with that?

EightiesChick · 01/12/2010 09:06

There's the episode where Daddy Pig takes Peppa and George to work with him! He does something scientific/architectural in an office. Peppa and George have a go at doing sums on his whiteboard. Mrs Cat works there too making shapes on her computer (I like Mrs Cat).

Kind of convenient, though, that Mummy Pig is able to work at home, and fit it around playing Happy Mrs Chicken with George. And why do they call Peppa's nursery 'playgroup' when it's clearly a nursery?

llareggub · 01/12/2010 09:09

My favourite Peppa Pig episode is where Mummy Pig goes to the fair and wins all of the panda bears. I love the way she reacts when she is told she can't do things. Peppa Pig is wonderful, and so in Ben and Holly's Magical Kingdom.

Original poster

roseability · 01/12/2010 09:17

Thanks guys!

Spidookly very sorry I took your comment the wrong way. I am feeling a bit delicate at the moment due to illness and over two feet of snow (I am in Scotland)!

Today I am facing being quite cooped up in a small three bedroomed house with pre school cancelled because of said snow. I think TV will go on at some point. Can't be worse than me going spare and losing my mind?!

I mean yes we do a variety things. We do bake, paint, read, play etc but these don't occupy the whole day (not in my house anyway). That bit of TV is a life saver!

As for Peppa, I think it is quite a harmless programme and educational in places for my four year old. It isn't violent and they speak clearly. I certainly find it doesn't affect their behaviour badly

Ah the Bing Bong song! My dd gets very excited about it. Great idea to wave goodbye to Peppa btw, to prevent meltdown. Will try that.

Anyone else cooped up with the snow?

OP posts:

spidookly · 01/12/2010 09:17

My niece's (2nd DC) first word was Peppa too! :o She was quite young to be saying recognisable words, so DSis and I reckon Peppa must be quite good for them.