Parents of 4yos (especially in reception) - how much screen time do you allow?

[fuzzPigwickPapers]

Just canvassing opinions really, I feel like DD still watches too much TV (well, DVDs). We've let her watch whatever she wants after school because as a summer baby she is finding school exhausting (she does 4 full days, half on Fri) and would occasionally doze off on the sofa.

However I'm starting to wonder if she's getting too tired because she's used to doing nothing IYSWIM? We always said we wouldn't end up like that, but circumstances are tough right now - DH has a prolapsed disc so after the school walk on crutches with toddler DS pulling at the reigns he has to lie down for a bit because he is in agony. So he (understandably) chooses the easiest option.

She doesn't play on the laptop and only occasionally on the DS (never on school nights), sometimes we play wii but again usually on weekends only. No screens at all in the morning. So it's just afternoon DVDs (she loves movies so the DVDs are long, she would happily watch 2 in a row although she might play a bit as well) that are too much.

So how much TV does your DC watch after school? And what else do they do in the evening?

DD is in Reception and at the moment she watches less tv than ever, after school we usually take the dog for a walk, she plays with DS while I make the tea, they often have an hour or so of childrens programmes or sometimes a film on DVD (she likes Toystory, Studio Ghibli, and we have lots of vintage stuff like Clangers, Bagpuss, Jamie and his magic torch)

We found that it is hard to switch it off at teatime, but if left on DS (3) is very distracted and doesn't eat properly at all, so I try not to put it on until after tea now. She has got a DS console but rarely asks to play with it.

Sometimes it's just finding something for them to do that keeps them occupied and doesn't involved any painting

If I have walked the dog while they are at school instead she likes colouring in, playing with toys - brio type traintrack, happyland/hello kitty toys, bossing her brother about or dressing each other up. Sometimes I get the playdoh out but it gets in the carpet and pisses me off.

She has a pretty leisurely bath each night as well, I sit on the floor and read for a while while they play in the water then get them out and into PJs, couple of stories before bed.

Can't blame your DH at all for that. I feel that DVDs at least require a little concentration, better than magazine-style tv programmes.

I think short term it's fine while she's so young and tired. What about a regular 'playdate', any other parents you could make a reciprocal arrangement with?

at this stage? needs must. i don't see any harm in it at all, and if it helps your poor dh to cope at the momnt, then go for it.

its important for kids to have down time, and her little brain has been busy all day.

as she gets older, i'm sure you'll find that she won't want or need it in the same way, and will be happy to potter around doing other things.

Thanks for the non judgmental replies :)

I guess it's not so bad... Although she is now not wanting to do her reading which worries me a bit (sorry should've mentioned that in OP) - and in year 1 I think they start getting HW, though not much.

My parents live on TV as did I (it is one of the reasons we disconnected the aerial - we would just end up watching any old shite) so I guess that is worrying me too, I don't want it to become so ingrained IYSWIM.

Well why not timetable it a bit? eg DVD allowed but only once out of uniform and bags hung up or whatever, and then TV switched off after DVD ends. This lays down the idea that it's a set downtime, not a complete way of life! In summer move towards episode programmes so she has less time in front of TV, kick her outside instead! :)

I like that idea! I will discuss it with DH :)

Episode type programmes are good - could maybe use iplayer/all day milkshake or something. Otherwise it is quite hard to turn off a DVD partway through :o - I guess we just need to get back into the habit of selecting an episode rather than using Play All

DSTW - a lot of their DVDs are quite retro too, they like Trap Door, TopCat, Dangermouse, Hong Kong Phooey etc :o film wise it is mostly old Disney that we have forced on her...

The problem is, while we don't watch actual TV, DVDs are our addiction. We don't go out, or drink, etc... They are our vice! We have loads, all in those Caselogic book things. For both of us TV is one of our few fond memories so when we find something we used to love, we like to watch it again.

Mind you they can't be all bad, DD finally decided to write for fun while watching endless Wile E Coyote - she drew a net and wrote it perfectly underneath, I was rather chuffed with that :o

What ohbugrit says. Tv as part of routine rather than being open-ended really helps. My DS is almost 4 and somewhat similar in that he is currently in 5 days 9-3/4 childcare while I do a short term contract. He's getting more tv time when he comes home than normal as he's so tired and frankly so am I. But i want to cut it back now so I'm trying to make a routine. He gets about an hour from 3-4 and then no more until after tea when he can have Abney & Teal which he loves. I get colouring books and pencils out and some jigsaws or other 'quiet' activities and then give several warnings that tv time is ending soon and then switch it off. He did strop for a few days but now is more accepting and does a quiet activity. I also often offer to sit down and read and cuddle immediately after switching telly off - even just 15 mins of my time then makes a huge difference and it's not too tiring for me either (and the cuddles cheer me up too after a busy day at work!) He just wants to relax after a long day at preschool, so I'm trying to find ways of reminding him that you can relax without tv.

DS in reception doesn't tend to watch too much TV at the mo but does enjoy playing on his DS for a bit after school.

As he loves reading, jigsaws, building, drawing, imaginative play as well I'm not too worried.

since starting school dc has lost interest in tv. we put a dvd on for the dc to watch while I preper dinner though in our other language so it's down time and learning in one.
at the weekend we allow 2 hours screentime (computer and tv combined).

Both my DCs were telly addicts given the chance when they were 4. They were tired after pre-school, weren't yet into drawing/reading etc because they couldnt, or painting/craft for similar reasons (both are perfectionists), so unless they had me or a friend present it was often telly. Older one is 7 now and is far less into telly - will play creatively, draw, model, read etc - so I hold out some hope that telly is a phase to an extent. Especially when spring comes and we can get in the garden more

but your situation is a bit different with dh needing some down time. I like bugrit s suggestion.