If you don't allow ANY screen time what do you do instead?

[Icecreamsoda99]

My dd is just over one and we allow a few episodes of Peppa Pig early morning and occasionally in the afternoon if she's having a bad day. However I've noticed she's started blinking a lot while watching and I'm worried about eye strain and screen brightness. I've read loads of articles about the problems of screen time on concentration and speech delay etc BUT I've not seen what the alternative is to fill those difficult time. We have open ended toys and books are always available to her, but when she's feeling grumpy or im sleep deprived TV seems to give a 15 min break!

We allow moderate screen time here. Frankly I find it a life saver when faced with an overtired child who just needs to sit still and chill out for 20 mins. In moderation, I think it’s unlikely the odd 15 min episode is going to damage eyes or language development (although may I suggest trying Hey Duggee or In The Night Garden over the pig?)

However it started to increase to a level I was unhappy with over lockdown. I bought a Yoto player for my 3yr old and it’s massively reduced his badgering for tv. He listens to it every single day. Sometimes while drifting around playing. Sometimes he’ll get a blanket and snuggle up on the sofa with a cup on milk and listen. I realise your child is a lot younger, but might be worth seeing if she’ll settle and listen to audio stories? Otherwise, I guess you’ll need to sit with her and read stories. Snack for when you need to get a job done?

My boy is just over 1 and really likes Number Blocks. He doesnt understand it (obviously) but it seems to really catch his attention. Ill only put it on if hes SUPER grumpy and whiney. Alternative is a walk I suppose to chill him out.

Thank you both for the reassurance and suggestions, I think I freaked out a bit with the sudden over blinking and got worried! I like the idea of audio books as well, hadn't thought of that!

We allow limited screen time but have had times of no screen time - audiobooks though are the business.

I hadnt considered audio books! Great idea

DD1 wasn’t allowed any screen time at that age and could barely speak when she was two. DD2 grew up with the tv on most of the time and could say sentences, copy sign language and sing simple songs before her first birthday thanks to the tv. Also, DD1 loves screen time now and can get annoyed about stopping it whereas it was never a treat for DD2 who can take it or leave it. So don’t necessarily be too negative about it.

DS has watched learning songs on netflix ever since he was 6 months old (30mins a day) and started talking really early.

DD didn’t have TV most days at that age. If I needed to zone out for a bit I stuck her in her ball pond in the sitting room - kept her entertained for ages chucking things about! But we did have TV some days, usually when I had something I needed to do in the kitchen that would last more than 5 mins (our house had the LEAST child friendly kitchen ever, and she couldn’t see me when I was in there).

DTwins probably will have TV most days. At the moment they have it every day for about 30 mins in total (2 lots of 15 mins) because I find it so hard to get baths ready for them and dinner ready for my DD in the gaps between feeding and napping and keeping everyone entertained! I’m not concerned about the effect on development - if what you’re putting on is age appropriate and not excessive, I can’t see that it’s that bad. Sure, it’s not as good as any other things you could be doing with that time, but who does something educational at every single moment? I know mums that would never put TV on for the PFB but are happy to let the baby watch the washing machine go round for 20 minutes, which I can’t see is significantly better!

Ds had unlimited Cbeebies, he started talking at 10 months & in full sentences with everything in the correct context by 14 months. By the time he was 18 months old he saw things that we watched & he loved Time Team, would watch episodes back to back, he could tell us everything about it as well.

Just came across a nice website called sillymoostories. it has audio stories for 4-7 yr olds and I find it good to let them settle down to listen in bed when I've finished reading them a story first. There are some free stories on there so cld be worth giving it a try.

Frankly, stop worrying about it. My DD watched & watches loadsa TV, particularly because of lockdown. Has an iPad & plays on apps as well. She’s almost 4 and has completely normal, good speech, knows her alphabet, numbers, can write her name, can add up simple numbers (cheers Numberblocks) & loves nothing more than playing in her imagination & drawing. She has no worse attention span than any other 3/4 year old, in fact, when she’s colouring or playing with her dolls house, she concentrates for ages!

TV has done nothing to harm her whatsoever. I will counter that I also spend an equal amount of time giving her attention away from a screen. Life is about balance & moderation. I’ve no idea why people have this idea that TV is a monster, there some fab kids TV shows. Duggee is brilliant. Number& Alphablocks is also really good. Mr Tumble is lovely. Bing is a knob 😂

My 13mo doesn't watch any. Not really because of any aversion on our part, she was just never interested so we stopped putting it on. We go out for walks, we read a LOT of books, she's very into stacking toys and jigsaw toys, and pushing her walker around the house. With that and meals, it seems to fill the time

Ds is nearly 1 and doesn’t watch any. Mainly because we don’t watch daytime tv ourselves so it’s only on for something after he is in bed.

He never sits still so spends his days getting into everything when we are at home. We try and take him outside regularly.

@Caspianberg

Ds is nearly 1 and doesn’t watch any. Mainly because we don’t watch daytime tv ourselves so it’s only on for something after he is in bed.

He never sits still so spends his days getting into everything when we are at home. We try and take him outside regularly.

This was us/is us. Even now, at 5, our DS watches something maybe once a week or so.

He loves an audiobook now if he needs some quiet time.

Honestly we usually have the TV on in the background, she watches it if she wants but often chooses to colour or play with toys instead, my DD is now 4 and going to school in September. No speech issues or delay of any kind. Same as PP I make sure to offer other activities too that she can with or without me, which she often will choose over TV, if she didn’t I probably would limit the TV more. She can take or leave the TV, it’s never difficult to pull her away from it, or sometimes I get involved with what she is watching, singing along to the theme tunes with her or talking to her about the story, which she’ll be happy to tell me all about.

I think of it similarly to children that never have any sweets/chocolate and then go mad at parties, etc and smash the lot and can’t moderate themselves.

If anything I find my DD forgets to blink watching TV! I would just ring an opticians and ask about the blinking.

Please don't be so angst ridden about stuff. Your'll read this back and cringe. If you are that worried ask your HV, or have a word with the local optician.

We do one or sometimes two episodes of "baby club" per day with DD (8 months). So far it's always with her on a parent's knee, singing along (when said parent is knackered and can't cope with any more "playing"!) we've never just sat her in front of it. I'm sure that day will come though!