Is this too much TV for a toddler?

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We usually get out twice a day if it's not raining (this morning we went to a playgroup and this afternoon was the park) but my toddler probably watches around 1.5 to 2 hours of CBeebies a day when at home. He turns 2 next month. It's too much isn't it?

I usually figure that so long as we’re out running about for the majority of the day then DS can do what he likes when he’s in the house. If he wants to watch TV he can. Usually this is first thing in the morning and again late afternoon before bath. Probably a couple of hours total.

If he’s not watching it then it gets switched off, so when he gets bored and goes off to play with his toys then I turn the tv off. It’s never just on in the background.
I think it’s fine if they’re watching the right things. he’s actually learned loads from it to be honest.
He’s almost 3 but it was probably the same a year ago.

[quote Timeturnerplease]@cafedesreves I find it hard to switch off from work, so having something on stops me thinking about my to do list. Used to a busy environment too (teacher), so I find quiet unsettling.[/quote]
Interesting! I'm the opposite... often have to sit in a quiet room when I get home 😅

I don't tend to limited my 3 year olds screen time, he's probably watched around 2 hours worth on and off today already, but in between we've gone for a bike ride, played board games, made cupcakes & he's played both independently with his toys and with me, so it's not something I give a lot of thought and he's always off doing other stuff too. He's currently watching Ben and Holly whilst I have a coffee in peace, which is bliss

It’s theoretically too much but my DC used to watch 3-4 hours at that age (not all in one go), they’re both doing very well at school now at older ages so I think there’s a bit too much hand wringing over TV time.

@CurtainTroubles

That’s a huge amount for a child who’s not even 2. That’s a huge amount even for an older child. I think you know that.

🙄

@thatsplentyjack we have a Peppa worshipper here too. I try to sneak in something else occasionally and she lasts about 5 mins before angrily shouting Peppa! Sometimes I see Grampy Rabbit in my dreams.

OP my DD probably watches 1.5 hrs a day, 45 minutes in the morning and 45 minutes in the evening (our rule is it doesn't come on outside of those times) We are trying to reduce it a bit but honestly I'm not hugely worried about it. When she's at nursery she's non-stop, and when she's at home we go out twice a day, she gets loads of fresh air, reads loads of books and draws on her wee chalk board. The TV is the only time she sits still, it's her time to chill and have a cuddle.

It also means that I can have a break, so that when the TV is off I can give her my full attention.

It sounds like you do loads and your little one is happy. Do what works for you.

Is it on and she's able to watch but off doing other things, or is she plonked in a chair in front of it. Big difference.

Our TV is on all day. I'm SAHM and often on my own and like the noise in the background. For example, today I've put on Beauty and the Beast, Moana, Cinderella and now Minions. Hours.

I would say DTwins have actually stopped and watched the TV for about 10 minutes. That was to stomp about to the Gaston song in Beauty and the Beast.

So, they are around a TV that's on, for hours. Paying it bugger all attention. I find it comforting, but also, haven't actually watched any of the films.

As long as he’s not spending all of his home time glued to the TV I think it’s fine.

My son watched more then that at that age tbh he’s 7 doing amazingly at school loves reading and is not that fussed by tv and wants to be an author. Unless it’s causing problems I really wouldn’t worry too much.

Yes that's the other thing. Mine aren't glued to the TV because it's not a treat that they adhere too for a whole hour because they know they need to make the most of it before it disappears.

Mine barely look at it. I'd say (they do go to nursery and other things with me) on a day where we stay home all day, the TV is on the whole 10 hours they are up. And they actually focus on it and watch it, I'd say, 30 minutes.

@Escargooooooo

Yes that's the other thing. Mine aren't glued to the TV because it's not a treat that they adhere too for a whole hour because they know they need to make the most of it before it disappears.

Mine barely look at it. I'd say (they do go to nursery and other things with me) on a day where we stay home all day, the TV is on the whole 10 hours they are up. And they actually focus on it and watch it, I'd say, 30 minutes.

I'm not sure that's actually a good thing.

Focussed attention is a good thing in children and predictor of academic and future success. Having a range of things on the go that they split their attention between is worse than spending focussed attention on one task.

It would be better for them to sit and attend to an hour or so of good quality, age appropriate television (following the plot, understanding the story, being exposed to new ideas/information) and then turn it off and give something else their full attention than just having it as an endless stream of background noise.

@CurtainTroubles

That’s a huge amount for a child who’s not even 2. That’s a huge amount even for an older child. I think you know that.

No it isn't.

An hour and a half, to two hours a day, and you think that's a huge amount? It is only three or four half-hour programmes, much of the content of which is educational.

Well ok assuming this a child who is awake for 12 hours, that’s 1/6 of their day. So it’s not an insignificant amount. But that’s the decision for a parent to make and these are often family decisions.

But they do give other things their focused attention. They've just been in the kitchen helping me cook (stir lol) and cutting up hotdogs. Earlier they were sticking in their books.

They leave the room the TV is in. But have the ability to return at any point. They don't ever just sit themselves in front of it and focus, really ever unless it's a particular song they might dance too.

@Escargooooooo

But they do give other things their focused attention. They've just been in the kitchen helping me cook (stir lol) and cutting up hotdogs. Earlier they were sticking in their books.

They leave the room the TV is in. But have the ability to return at any point. They don't ever just sit themselves in front of it and focus, really ever unless it's a particular song they might dance too.

Out of interest, why not just turn it off then? Why have the TV on for 10 hours a day, if they don't watch it?

My 2yo wakes at 5 so we get most of thar list ticked off before the rest of the house is awake! But we try to stick to 30 mins of TV every day and for safety usually - like when I'm cooking and he is trying to climb me to grab the saucepan off the stove. At the weekends we might watch a film so nearer 2 hours.

As said upthread, I like the "company" of the background noise. When DTwins are at nursery, I have it on all day when I'm in, just with adult based programs as opposed to child based when they are here. I just find it settling. I'm often not directly in the room although most of downstairs is open plan. If I sit down for a cuppa, I might watch it for ten minutes, but not especially.

The only TV I genuinely watch is the TV in the bedroom when we go to bed for the night. Around 9pm. Love a film in bed.

It's important to not have the TV on constantly in the background even if they are playing and seemingly not watching it.
The noise and flashing lights change brain activity. Children are struggling more to concentrate in school, they also use it to self sooth which means regulating internal feelings can be harder without it. (Think, I give them my phone to watch when out so they're calmer, for example). They don't learn to entertain themselves; this goes onto not as good at problem solving as an adult than they may have been.
Half an hour whilst you cook tea is fine. But they need to learn to function without.

Zero TV here with nearly 2 yo DS. At nursery 2 days/week otherwise with us + 1 day a fortnight with grandparents. I wish we could put it on for half an hour here and there, but I find it’s the old give an inch take a mile situation - if he has a bit he starts asking for it more and more and hates it being turned off. Its currently easier for it to just be be a blanket no - it’s been weeks since he asked for it or looked for the remote. I too like background noise and used to have the TV on for that, but I now have the radio on and enjoy that as much.