‘Screen’ time?

[Heyhiya]

Background: 18mo DS only really watches Miss Rachel , I have always limited telly time and only really pop miss Rachel on little bits if I need to do something (e.g. if DH is at work and I need to nip the loo in peace or start dinner off)

I don’t know why but I get major guilt even though she is educational and engages with kids through her videos!

Am I being silly? Or am I right should we be a 0 screen time household? On that note I worry that being a 0 screen time house hold may make him obsessed and fixated on it when he’s older and can access it independelty as we’d have tried to act like TV isn’t in our house

My toddler has screen time. He's very bright loving and has the most amazing imagination when playing with his toys or us. I will admit he loves his programmes but he also loves playing with his toys or outdoors with bugs 🤣 he's 2½. It's just about balance and what you decide. Also all us mums have mum guilt over everything! Let the guilt go xx

It's absolutely fine OP. A bit of educational screen time is FINE. Even a bit of non-educational screen time is FINE.

I tied myself up in knots about it when DD was little, it was so silly. We did loads of other stuff but if I ever put the TV on for 5mins for her, I'd feel so guilty. I eventually let go of that when I saw how much she was learning. Cbeebies in particular became my saviour at times!

When DS came along he watched quite a bit of TV, mostly because DD was watching it and he didn't get a choice!

My DC are 9 and 5 and a bit of screen time has done them no harm at all. They're both intelligent, kind and lovely kids who do love a screen but also understand there are other things to do.

Please don't feel guilty

I get it, I feel guilty having my DD watch even small amounts of tv. However, I’ve realised sometimes it is just so good for my mental health to be able to breathe and go to the toilet, start dinner without running out stressed and overwhelmed

It’s hard isn’t it. I see things about no screen time and feel guilty for some miss Rachel and especially now if he’s really watching he kicks off if I turn it off but I limit the time

and then I’m scared if I cut it out completely he’ll become obsessed as he will find a way somehow that tELLY is in peoples lives like if he goes to his grandparents etc. I don’t want to be extreme then make him crave it more? If that makes sense!

we really do beat ourselves up over everything

As mums^ that should’ve finished with x

I watched tv as a kid alongside loads of other activities indoor and outdoor, it was totally normally. I think there's a bit of hysteria around it now

Screen time is absolutely fine.

I have a gifted mathematician DD who has loads of screen time.

A bit of screen time won't do any harm.

But don't fall into the trap of using a screen to entertain him every time you need to do something. He needs time to play independently, be bored, work stuff out, explore, potter etc.

It's not the screen time that's the issue so much as a generation of kids who are missing out on vital development because they are being entertained 100% of the time. He should be able to potter about for a bit while you go for a wee/start dinner.