Be honest - how much tv do they watch?

[bonkersplonkers]

As the title says - how much tv/ipad/phones do your kids watch and what ages are they? My two are 2 and 6 and they watch about 2- 2.5 hours per day 😑
Is this really awful?

DC is not quite 2. We watched about 20 minutes of a cartoon show together today. Yesterday they used a colouring app and looked at animal pictures on a tablet, probably for about the same length of time in total. Screens aren't a daily activity for them though.

What's concerning you about your DCs' use of screens? Are there any barriers to reducing it if you're worried?

Hi,

It's just so difficult to get anything done around the house when the screens aren't on. We are both out of the house from 7:30 am to 5:30 - 6pm each evening. So tired and it's easier to put it on, it makes them sit at the table when nothing else will. It's not like I'm sitting around on my phone or watching tv, I'm trying to do stuff (They're gone to bed at the minute). I just feel so guilty but I don't have the energy to do things with them. We do some stuff obviously but not for ages.

There will be parents who come on here saying their kids hardly watch any. Good for them but not helpful for you!
My first born was a hard work, full on toddler. She never played by herself and the only break I got was when the tv was on. I literally couldn't do anything (no cooking or housework, or god forbid a hot cup of tea) with her.
My other children are completely different and it's really easy not resorting to screens with them.
Anyway, long story short, every kid is different and you need to do what you need to get by. If you think 2.5 hours is too much and it's making you feel guilty then cut back. But you won't win any awards either way.
My top tip is new toys (from the charity shop) every few weeks, rotate toys, give them challenges, big cardboard boxes with paint is always good, and ignoring them and letting them get bored is also good.

I reckon my three year old has about 2-3 hours per day. She watches tv in the morning while I get ready for work and then she has chill time after pre school. I don't let her have the iPad though because I find she is like a zombie with it. At least with tv she walks off and plays with her toys.

On a weekend day I reckon my 5 year old does 2/3 hours easily on his iPad. Between watching cartoons (on Netflix children, you tube is now banned in our house - it was the kids version but he was watching stuff that was too old for him and developed an attitude) and playing a couple of games I've downloaded for him, standard learning games / Lego

Doesn't bother me, the rest of his weekend days are filled with soft play / park visits / playing with toys etc he needs some downtime and I need time to get stuff done / have a brew in peace!

Oh and I meant to add he watches Ben and Holly with his breakfast every morning too, gives me chance to get ready / log into work before the school run

I don't think two hours is terrible, but I do think it's best to avoid always using it as a babysitter. They need to learn to entertain themselves and they will if given the opportunity. It's also not great to have it while they're eating really. I'd say it's more how you're using it than how much they have. Presumably they're at childcare/school all day? Are they having screen time there too?

30 minutes of "fun" then 30 mins-1 hour of numberblocks or yoga

I’m not judging but if they are somewhere else 7.30-5.30/6 then when are they fitting in 2-2.5 hrs screen time? Assuming they have to spend some time bathing, dressing etc there doesn’t seem like there would be enough time in the day for that. Are they going to bed pretty late or waking up very early?

It really depends, but most days my 2yo watches a bit in the morning whilst I'm getting myself sorted and probably an hour before bed as a wind down (I know not recommended but she sleeps fine) - although she is not 'watching' this whole time, she goes back and forth between doing other stuff.

Some days it's a lot more, if there's illness involved or it's impossible to get outside then being locked up in a smallish house with a 2 year old all day would be unsustainable without Blippi 😅

Where did she say they were somewhere else from 7.30-5.30?

Mine (4,8) can easily rack up a couple of hours each day, depending on what’s going on. My eldest watches tv when she comes from school and whilst I wfh. My younger one will often watch tv on and off on days when I look after him and when we’re at home. It’s downtime, we all need it. I try and steer them towards something decent and not worry too much.

I had a shit load of stuff to do one day when this week when I had my four year old with me, so he watched tv all morning. We also ate lunch together and then went to library…swings and roundabouts I think.

My daughter watched an hour yesterday (we watched half of coco together) but the day before and today she didn't watch any. She's almost 3

I am quite strict with screen time and if she does watch tv it will be for no more than 20-30 minutes during the day, very occasionally we will do what we did on Wednesday and maybe watch half a film.

I don't think most parents do that though, not judging by the conversations I've had

I just think there are better things she could be doing and I tell myself it's doing her good not to be watching and I crack on.

Might not last if I ever have another

5yo varies- on a sunny day when we go
to the park after school, then gymnastics then tea and a bath practically none. On a lazy Sunday in the house maybe 5 hours

OP says “We are both out of the house from 7:30 am to 5:30 - 6pm each evening. So tired and it's easier to put it on”

Seems clear the parents are working those times, kids at childcare, and the TV time is pre/post childcare - I just wouldn’t have thought there was that much time considering toddler bedtime etc

So they’re out the house between these times too? If so then I think the amount of screens they have at home is honestly fine.
With tv I don’t think It’s the amount of time that’s an issue so much, but when it stops them doing other things, like playing reading etc. But if it’s after a long day and the other things they’d be doing is fighting, not eating etc then I really don’t see any harm and don’t worry about it.
At the moment mine don’t have any screen time in the morning because we wake up too late, otherwise they would. After school they’ll have a couple hours some days, others maybe only 30 mins, as it depends what we’re doing. On the weekends 2 hours tv probably. (They’re 6&2)

Well we put tv on in morning cartoons or a film whilst getting dressed/ breakfast before school. After school tv is background noise whilst they play then they might watch a film or tv show for 2hours and have 1-2 hours on tablet a day too mixture of games and YouTube.

DS 2yo and DD 5mo (she doesn't watch though obvs).

Weekdays up to an hour I'm the morning while I cook breakfast and get ready for the day and 30mins in the eve while I cook DCs dinner.

At the weekend none as both parents are on deck. Although sometimes we watch a film.

Good point, maybe I need to get the TV on as background more while they play, zombies here too

Yes nursery and school. No screens in nursery, minimal in school

DD is 7.

No TV at all during the week (she has a long school day, we both work, so we pick her up from school clubs at 6pm).

At the weekend, if we don't have active, out of the house, plans (or guests) - then easily 2-3hours a day.

youngest is up at 6 (not our choice!) so watches from around 630-730 then after nursery (home just before 6) he watches about another hour and plays for a bit before bed at 7:30. So doesn't watch all evening.
Eldest probably watches less as she isn't down until about 715, but she gets home a few minutes earlier.

Ah Blippi -I have a love/hate relationship with him😂

My 3 yo probably watches about an hour a day, maybe a bit more, No phones or tablets, just TV. 20 mins in the morning before pre school and 40-50 mins in the evening when I’m getting baby bro to nap and cook his tea. He’s in pre school 8:45-3. Otherwise we are at home.

yep, they'd definitely be not eating, and fighting! I'd like to try get them to eat breakfast before screens, but because they get up at different times its tricky!