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Parenting

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Original poster

How much tv, if any, do you let your toddler watch?

41 replies

Gateau · 02/09/2008 11:05

My DS is 16 months and for the forst time is now becoming interested in kids' tv programmes. Which I think is no bad thing, in moderation. He LOVES The Night Garden and watches either it or another programme every morning, and at night. So that's half an hour in the morning and again at night.
LAst night when he got in from nursery he also put the tv on (no kidding!)and watched The Night Garden. But that's a one-off as we usually go out to play in the garden, but it was raining.
How much does your toddler watch? Can you recommend an programmes for this age group? I must say, I do fidn The Night Garden strangely addictive.

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Pinkjenny · 02/09/2008 11:07

Same as you Gateau, 16mo currently has an ITNG obsession. She watches it in the morning whilst I get ready, and then at night. So about an hour, an hour and a half a day. But at this age, she's more glancing at it, and watching a minute or so before she wanders off, so it's more on in the background than her being glued to it IYSWIM.

Original poster

Gateau · 02/09/2008 11:09

Glad to hear about the ITNG obsession in your house too.
My LO - for the first time ever!! _ watched it for a whole 15 mins by himself last night -giving me time to prepare dinner. It was great!!!

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ajm200 · 02/09/2008 11:09

I let my 21 month old DS watch an hour in the morning while I shower and dress otherwise he'd be into everything.

Sometimes, if the weather is really bad I let him watch later in the morning.

He also watches about 30 mins of the disney channel before bed.

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Pinkjenny · 02/09/2008 11:10

It's the only way I get to wash my bloody face in the morning and get organised in the evening, without dd lying at the bottom the stairs crying!

Lizzylou · 02/09/2008 11:13

Too much, at the moment.
It's only way I can get them to stop arguing and I can do anything.

TillyScoutsmum · 02/09/2008 11:14

DD would watch it all day if I let her . If we're out and about in the day, she'll just watch about an hour before bed but if we're around the house in the day, its probably about 2-3 hours. ITNG, Peppa Pig and anything with Justin in it are big favorites.

She's also 16 months (today) btw

Pinkjenny · 02/09/2008 11:16

What is the thing with Justin? Why do they all like him? My neighbour and I were having this conversation yesterday.

TillyScoutsmum · 02/09/2008 11:17

I don't know but she often points at the screen and says Daddy He looks absolutely nothing like him

Original poster

Gateau · 02/09/2008 11:18

who is Justin and what's he in? Never heard of him. Or is it only a girl thing??!

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Pinkjenny · 02/09/2008 11:19

Tilly - worrying behaviour.

MrsMattie · 02/09/2008 11:19

My DS is 3 yrs old now and he watches loads of TV, I freely admit. Mainly he watches CBeebies or DVDs (he is a Charlie & Lola addict). We balance it out with loads of outdoorsy stuff, social stuff with other kids, lots of reading/jigsaws/art etc, so I honestly don't see a problem with it.

TillyScoutsmum · 02/09/2008 11:21

Justin (Fletcher I think) is a presenter on Something Special, Higgeldy Piggeldy House (both not on atm I think) and sometimes, Tikabilla. Not sure what the attraction is or whether its just a girl thing but dd's face just lights up when he comes on. He's no looker though - I'm a bit concerned about her early tastes

thumbwitch · 02/09/2008 11:23

sadly too much and he's not even a toddler yet but he has learnt already how to put the tv on and responds well to the theme tunes for both Neighbours and Eastenders - he does like Zoo days and things like that too.
(wonder whose fault that is?? )
He watched ITNG for the first time this morning after Helicopter heroes finished - it does give me a few minutes to get dressed/take phonecalls/do some work but it's not something I want to encourage...

TillyScoutsmum · 02/09/2008 11:26

We also do Family Fun Time on BabyFirst channel if we're around (at 11 am and 4pm). Its all a bit over the top American but she enjoyed doing The Grand Old Duke of York today

Original poster

Gateau · 02/09/2008 11:31

Thanks for that tip, TillyScout. Sometimes the more over the top the better for LOs, I think. They don't know, it's just fun.
Hey, I hear Sesame Street is making a comeback. Does anyone know when? I LOVED that and it is educational.

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thumbwitch · 02/09/2008 11:33

I know it's not the same but you can watch some of it (Sesame Street) on Youtube - and we watch Ivor the Engine on Youtube quite a bit too.

PuppyMonkey · 02/09/2008 11:37

DD2 (17 months) has recently developed an absolute passion for ITNG.... before, she would only glance at it and have a look but was never that interested. Now she cries when it finishes and sobs for Iggle Piggle when we put her to bed. I dunno if I should carry on letting her watch it now....

With DD1, who is now 11, she just from a very early age liked watching telly. As long as it's not all day every day, I don't see how it can be too bad. She's turned out all right... if anything, she prefers reading books now.

That Sesame prog is already on isn't it? It's an Irish version, but then they visit the original Sesame Street and have Burt n Ernie etc in.

glamourbadger · 02/09/2008 11:39

Tilly - my DD is also obsessed with Justin. I caught her having a "chat" with him on her potty the other day with a toy mobile clamped to her ear. Personally I can't see the attraction either. My childless friend assumed she was talking to Justin Timberlake .

My kids probably watch about an hour of CBeebies a day, broken up into odd 20min slots. It's usually while I'm cooking lunch, tea or getting us ready to go out. I think in moderation it's fine, they discuss it and seem to learn from it.

Original poster

Gateau · 02/09/2008 11:41

PuppyMonkey, why not get your DD an Igglepiggle cuddly toy?
My DH bought our DS one(16 months) that makes noises and sings his song; he loves him and takes him to bed.
Yes, that's the Sesame Tree you;re talking about. We watch that too, but I believe the real McCoy is coming back.

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Pinkjenny · 02/09/2008 11:41

Dd has taken Upsy Daisy to nursery with her today. I won't let her take her to bed because she distracts her so much. Her little face lights up in the morning when she sees her. We had to feed her toast this morning. Very cute.

Original poster

Gateau · 02/09/2008 11:42

I love Upsy Daisy.. She is so sweet.

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wittyusername · 02/09/2008 12:06

DD (17 months) loves Mr Tumble too! As well as INTG and Charlie and Lola, she already says "Lola!"

I was anti TV for her when she was much younger but if I put cbeebies on I can cook or get little things done. That said, I try not to rely on it too much and make sure we go out, read books, play in the garden and so on.

magnolia74 · 02/09/2008 12:17

Too much, he's 22 months but has older siblings so the T.V is on a bit for them too.
In the night garden is a fave and so is Mr Tumble but we are spongebob fans too

ceebee74 · 02/09/2008 12:26

Too much here aswell but I hate silence in the house so I always have the TV on in the background which has obviously taught DS (2.1) bad habits.

On nursery days, he doesn't watch too much - just half an hour of Peppa Pig when we are having breakfast and then maybe an hour or so when we get home/before bed.

At weekends/days when I am not working - it is far more than that.

The list of programmes he loves is long which is not really a surprise considering how much he watches but his very fave at the moment is Brum

Gemzooks · 02/09/2008 13:24

My DS, 23 months, doesn't watch TV, though he does know what the TV is. I basically want to keep him away from it for as long as poss. He will play with toys etc for say 15-20 mins if I'm doing some task he understands like making his dinner. Prob doesn't do any harm to have a bit of tv but I just want to ward it off as long as poss.

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