how much TV do you think children should watch?

skintchick

Following on from Mr Cow's comments on another thread, how much TV is OK for pre-school children, in your opinion?

My DD is ten months old and we spend most of the day playing, either one-on-one, with other children, or at a music group or other class such as swimming.

But at home, before OH gets back, the only way I can stop her whining constantly for me is to put the TV on. I record programmes for her (Night Garden, Special Agent OSO, Something Special) and then put them on so it is something appropriate.

She mostly doesn;t watch them but if there is nothing on in the background she whines (she is like me, I hate being in a silent room!), and if she can see me, she whines, so I 'hide' in the kitchen making dinner and washing up.

I reckon she probably 'watches' around an hour a day, which by the comments on the other thread would undoubtedly be considered shocking by Mr Cow, who I must add is a poster I usually agree with, and who I definitely respect.

So, not necessarily talking about me, but generally, how much TV is OK for young children, and does anyone know of any research into the subject?

angelfairy

hi skintchick

i dont have an answer for you i'm afraid. my LO, nearly 15 months isn't much of a tv show fan. the only thing she does like is adverts, well a few anyway. she will watch the ad she likes and then pay no more attention to the tv.

looking at forward what comes up on the thread

AzimScot

I personally think 3 hours per day is enough and you should try and watch things together its more fun and enhances relationship with your family and kids.

wannabe_sybil

I used to have Classic FM on the television a lot during the day. This is technically 'good' for babies but not exactly tv. Have you tried using music?

I'm quite a fan of children watching appropriate tv, but this may be something that makes you more comfortable. Also calm music helps wind a little one down in time for bed.

btw - the Cbeebies website is free and full of great suggestions, I shall be looking on there soon for ideas for 'making things' from Mister Maker.

Newly_retired

My granddaughter almost never watches TV. Just for a treat if she has been really good. She is 5.

DVardysShadow

I can't tolerate more than 10 minutes a week. A child's tolerance will obviously be less.

*max*

I wouldn't worry! As long as you spend time playing with her and generally interacting, an hour in front of the TV isn't going to do any harm.
I know TV has been dubbed a "bad" thing for children, but it's only because so many parents unfortunately rely on it as a form of childcare...ie: they leave their kids in front of the tv for peace and quiet, and they don't care what they're watching, or for how long, just so that the parents can do what they want.

I was brought up with a TV, although we only had 3 channels (I'm only 32! lol), and I was allowed to watch the cartoons on a sunday night until 8pm (the only cartoons were the old Tex Avery ones, loved them!) before the film started. I was also allowed to watch Dallas and Columbo when I was a bit older, until about 8pm still.

What I'm trying to say is, most current adults didn't grow up with a dedicated "children" TV channel and survived! And a lot of kids watched supposedly adult programmes (Columbo, Dallas...lol) with no ill effect.
So just relax, and if you otherwise interact with your child properly, a little TV isn't going to hurt. x

Mips

TV is a time filler for the kids in this house - never placed much thought on how much time they watch it.

Its not a major thing for them.

ETA: There is 3 of them though and between the garden and toys and fighting.. they spend very little time actually bothering with it!

Eton_Rifle

Half an hour at the absolute most because I wouldn't want to negatively impact mental development.

tabskitten

DVardysShadow wrote: »

I can't tolerate more than 10 minutes a week. A child's tolerance will obviously be less.

Whats that?!?
10 mins a week AWAY from a screen?!?:rotfl:

*max*

Eton_Rifle wrote: »

Half an hour at the absolute most because I wouldn't want to negatively impact mental development.

I've watched TV for longer than that as a kid, and I'm pretty much OK, thank you! The important thing is what, and why, kids watch it. No need to be a politically correct !!!! about it!

Edit: the !!!! stands for bottom, the slang version.