Hi mummas I just wanted to know what you think is an appropriate amount of tv time for a 10 month old. When she watches it, it is always on the kids channel. There is no other kids in the house. We’ve just been a household that always has the tv on.
I don’t want my daughter to be too reliant on technology yet.
She does watch some tv then go away and play with her toys, she doesn’t constantly sit there and watch. And we do try and read her books.
But I’m just curious if you would switch the tv off during the day?
Appropriate tv time
Appropriate tv time
Posted in:
Parenthood Guilt, Kids
7 Replies
Yes switching it off is important. Play some music and do other things without it on. I also play my own music, not baby and kids stuff all the time.
I would switch it off. I would only turn it on for a specific show and then turn it off when that show is finished.
They don’t have the attention span to actually watch any longer than 10 minutes anyway at that age. As they get older it becomes very distracting to play, so better to set yourselves in the pattern you want now.
I tended to put the radio on instead as I realised the TV was going on because I found it lonely otherwise.
We have to on when they wake before breakfast (so maybe half an hour to an hour max) and then tv off from breakfast until after dinner. So bubs only gets say half an hour of tv as bedtime routine starts immediately after dinner. On weekends it is more because hubby watches footy and his older sister is able to watch more of her kids shows. Bubs now just over one watches for like a minute and then plays his own thing. Tv in the morning is really so I can sort their breakfast out otherwise I have to carry him and make breakfast which is crap on the back.
Try and switch TV to the radio instead, it sounds like you just use it for background noise.
I try and switch the tv off as often as possible during the day. And mostly replace it with music or the radio.
I usually have it on in the mornings for an hour or two until the kids are dressed, then it goes off until about 10-15 minutes before they go for a nap so they can calm down for a bit. And it’s on most of the afternoon as back ground
When my husband is home, he has it on constantly. When it's just me, it only comes on when it's almost nap time. 20 mins beforehand we watch an episode of Elmo or Thomas and then we watch a music show on low and sing along.
But, he isn't TV motivated. He looks for a second and then chooses his toys instead. When we sing the songs or watch an episode of something he sits on my lap and I pretty much "make" him watch.
I think you need to do what works for you. If she was constantly sitting in front of the tv not interested in anything but the tv, then you would have a problem. My kids are older now, but when they were little they went through stages. Sometimes they preferred the tv to be on, watching it when something caught there eye, moving away to play with their toys when the program finished. Other times they were happy with either my music or kids music, depending on what I put on. I personally need background noise, whether it’s music or the tv, same with my 11 year old. Yet my 13 year old prefers silence. You do you, and try not to worry about what others think.