How much TV time?

[mumsafari]

Just wanted to share what I read from a parenting book today. We can allow our kids the most 2 hours of screen time a day. That includes TV and computer. By the way, it is always good to split the 2 hours for morning/afternoon and night and have vision breaks in between.

[Llyra]

That seeme to me like an awful lot, especially for younger kids.

If they're in school six hours, and in bed say ten or eleven hours, that only leaves about 7 or 8 hours left in the day for transportation to and from school and other activities, homework, making music, playing, dancing, playing sports, painting and drawing, reading, shopping, time outdoors, time with friends and family, meals, bathing, and everything else a kid needs to do. To spend fully a quarter of that time in front of a screen strikes me as too much.

But I realize I'm fairly conservative on this issue-- my DD1 gets one show a week on the TV, or one video, and is only allowed on the computer or on her hand-held game on the weekends, and then only for a half hour. She's 5 1/2. My three year olds are not allowed on the computer yet. They are allowed two shows or videos a week-- they get more than DD1 because they're still home full-time.

[MJB]

2 hours seems like a lot to me.
My kids get 30 minutes of TV or Wii. My 4 yr. old also uses the computer sometimes but I don't time it. I think using the computer is different from TV. My 7 yr. old has computers at school.

[Alyantavid]

I've really never timed it.

My kids watch a short movie or part of a movie usually every day. My older son plays video games for a short time as well.

I really have no issue with tv as long as they spend some time reading and outside as well. It's all about balance for me.

[meemee]

honestly i dont buy into that.

i dont buy into regular tv time. arranging our lives around tv. actually in our house we have no tv. we do movies or computer games.

i have never curtailed dd's watching/playing time.

we dont have any regular time - only what life allows.

so even at 3 dd has watched a movie back to back for what 3 to 4 hours and then not watched again for a couple of weeks.

computer games, tv, movies are one more thing we do in our life. it is not a regular thing.

[Asparagus78]

Originally Posted by meemee

honestly i dont buy into that.

i dont buy into regular tv time. arranging our lives around tv. actually in our house we have no tv. we do movies or computer games.

i have never curtailed dd's watching/playing time.

we dont have any regular time - only what life allows.

so even at 3 dd has watched a movie back to back for what 3 to 4 hours and then not watched again for a couple of weeks.

computer games, tv, movies are one more thing we do in our life. it is not a regular thing.

My approach exactly.

[AllisonR]

Originally Posted by mumsafari

Just wanted to share what I read from a parenting book today. We can allow our kids the most 2 hours of screen time a day. That includes TV and computer. By the way, it is always good to split the 2 hours for morning/afternoon and night and have vision breaks in between.

You can allow your kids whatever you like. You can be tv free, tv 2 hours a day, tv on demand.... I've heard "can allow our kids at most XYZ hours, ounces, grams, quantity of..." for everything from fish to cereal to sunshine. If I was going to have a rule, it would be not to listen to all the rules and use moderation and common sense instead.

[moonyoungi]

Originally Posted by AllisonR

If I was going to have a rule, it would be not to listen to all the rules and use moderation and common sense instead.

[attached2ethan]

I used to "time" my kids for screentime- 1 hour per day for school days and 2 hours on weekend days. But I sort of realized at some point that I would like them to learn to self regulate a little more- so last summer I lifeted the restraints and let them do their thing. For a while, it SUCKED! They were on something electronic 24/7, it was like a huge binge. But, after a few months the excitement wore off and now they are much better at limiting their own time. They would much rather be playing outside, doing an art project, or playing with me or each other.

I'd say on average, they spend about an hour of the day doing either computer, their DS, or TV- but usually not all three. This varies of course, on rainy, boring days at home it might be 3 hours that day and none the next- and my 4yo (who is still at home with me) is much less interested than his 7yo brother, whom I do occasionally have to remind to turn off the TV if it's been too long. As long as he has something to do, he is usually willing to participate in other activities.

I'm hoping this approach will help them learn to self-regulate their time and not rely on me to tell them when to stop- so far, so good.

[MommaMoo]

Originally Posted by AllisonR

You can allow your kids whatever you like. You can be tv free, tv 2 hours a day, tv on demand.... I've heard "can allow our kids at most XYZ hours, ounces, grams, quantity of..." for everything from fish to cereal to sunshine. If I was going to have a rule, it would be not to listen to all the rules and use moderation and common sense instead.

Absolutely. We just don't do TV. I simply cannot tolerate the ads-even as a kid I hated that crap. DS is allowed to watch movies, and I don't regulate it much. He's home full time with me and we do a variety of activities, so I don't care if he watches a full length film or a couple of Thomas Trains a day. I leave it up to him-he sometimes go a day or more without watching anything, and some days he'll watch several things. A lot of times he'll turn off the movie before it's over because he gets bored just sitting there. I tried being rigid the amount of screen time I'd allow him and it didn't work. I let this issue slide, since there are other areas that concern me more.

[seamama11]

2 hours seems like a lot, but I can see if you are home all day with your kid, how it can happen quickly.
I really am not a tv fan. We have no tv, but my parents live downstairs and do. I am pretty rigid about how much/how often I let my kids watch, they are 2 and 4. My son would watch 45 minutes a day if I let him, but I just don't feel good about it. If I gave him free range, he would ask for it every day. Since I have structured it, it has been better. My 2 year old just watched tv for the first time a month ago, and has almost no interest, she walks away within 15 minutes. We have no tv mon, wed, fri, sat, sun because I am home with them all day and there are a zillion cooler things we can do with our time. My parents watch the kids 3-5 every Tuesday and Thursday while I work, so I let them have up to an hour on those days (my parents are both disabled and injured, so tv helps cut the time they have to chase them around) I love having so many tv-free days. The more days we have with no tv, the less they even ask. As they get older I am sure they will watch more.

[mary3mama]

Originally Posted by mumsafari

Just wanted to share what I read from a parenting book today. We can allow our kids the most 2 hours of screen time a day. That includes TV and computer. By the way, it is always good to split the 2 hours for morning/afternoon and night and have vision breaks in between.

Or what? (Asking the article not you personally. )

What will happen if we allow more or throw the whole concept of 'allowing' out the window and let children watch what they are interested in when they feel an interest?

Some would say that they will never move away from a screen unless there are limits. Others say not.

Like so many things it probably depends upon the family in general and the specific personality and inclination of each child.

We have no limits. My children are 10, 6 and 3 and they can watch whatever they want online and play whatever they want online. The only restrictions are that a computer must be available (can't force someone else off) and that the general noise level/volume must respect the others in the house (very quiet when anyone is sleeping; not too loud for others to read, hear what they are watching...etc.)

And they all choose screens sometimes and screen-free activities sometimes and they are very balanced about it all. They don't sit and stare at screens all the time. They don't neglect their other needs.

It is clear to me that WITHIN MY FAMILY arbitrary time limitations cause problems, not solve them. When they know that they can watch/play when they feel like it, they don't seem obsessed by it when they are doing something else.

[mumsafari]

No more than 2 hours screen time a day.

Originally Posted by mary3mama

Or what? (Asking the article not you personally. )

What will happen if we allow more or throw the whole concept of 'allowing' out the window and let children watch what they are interested in when they feel an interest?

Some would say that they will never move away from a screen unless there are limits. Others say not.

Like so many things it probably depends upon the family in general and the specific personality and inclination of each child.

We have no limits. My children are 10, 6 and 3 and they can watch whatever they want online and play whatever they want online. The only restrictions are that a computer must be available (can't force someone else off) and that the general noise level/volume must respect the others in the house (very quiet when anyone is sleeping; not too loud for others to read, hear what they are watching...etc.)

And they all choose screens sometimes and screen-free activities sometimes and they are very balanced about it all. They don't sit and stare at screens all the time. They don't neglect their other needs.

It is clear to me that WITHIN MY FAMILY arbitrary time limitations cause problems, not solve them. When they know that they can watch/play when they feel like it, they don't seem obsessed by it when they are doing something else.

Luckily i still have the book with me!

Ok, it says that experts recommend no more than 2 hours of screen time because sticking to this limit will enable your child to have a balance diet of play, including time for physical activity and socializing. Agree?

I think the author is basically trying to tell that it is a 'recommendation'. Which also means it is fine if you have zero tv to 3 hours a day.

[mary3mama]

Originally Posted by mumsafari

Ok, it says that experts recommend no more than 2 hours of screen time because sticking to this limit will enable your child to have a balance diet of play, including time for physical activity and socializing. Agree?

I think the author is basically trying to tell that it is a 'recommendation'. Which also means it is fine if you have zero tv to 3 hours a day.

Thanks for adding that.

I guess I have to go back to the idea that it probably depends on the family/children. My children can choose as much or as little screen time as they want and they stay very balanced overall. Yes, there are days when they have more screen time and days when they have less, sometimes none at all.

If someone were to peek in on our home somedays it may seem like my boys are online all day, because sometimes they are. But other days they don't even touch the computer. Depending on what day someone spies we could either look like a waldorf family or a mainstream family, I suppose.

I really think it depends alot on the child. A big part of my approach to unschooling is to be very connected to each child so that I know what they are doing.

I wonder about studies and proclamations of how much __________ is allowable. Did they consider the difference between 'screen time as babysitter' and 'screen time as quality family time' and if not, what was the 'screen time' group compared to?

I'm not being defensive, btw. I feel completely comfortable with our approach, because it is what works for our family; we are all relaxed and happy and just enjoy spending time together. Before we made the change to not limiting screen time everyone was grumpy and harsh and stressed...especially me.

[columbusmomma]

I don't limit screen time but would think my DS watches maybe 1.5 hrs a day. DD watches very little tv, not even daily. When it comes to DS I get to a personal level of comfort like, hmm, the tv seems like it's been on all am, or he's playing to much Wi. Or I'm done with the electronic babysitter and can participate with an activity now. I just don't like it when tv or computers prevent the opportunity to be outside, or play with a friend, do something as a family. Other then that, screen time doesn't bother me too much.

[2cutiekitties]

Originally Posted by meemee

honestly i dont buy into that.

i dont buy into regular tv time. arranging our lives around tv.

i have never curtailed dd's watching/playing time.

we dont have any regular time - only what life allows.

so even at 3 dd has watched a movie back to back for what 3 to 4 hours and then not watched again for a couple of weeks.

computer games, tv, movies are one more thing we do in our life. it is not a regular thing.

same here.

[mumsafari]

Isn't it great, you do not need to limit TV time and yet your kids are not engrossed with it!