Screen Time: How much is too much? - Page 2

[Erin77]

To me, the most problematic thing about watching television is the advertising. My son is nine months old, so obviously he doesn't watch television at all. When he's about two, I think we will let him watch pre-approved cartoons and some children's programming, but in a format that doesn't have the commercials, like streaming or Netflix. We'll keep it minimal (a few hours per week), but I think it is not harmful in and unto itself. 

I agree with a PP who pointed out these guidelines were for technology, not television. The original post was obviously an effort to get a big response and I think tv is a push-button issue for many moms on MDC.

[Casha'sMommy]

I don't post much here but thought I'd jump in.

We don't really limit tv time so much as what we watch. We don't allow dc to watch commercial television, we watch PBS and some shows on the Science Channel and the like but that is only with total adult supervision and all commercials are blocked.

I must admit, I do use the tv as a Mommy's helper of sorts. DH works 6 hours away and isn't here sometimes for 2 weeks at a time so, out of desperation, I do turn the tv on from time to time.

5yo dd and I watched this really great show on PBS last week about the health of our local water ways. It showed A LOT of the life that is native to our state. DD loved it! This is the kind of tv I try to find when I'm in need of a little help.

[HidaShara]

We also started with a TV/screen-free philosophy which was a bit soft around the edges: we allow DD to watch DVDs from time to time (in theory once a week, in practice once a month or less), almost exclusively Sesame Street (Old School ;)) and nature documentaries (David Attenborough).  

We didn't even really start with the DVDs until she was 18 months old, but in the last six months or so I've found we can't PAY her to watch TV.  She has ZERO interest.  Which is a pain, since the rare time I've suggested it, it's been because I am sick and need half an hour to nap or something.  She wants to interact with things. Passive consumption is just not her interest.  On the RARE occasion she agrees to watch something these days, it is a nature show/documentary and she wants to talk ALL the way through it (asking questions about what she's seeing).  If I seem to be doing something else or if I'm not right there to talk with her, she'll stop watching.

Computers are different.  I think she'd use the computer a lot if we let her.  But at this stage in her development (she's not quite 3 y.o.), there aren't a lot of "productive" things for her to do with a computer.  She likes to type (we open a Word document and she writes her name over and over again, changing the colour each time) but that's about it.  We tried the games at sesamestreet.org but they are either too easy, too repetitive or too hard for her.  They don't hold her interest very long.  We'll re-visit this when she's older, I think.  I don't want to encourage "idle" use of the computer/internet, though.

[GandEmama]

I don't write on these forums hardly at all, but this is a topic I have just really started to think about.

I am unsure how exactly I feel.  Our kids didn't really have any TV until just this week.  They are 22 months old.  We don't have cable, but we've been letting them watch a few videos here and there.  I am on the fence trying to figure out how much is too much.

For those of you who don't allow screen time at all, can you please explain your position?

I'm not sure I understand the desire to limit it entirely. But I'm curious about it. 

Thanks!