How Much Tv and Computer Time Do You Allow Each Day?

I have an almost 5 year old and a 16 mos old. My rule is no TV before 2.5. At 2.5 I let my son watch a 30 minute DVD of Elmo, Dora or Disney. Now, he can watch about 30 minutes of TV at night, with me or my husband before bed. He can play on his Fisher Price computer when he wants, he never plays more than 30 minutes at a time and it is educational. He really isn't interested in video games.

On the weekends, I allow about an hour or so of TV (Disney channel only) in the am right when we get up. But this time he is also playing, not just sitting and watching.

Occassionaly during the week I will allow him to watch Disney channel before school so that my husband and I can finish getting dressed. This is usually no more than 15 mins.

3 moms found this helpful

Good Morning N.!!

At our house we lump ALL things that are sit down and stare at a screen (TV, videos, computer, Wii, Nintendo DS, Leapster etc) into the category "MEDIA".

When the kids are in school (all day everyday) they get one hour of media to use as they choose (except Friday, because they have no school the next day). If they have no school (or are in pre-school which is 1/2 day) they have 2 hours.

Since we have 3 kids who use Media... we have a chart on the fridge that is broken down into 30 minute intervals. And each child has a magnet that is the first letter of their name. As they ask/use their time they move their letter up to how much they have used.

It works for us!! And it is amazing how much they fuss when their time is done... but when they don't have something to entertain them they are very creative at finding interesting things to do. They read.. play together building things... sometimes they even ASK to help me!!! (Gotta love that!!)

Hope this helps!
Peace,
B.

3 moms found this helpful

There is no standard. Because everyone is different with varying thoughts on their own individual kids. Kids are different.

Not that it worked but we tried limiting our kids to an hour or two of tv per day.
they had to bicker over the computer. If someone was playing a game they didn't want to be interrupted.

So it really varies.

3 moms found this helpful

My kids seem to have their own "inner" TV clock. We only watch educational cartoons and after about 30-45 min they get bored all on their own, turn it off or go and play. If my inner "mom" clock seems to think it's been too long then I ask them to turn it off and they always comply. I prefer this because it doesn't make TV taboo and they learn to balance their time well between books, toys, TV and video games. Contrary to popular belief my kids have watched TV since birth, both spoke words by 4 months, sentences by 1 year and were COMPLETELY conversational by 2. They both know numbers, letters, shapes and my 5 year old is a fluent reader. We are just a more relaxed family and I know that sometimes after 8 hours at school he just needs to come home and chill out. Go with what works for your family. Teach your kids to be responsible for their own actions and it won't ever become an issue.

Good Luck!

3 moms found this helpful

I firmly believe it is not the amount of time (necessarily) that they spend watching TV...it's how much you interact with them (or them with each other) during that time. If TV is a babysitter while you get a few things done...fine. What's wrong with that? Im sure you are careful what they are watching. My kids love the computer (although they think it only goes to mommy's work and the disney site) and it's a necessary part of learning for this generation. Again, it's what they do on the computer that matters. I think if you are aware of the time (which you are just by asking) then they will be fine. It's not the TV or computer alone that influences kids...it's what they watch/do that matters, as well as what the rest of their day consists of.

~L.

3 moms found this helpful

I don't think there really IS a standard. Some people think TV is the devil, some rely on it all the time, some have found a happy medium. The key is to find out what YOUR happy medium is. I don't see anything wrong with your kids watching TV while you get housework done as long as it's age appropriate and, even better, educational to some degree.

If you would like to set an actual "amount of time", try getting a timer or set the timer on the stove for however long you are comfortable.

Good luck!

3 moms found this helpful

I don't really have a time limit. I just try to have a healthy balance of all activities such as play time, quiet time, tv time, computer time, etc. I will tell you one thing, my son is only 3 and can already totally navigate the computer all on his own. He has learned his numbers, alphabet, colors, shapes, etc. on the computer and on Sesame Street. So.....the computer and tv are great learning tools as long as it isn't all they do. Good luck@! :)

2 moms found this helpful

N.; yes i have 3 kids also, i have made it a rule, that once homework ,and chores are done, they can watch tv or play on the computer, we put in a password so the only way to log in is if we put in the password, otherwise they cannot just get on the computer, once all is done, then they can use computer and tv up till bedtime, but we are all on computers at that time, and we as a family enjoy games and other things together, my kids are older and they are home by 3 most chores are done by 4 or 5 , they still have a bedtime and go to bed at 10 pm, for school aged children, the two left in school are both in high school, if they have stuff they want to do in their room, but they are in their room , by 10 ,so at times my older kids can have up to 5 hours, depends when they get stuff done, but for younger kids, we were usually there with them, when they played, and we made sure, it was content according to age, but a few hours wont hurt, on good content, of course if content is not intended for that child , no amount time is good, use your judgement according to your own kids, my husband is a computer guy, so we all have computers, and use them in the living room, no one has computer in their room, this allows us to see what is going on, keep it in a public place it eliminates alot of not knowing, any way, have a good day and if a game or tv show affects their attitude, it was not allowed to be viewed or played, so do what your family needs, and can handle, enjoy life, D. s

1 mom found this helpful

My kids love to watch some cartoons when they first wake up. Soon after breakfast I tell them the t.v. is going off after the show they're watching is done.

When my kids (11, 5, 2) were home all day during the summer my rule was 1/2 hour on the computer 2x/day , or 1 hr total. Sometimes my two oldest would combine their time and get on Webkinz together.

As far as movies, they could each pick out a movie to watch (2 total max), which I would put on after lunch for a nap/rest time. Sometimes they'd watch them all together, and sometimes they'd watch their own movie in separate rooms.

They also had a couple of age-appropriate chores they had to complete each day, I'd try to get them involved in a craft or just draw, write, read a book etc. And, since it was summer, they had to go outside at some point, weather permitting. We'd walk, or go to the park, sometimes we'd go to the Library, or just water flowers in the yard.

It is so nice to be able to use the t.v. as a sitter sometimes, and I've done that too. Sometimes we all just need that!

1 mom found this helpful

i have a 1 and 3 year old..

Tv is my electronic babysitter... but I use it sparingly..

a 15 minute video before nap.. 15 minutes before bed and then if i have to get something done or mom just needs a break..I also often use TV when I am preparing dinner..

Of course there are days when I have a headache and I just lay on the couch and they watch 2 horus of TV... but that is not our normal day.

N.,

For awhile we used laminated coupons that we hung on the fridge with magnets. We tried to limit tv to one hour a day so the coupons were for 30 minutes at a time. Each time he wanted to watch tv he had to give me a coupon and I would set the timer for 30 minutes. It worked pretty well because he could see how much more time he had left.

Now I just use the timer to monitor tv time. I also use it to help me get tasks done around the house. We taught our son that if the timer is running you can't ask questions or talk to the person who is working until the timer beeps. It took patience and lots of reminders to teach him to check the timer before asking questions or bothering me, but it has paid off.

Good luck!

-C..

I also had three children under the age of 5. I lived for the Barnie tapes! Sometimes you need the "routine" to get things done in the house. I did use a lot of video tapes and DVD's since we didn't have cable or satellite. My kids would watch for 30 minutes take a break. Probably a total of 2 hours a day. We als had a movie in as I started to put the kids to bed in reverse age order. I let me kids play computer games for roughly 30 minutes at a time, but I am fortunate that I never enforce the rule. They play a couple games and move on. Our rule is homework needs to be done by 6 or practice time. They can watch or play games, but they need to get their work done as well. My children are very active and go outside or play sports without being prompted now and that is what we encouraged before they got into school. Balance is the answer. Don't feel guilty about using a good show or entertainment to keep your young kids in one room so you can cook dinner.