How Much TV Do Your Kids Watch a Day?

I was just thinking about this today in regards to my MIL! In our home I like to limit the tv to either none or only up to 1 hour a day. Sometimes it does depend on what I have to get done. For instance -schools and preschools were closed for a week here in January due to snow and ice, but my husband and I still had to get some work done from home, so they got to watch a lot more than usual! That also happens sometime during the holidays. However, at my MIL's house, the tvs are ALWAYS on -constantly and my oldest does nothing but watch cartoons the entire time he's there, be it 2 hours, 6 hours or overnight (except for sleeping). The way I view it is, since I know this is going to happen, I don't allow any tv the day before or after. I've told him the reason why. I make a special effort to get both boys out to play, run around or burn off steam in some manner before sending them over there.

My MIL loves to see our boys and she keeps them overnight fairly often during the weekends or she'll watch them for a few hours in the afternoon or evening while we go see a movie. They are a lot for her to handle, and since she offers and it's free, I don't worry so much about it. I remember as a child visiting relatives and grandparents and watching hours of television I was never allowed to watch at home! I think since she's watching him for you and it's only 4 hours a week -I wouldn't take issue with it. Since he is getting such a dose there, don't let him watch at home, or only let him pick one 30 minute show or something he watches every day (except the day he visits her). You say he's in school, so is he reading yet? He could take a book to her house. Other than tv, I remember spending hours reading at relative's houses. Also, if he's old enough to be in school, television still isn't great for him, but it's not as detrimental to development as it would be if she was parking an 18 m old in front of the tv for half a day (and most toddlers wouldn't stay there anyway). As long as he's watching age-appropriate programming, I wouldn't worry so much. Another thing to think about -does he have homework? If he does, let your mom know that he's not to watch tv until his homework is finished. Of course let him know this too!

6 moms found this helpful

It's one day a week, I'd let it slide.

3 moms found this helpful

my kids probablly watch that much or close to it in a day. When it starts to get dark out they are in the house and they watch tv if all homework and chores are done until bedtime. I know they could be doing other things but I don't feel its hurting them in anyway. My 14yr old has always been straight A's and in the advance programs at school. My 10 and 11yr olds are also straight A's and B's. My 2 and 3yr olds are very smart also. So to answer your question... no I dont think its hurting him, excpectally if its only one day a week.

3 moms found this helpful

This is such a hot topic. I have a pretty strong opinion on TV time with kids, my husband on the other hand doesn't seem bothered by having them watch it. IDK what the right answer is. I'm sure that sitting in front of the TV all day long is not good. But for the 1 day a week that he is at your moms house it won't be detrimental to him!

I've got to be honest. When I was a kid, I watched A LOT of TV. My parents were great parents, but they both worked more than FT. I would watch TV from the time I came home until the time I went to bed. Now, I am a successful woman, wife, mother with her MBA earning a pretty good wage. I am a healthy weight, do not have ADD, and am not a lazy sack that just sits there. So who knows!!

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My children (ages 2 and 3) watch anywhere from 0 - 4hrs of TV in one day.

MOST days, they watch 15-40min. During the summer or when during periods of rain free weather, they don't watch any. When I'm sick, or when I desperately need a "sick day", they watch as much as four hours in a day. Doesn't happen often, but it happens. Sometimes my sanity or health is worth the extra media. Once a week x four hours a day might not be preferable, but I don't think it's going to be damaging - especially if you need the help and your mom is willing to give it to you. IMHO.

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Yikes, your mom isn't watching your son, she is watching tv. She isn't even watching WITH him. Blessed? Because she allows him to come to her house, but not to interupt HER tv watching?
Can you find an activity for your son. Some martial arts have pick up fr school services.
The hours a day watching tv cannot be good for your mom, much less your son. Best of luck on sorting this one out.k

2 moms found this helpful

depends on what they watch, pbs cartoons are educational, i would think anything over 2 hours would be pushing it though. My oldest never liked tv, still barely watches it, she much prefers crafts and outdoors. My youngest can tell you who clifford, curious george, barney, cat in the hat, elmo and calliou are(and shes 2!), she loves these afternoon cartoons, but only 1 or 2 of them will actually hold her attention, she plays with her toys while she watches them. I do get to come to the computer and go on mamapedia during calliou though, she is completely mezmerized by that little bald boy, lol

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No I don't think one day watching 4 hours of TV is harming him at all. My daughter will watch a little in the morning (about 30 min) while she eats breakfast and maybe a couple hours in the late afternoon / evening. I guess I'm one of those parents who doesn't see the harm in watching TV. Now, if your mom was watching him alllll day and he was just sitting on the couch for 10 hours while you were at work watching TV doing nothing else I could see a major problem with that.

2 moms found this helpful

4 hours straight likely isn't good for him (my pediatrician says 45 min straight is the limit) but I wouldn't worry about one day. And my friend said she thinks her son learned to read early by watching some LeapFrog videos. So maybe invest in some good videos for part of the 4 hours... Like another mom said too, I watched a ton of TV growing up and by all external measures, am very successful, not overweight at all etc. I still do love TV though!

2 moms found this helpful

My children don't watch much TV during the week, and on weekends I would say about 2-3 hours total for the entire weekend. While the 4 hours of straight TV would bother me, I would probably let it slide since it is only one day a week. If it were every day, then it might be worth bringing up. Good luck to you!

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S.,

This would drive me INSANE! So I definitely get where you are coming from here. I am more strict than a lot of parents about TV, but definitely allow some for my 3 year old, and she loves the shows we do let her watch. I think the part that would bug me the most is that she isn't even taking the opportunity to spend time with her grandson. But I also think the other moms have given you pretty sound advice here. I don't think it's hurting anything, as long as you make sure it doesn't become a similar situation at your house the rest of the week. It's not how I would want it, and yes, it would drive me kind of nuts, but no, it's not likely doing any harm in the whole scheme of things. Maybe you could find some DVD movies or series that you are familiar with and then you could talk about the stuff he watched or "learned" over dinner or whatever when you pick him up. Maybe some Discovery Channel nature stuff? How old is he? Does he talk to you about that kind of stuff? Would he watch that kind of stuff, or is it strictly cartoons that he wants to watch? I'm reaching here, but maybe if it was an opportunity for open communication about things that he likes, it would make you feel better. Good luck!

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The American Academy of Pediatriacs has recommendation for sleep and TV for various ages. It's a great refrence. Also there is research out that shows too much TV at an early age affects muscle development in the eyes and later leads to issues once in school. http://www.healthychildren.org/English/news/pages/Parents...

Of course it's harming him. His visual development is being deeply affected. When young eyes fixate on one point for more then a few seconds it does damage for later reading, learning and handwriting abilities no matter how smart your child is. Vision is 80% of learning and watching TV is not letting his depth perception, saccadic eye movement, and near/far develop properly like it would with playing with 3D objects.

We have one tv in the house, it's used only for videos at night once my daughter is asleep. She didn't watch tv or any movies at all till about 3. She'll watch a movie maybe once a week now that she's 8. I realize that most think the tv is a good babysitter but it's setting standards for a child for life. It's better for children to learn to entertain themselves by reading, or playing, imagination, and wonderful is to be outside in nature. My daughter will sometimes say she's bored (lacking creativity) but usually she'll find something to entertain herself. We went to the park yesterday and she created the most beautiful nest from twigs and other things she found lying around. This is what children should do, not sit in front of the idiot box.

She may have the TV on all day, but he's likely not sitting in front of it zombie-like for that entire period. If he's watching PBS or Nick Jr. he's really getting exposed to educational material - and not only ABC/123/shapes/colors, but how to get along with others, play fair, be nice, helpful, etc. My kids watched quite a bit of TV, but I thought the shows were wonderful (Blue's Clues, Peep & the Big Wide World, Dora/Diego, etc.). Grandmas that I know have the opinion that TV is a great babysitter & it's not easy to change their ideas about that, but you can let her know specifically if there are things you don't want him to watch (the news could cause anxiety, for example, or certain grownup shows may not be appropriate - though how many of us grew up with a mother that watched soaps?). It's a shame that grandma won't play with him - that would be lovely for both of them. She only has him 1 time per week, so the TV shouldn't be harming him in any way, but she is missing out on valuable memories she could be creating with him.