Watching TV

Hey all, I’m looking for some advice/ reassurance. My 18 month old loves the TV. She asks for ‘cartoons’ everyday. Specifically Winnie the Pooh. I probably give in once a day, she will watch up to an hour but sometimes less. I know it’s not recommended to let them watch tv until they are two, but that seems impossible! She does plenty of other activities. Walks most days, library, soft play, play dates, baking, colouring, she has a million toys which are organised and educational, days out, swimming etc Her grandparents live on a farm so she gets plenty of outside time. I just feel awful. It obviously makes my life a lot easier as I get to get stuff done. But I’m worried I’m rotting her brain!! She’s also started to have tantrums about it, which last a lot longer than tantrums about anything else. I just don’t want to create bad habits but keep giving in! Any advice/ similar situations? X
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Her life sounds brilliant! I wouldn’t worry about an hour of Winnie the Pooh, you’re hardly sticking on South Park for her! Everyone needs some down time - and that goes for both of you! The tantrums are a pain and do often relate to tv, but if you make sure you have something else planned for as soon as it finishes, then that can help. Even at this age, I try to finish an episode (my daughter loves hey Duggee) before switching it off as the credits indicate it’s the end. I ask her to say ‘bye bye’ to the tv when the credits start so she understands what they mean.

You sound like you’re giving her a wonderful life with lots of variety and fun. Please try not to stress about tv - I’m no expert but I am a realist and an hour a day won’t rot her brain I promise! We do a bit of tv at the weekend but just make sure we are making our other activities and play time educational and fun. My daughter adores Miss Rachel and really does learn a lot - she has started signing just from watching Miss Rachel and her speech is really advanced. There is a huge amount of screen time shaming and mum guilt online about it, but if it helps my husband and I came from families who stuck the TV on all day from a very young age, and we’re now both city lawyers. Your daughter will be fine!

I’m following! I let my son watch postman pat only and it’s honestly so boring and slow paced. There’s no way it’s over stimulating unlike miss Rachel/cocmelon He watches an hr a day and ask has started to tantrum about it. He asks as soon as he wakes up and it’s becoming really bad. It’s the only thing he tantrums about. I don’t know what to do. Every day I tell myself it’s the last day! But I need to make him food etc and will not let me do anything at all unless i out postman pat on.

Hey lovely. I’m sure your daughter will be just fine. She lives a very balanced life and I think it’s unfair on you to expect you won’t ever put the television on. If it’s normalised it’s less of a big deal and less of a commodity for her to tantrum over. You’re doing everything perfectly. Screens are a part of modern life and ultimately? We have to be able to function and get our jobs done, or even just make a cuppa and go for a wee in peace. Utilise it - it’s your friend not your enemy! Too much of anything isn’t good for us but in moderation, where’s the harm? ❤️ cut yourself a break you’re a great mum xx

My LO usually watches a couple hours of TV in the morning so I can do some bits around the house, cook lunch etc. I stopped feeling guilty about it her I saw some of her cousins watching TV all day and some not so kid friendly content. She gets lots of playing and running around, but some days TV is the only way I got to get away and do some extra stuff.

I think it’s fine and it’s important to balance. My 2 year old doesn’t watch tv as he’s never had the opportunity to (we as a family don’t really ever have it on) - my point being I think TV needs to be addressed from the start and a conscious decision made on whether you are happy for it be a thing in their life. As of course they are going to love it, through tantrums over it and it be difficult to wean off it becomes an addiction. So best to start off as you mean to go on. For us we are putting it off for as long as we can. Mother sanity is important - I think your balance is fine. I just feel for these poor kids stuck indoors all the time where their parents just stick it on all day.🤦🏻‍♀️

I would more focus on just not rewarding bad behaviour. I pop the tv on often around 4 so I can get dinner going but I try not to turn it on at his request unless I can tell hes just tired from playing a bunch. I dont think theres anything wrong with some downtime watching a show imo just more about not letting them dictate with there tantrums so it doesnt cause them to continue to ask in that way. I often will give my son the words (he likes to change the show soo will cry when he wants it changed) i will just respond with “a different show mommy” and he usually repeats and has started using this regularly vs the whining lol

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