How many hours of TV a week do you let your toddler watch? (Be honest)?

Question

And what do you think are the advantages and disadvantages?

Answer 1

I have 4 sons, so they play outdoors a lot, but on those rare occaisions where only one of them is with me (either the 3 y/o or 18 m/o), I do let them watch tv for hours on end. I know that I shouldnt, but it feels so neccessary at times. That is a huge advantage to me when I am cleaning house or cooking dinner. Also, all of my children watch tv when they are lying in bed at night. My older sons, (8 and 5) always fall asleep before the first commercial break. Unfortunately my toddlers can stay awake for DORA, all night long. That is a huge dissadvantage to me. As long as I conciously keep an eye on what they are watching, then I find no problem with letting them watch tv. We purchase alot of educational dvd's, that star their favorite characters. This way, they learn things like shapes,colors,math,history,rhyming,spelling etc. and I know what they are watching. Also, dvd's are great because they can watch them again and again. Repetition is how toddlers learn. That too is an advantage. Dont get me wrong, if I am able to spend that quality time with them, or take them outdoors, then that comes first.
However,I found a huge dissadvantage with letting my friends children watch tv all day. Thay frequently visit for days at a time, and they occupy the tv the entirety of their stay. They are only 2 and 4, and I try to get them to play and enteract with others, but to no avail. They get next to no physical activity, and are much chubbier than other children their age. I feel the chubbiness and the fact that they arent sociable are due to too much tv. Maybe not, maybe they would have been this way anyway, but I do not agree with it.
I hope I helped.

Answer 2

My daugher is 13 months old and HONESTLY she doesn't watch TV except MAYBE an hour a week. I have never resorted to sitting her in front of a television to keep her occupied. I never understood that. As a child, my parents worked all the time so TV was a resource of theirs and I am the only person in my family that has ALWAYS had a weight problem. I would have rather watched TV them do anything else. I am very againts this...even for educational TV. If you are going to let your child watch TV at least make sure he/she is learning something, but it's always good to try another activity. There are so many things that kids can be interested in! Now, I'm not saying they shouldn't watch TV...that's a person opinion, but really, why let them watch more than an hour. Remember when you are a kid? An hour was an ETERNITY. So that is PLENTY of time for a child to watch TV.

Answer 3

Be honest....Lets see Eric watches a movie in the morning when he gets up and lets round that off to 2 hours then he gets to watch one later on in the evening another 2 hours this is only during the week so 20 hours a week. Too much in my mind.

Yes there are definately advantages and disadvantages. My advantages are that he is entertained just enough so I can get a little done around the house and take care of his one month old brother. Another is that we dont have cable or regular TV for that matter I control what he watches, so he isnt seeing violence or foul language, ect. I honestly think that if you add TV in to what you are already teaching your kids it enhances thier mind. I have been working with Eric on his colors and counting, Seseme street DVD's help with that. Just before our other son Ethan was born I let Eric watch a DVD on being a big brother. Disadvantages, Eric is glued to the TV when he gets to watch it, it like sucks his brain in. LOL. There can be things that you dont want your children to see on TV.

In my opinion the TV can be a useful tool, if it is regulated by the parents and they must stick to thier guns on it. A little leinency on the weekends is ok, but when it comes to during the week, with school and other activities keep the rules.

Answer 4

Zero.
Now you have to understand my little guy was born into a house that doesn't watch much TV! We own one. I watch *maybe* a 1/2 - 1 hour a week.
When my 22 month is awake, we either go outside, (all year around), we build forts with the cushions, we color, we race cars, read, play with the dogs...etc... He is very bright, speaks three languages and understands everything we say to him in whatever language!
I am sure someday he'll watch TV but we just haven't found the time yet!! It's not like it's banned or anything.
I can't think of any disadvantages, the advantages is that we have fun! I get to teach him and hopefully he will grow up wanting to DO things rather than watch TV.

Answer 5

Since we are talking about toddlers and not school age kids, I have a 26 month old that watches about 3 hours of television a day and sometimes more on the weekends. It really is not about how much tv a child watches, but rather what kinds of shows they watch. My son's favorites are: Curious George, Blues Clues, Deigo, Dora the Explorer, Wonder Pets, Thomas the Tank Engine, and Leap Frog movies.

I think it has been a great advantage because he does learn new words, pictures and sounds. I play with him everyday and we read books (alot of books). Right now my son, while a man of very few words, can play memory, point to over 60 named objects, and has mastered the Leap Pad and his 7 books that go with it.

The point really is what types of shows you let your child watch. The shows my son likes are interactive, musical, and fun.

Answer 6

wow.. this is actually a brain teaser. I can honestly say i let my three year old watch too much tv. she goes to pre-school. comes home watches tv after her lunch so there is an hour there. after that she takes her nap, and watched tv after she wakes up also. i would have to say four hours. wow. thanks for asking this question. there is just so much im constantly doing these days.. two kids one three and the other 8 months old, preschool, childcare, and work.. cleaning, and being a housewife blinds you from the simple things like this question you asked here. Although she does watch educational programs such as, dora, doodlebops, the noggin channel in general she loves it all.
The advantage would be the education she is getting from watching educational programs. The disadvantage on the other hand would be the lack of time spent with family doing activities hands on. Which makes a good point.. haha.. thanks for asking this question.. it's an eye opener.. Zoe

Answer 7

My 3-year-old daughter watches around an hour, sometimes more, a day. I used to feel guilty, but shows these days for toddlers are so educational and she is really learning a lot. I think a disadvantage would be that she wants to watch t.v. all morning and when I don't let her she throws a fit.

Answer 8

To tell you the truth my daughter isn't even interested in any of it. Baby Einstein or Sesame street it doesn't matter what it is, she has a very short attention span. Advantages? More time to yourself. . . Disadvantages? They end up glued to the TV 24-7 and there are too many disadvantages to list!

Answer 9

I don't have a toddler yet but when I do I am not letting my child have any violent video games or watch any violent shows on t.v. I will only allow my child two to three hours a day for t.v. because I want my child to be active and play outside and learn and be a kid and I dont think they get to be a kid if they sit in front of a t.v. My parents done that with me the t.v. was my "babysitter" and I was an overweight child and wasnt very active.

Answer 10

My 3 year old son likes to have the TV on for the noise while he plays. The TV is on most of the day, but the amount of time he actually watches is minimal. The advantage that I have found is he repeats words that he hears while it is on. He is constantly learning new words:]