How much do you really have Cbeebies or similar on?

***SarahR*** · 24-02-2010, 08:13pm

So Minky's thread about resting without napping got me wondering how much tv our children REALLY watch. I have never started a bun fight before so hopefully this won't be one, I am genuinely curious.

M who is 3 would watch tv all day if I let him, he loves Cbeebies, Milkshake etc. So I do try to limit him to 15 mins before pre-school if he is ready early (Peppa and Thomas, it works a treat

). Then I let him have it on again after 4 when I am starting their tea, clearing up etc. We do have lots of dvds, and he often has one on at the weekend, or sometimes after lunch, although that often causes a fight as he then wants the tv on until teatime.

But I know lots of mums who claim that their kids watch hardly any tv at all, and I just don't know how they do it. M is rubbish at playing on his own (although getting better), so if I need to do some jobs at the weekend etc putting the tv on is the only way I can do it.

So I am just curious, how much tv do you children watch?

I am off to eat my dinner now, so will run back later and see if I have caused trouble

.

**katkinn** · 24-02-2010, 08:16pm

I'll just cut and paste (lazily

) from the other thread

My kids have been brought up being allowed to have the tv on whenever they want. For as long as they want.

Very very VERY rarely will they actually sit and watch it for more than half an hour at a time. H will sit and watch a whole film but normally half way through she'll get up and get some drawing to do during it. And the thought of M watching a whole film

In. My. Dreams.

Interestingly (or perhaps not!) other families I know who have no rules about tv and are allowed it all day everyday and always have been, every single child can take it or leave it and are in no, way shape or form addicted.

The ones who I know who sit open mouthed infront of it and will do for hours (apparently!) are those who have had it rationed.

Having said all of that, I was not remotely scientific in my lack of tv censoring (and ditto with my friends). That's just how it's turned out

**Saffy** · 24-02-2010, 08:18pm

Ben usually watches ITNG before his nap, and I often stick the TV on whilst I'm cooking tea to keep him out of my pan drawers. If we're home during the day I sometimes put Deal or No Deal (

) on as he likes joining in with the applause

ETA - The radio is normally on for most of the day, so it's never quiet here - I like background noise.

**ellabella** · 24-02-2010, 08:19pm

We have it on a lot, nearly all the time. I genuinely do not see the problem with it at all.

**Jelly** · 24-02-2010, 08:19pm

More than they should, which is why I'm making a concerted effort again this week to get it down. The main reason I don't like it is that it causes arguements when it's time to turn it off and, despite having a room full of books and toys, DS1 will say he's bored if he can't watch his show.

DS1 (7) has 3 shows a day, so 1.5hrs. He can also go on computer/Wii/DS for half an hour if he wants.

DS2 (2) has more. He will watch about an hour in the morning, an hour after nursery, and an hour or so in the evening.

Weekends is a bit more lax.

When they're not watching the TV it goes off. I don't like it on in the background as a distraction. If they watch it, they watch it because they want to watch it, not because it's on IYSWIM.

There are days when they have more and there are days when they have less, but this is the most I try to let them have during the week.

DS1 will happily watch TV and/or play on his DS all day if I'd let him.
DS2 will switch it off or get his toys out quite happily when I tell him to.

I will say that since they've had less TV this week it's been easier to get them out the door and to bed, and I haven't had any arguements with DS1 since Sunday night, which is somewhat of a record at the moment

**Swiss Babe** · 24-02-2010, 08:20pm

Sophie can have Milkshake in the morning once she is completely ready (i.e. teeth, hair, dressed etc) We leave the house at 7.55 so probably 30 mins then.

She will watch Cbeebies story and goodnight song in the evening (10 mins). The days she is not at nursery (once in the week and at weekends) she will watch TV whilst her younger sister has a nap (around 90 mins)

I do have to ration it - she will sit there transfixed. We choose not to have a TV in the playroom so she tends to forget about it.

**DiscoDiva** · 24-02-2010, 08:20pm

Fin has loved tv ever since he was tiny, he would've sat in his bouncer chair and watch Mickey Mouse all day if I'd let him. He still likes it now and I find it useful in the mornings when I'm getting ready for work but unless I'm doing housework I try not to have it on too much. It does definitely come in handy though as the age he is I can't just go off and do other bits and leave him to play, I'd worry he'd hurt himself.

**Chocolate Lips** · 24-02-2010, 08:20pm

Kids have free access to the telly all day long. I've never thought about it really, they'll watch when they want to and when they are bored they'll go and do something else. It rarely holds their attention for long unless it's Imagination Movers or Gigglebiz and then there is no moving them

They used to love films but rarely want to watch them anymore.

So basically, they can put it on when they want, they know how to turn it on, use the remote to get the channels they want but actually don't watch it a whole lot. They seem to like it on as background noise. They might be playing and occasionally stop and look up if interesting music comes on etc.

I can't use it as distraction when I want to do something, it doesn't work, they're not bothered about it enough.

**Katiekipper** · 24-02-2010, 08:21pm

3-4 hours a day?? They'd have it as soon as they woke up which for Eden was 5:30, then I used to watch Breakfast on BBC from 8:30 until 9.15, then Jezza, then they could have Beebies, then I'd watch the news at 1pm and probably something on Discovery Health, then they'd have Beebies back at 2pm and then we'd let Daddy have the remote when he came in at 4pm...
They were in bed at 5:30, so it'd go back to my programmes when Dad left for work.
When he was little Ross actually used to beg for Countdown and Rikki Lake

**RealGoneKid** · 24-02-2010, 08:22pm

Well, Peppa Pig is about the only thing that will keep W still for long enough to dress him so it's either a) pitched battle to dress him every morning or b) milkshake here in the morning and I have more than enough pitched battles at work

In the evening they often watch something to chill out. As Ruby said on the other thread, Cbeebies is my friend

Oh and they both love films, Cars being W's favourite and High School Musical being E's.

In short, it's on most of the time, but they are usually pootling around half watching it and half doing something else.