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You’ve cleared the breakfast bowls and washed up, but you still have a pile of ironing to do and your child is desperate for attention. You pop her in front of the TV, telling yourself it’s just for 30 minutes while you do the chores.
You finish the ironing but she’s glued to the screen, so you work on a load of washing, make some phone calls and prepare tea. Before you know it, it’s lunchtime and your child has spent the whole morning in front of the TV. Well, you’ve achieved loads - but your child has just been vegetating. Sound familiar?
TV generation
Love it or loathe it, the television is a part of our everyday lives. With the advent of digital TV, your child could spend every waking hour watching programmes. It may serve as the perfect babysitter, but could three hours of TV a day harm your child? Your child won’t be affected by things she sees on TV, as she doesn’t really take in what she’s watching until she’s five or six years old. But she should only watch it in a controlled environment and for short bursts of time.
Time for a break
Children under four years who watch too much television are at greater risk of obesity in later life, because they are less active. Moreover, inappropriate programs make children aggressive, cause nightmares and speech delay.
But is it all bad news? Surely some time in front of the TV can be educational and aid your child’s development.
It’s not the amount of time your child spends watching TV that matters, it’s the context in which she watches it and the distribution of that time over the day.
Ideally, it should be a shared activity where you’re both watching and talking about what you see. Let her watch programmes that will impart some value and education.
TV guide
It’s okay to set rules about when and what she watches, but your child needs to rest and a little TV is the perfect way to do that. Stick to programmes that are appropriate for her age. If you want to set a time limit, spread it over the day for instance, an hour in the morning, half an hour after lunch and 30 minutes before bed. Some days, don’t put the TV on, so she doesn’t get used to it as a strict routine.
Five Top TV alternatives
There are many ways you can stimulate your child without putting her in front of the TV and you don’t have to be involved in all of them.
1. A messy area. Find a small corner of your house and fill it with crayons, paper, paint, brushes, toddler scissors, old cardboard boxes, creative play items such as strings and feathers, and just let her imagination run riot. Toddler time-span is one hour.
2. Dressing up. A box full of clothes will fuel her imagination and lead to role-play opportunities. Give her an old sheet, jewellery and accessories she can improvise with, such as rubber gloves. Toddler time- span is 45 minutes.
3. Activity comics. There’s nothing more worthwhile than stimulating your child through reading. Sit with her for half an hour, reading the stories and helping with the puzzles. There’s usually something she can make or a picture to color on her own. Toddler time-span 30 minutes.
4. Story tapes/CDs. These will give her valuable winding-down time, so are useful before bed. Most story tapes come with accompanying books so she can look at the pictures at the same time. Toddler time-span is 1 hour.
5. Simple jigsaw puzzles. Your child will be so proud of herself if she manages to finish one by herself. Move from easy wooden puzzles to simple 15-piece ones, gradually working up to 36 pieces if she’s getting the hang of it. Give praise when she shows you how many she’s completed. Toddler time-span 45 minutes.
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