Just Curious About TV...

[awestbrook713]

So I am fairly new at this and still building my program up and since school has started my daily numbers for children has dropped to 1 to 3 kids a day. I know tv watching for kids is a hot topic some times and I am just curious how many of us let the children watch some tv. I like to read to the kids, color, go outside, puzzles, arts and crafts, but I myself don't mind letting the children watch educational television here and there. So I am not trying to start a debate but just get a perspective.

[SilverSabre25]

it's really somewhere between none and some--more like "rare" or "occasional."

[momofsix]

While I'm making lunch I will often turn on Super Why or put in a leapfrog video, or if it's been rainy or we're going stir crazy I may put something on. A video other than leapfrog is a really special thing
I don't really have anything against liimited tv for kids, but some of mine watch a LOT at home and I don't really want to add to it! We're just too busy doing other things to want to watch tv!::

[awestbrook713]

That is how I want to be, I want to be so busy the kids don't even think about the tv. I usually let the children watch a half hour of tv when we start nap or quiet time. They calm down and are usually ready to roll over and go to sleep after the show.

[AnneCordelia]

Our days here are really full and there isn't much time for TV but I don't have anything against it.

I have found in the past that if I reserve it for once a week then it does allow me to get lunch ready on a hectic day but, if we watch any more than that, it creates just chaos.

I'm not really against it, but I prefer to listen to music, my kids are practicing piano (same room as TV) or we're doing activities. There really isn't much time.

[sharlan]

My tv is on all day. DH is home and he has to have the tv on. Sometimes he has on his shows, sometimes he'll put on the kids shows.

BUT, the tv is on too much in my house. I turn the tv off everytime he walks out the door.

[Nellie]

I say none to rare. Its more for just a special occation. In general kids watch to much tv. I figure parents aren't paying me to have their child in front of a tv. I have nothing against it. After daycare hours I let my own children watch a program. I never take new SA because typically they wine abount no tv and unless they are doing the activities that I planned for the day they are bored. They often don't know how to just play. I also figure that kids probable watch a little before they get here and watch it while they are home so they really shouldn't be watching it at my house.

[PitterPatter]

I marked none because I felt "some" was more like a little each day or a few times per week. When I say none I mean none USUALLY. If I am so ill I can't function properly I pop in a couple videos. On holidays I allow a holiday video or other special occasions like PJ day I will pop in a video. Other than that the TV is off during daycare hours.

[boysx5]

my t.v. is on all day we don't watch it all day but its on for background noise

[Blackcat31]

NONE. I do not even own a TV. My kids get absolutely no TV time what so ever.

[BusyBee]

We watch a cartoon every day after nap time. Some mornings my dd and dcb will watch for about 20 minutes or so.

[Cat Herder]

I put mine on for the last 15-20 minutes of the day so I can speak briefly with each parent at pick-up. (mine are 2 and under)

Usually it is a musical or a theme video to go with our curriculum. They LOVE excersize or dance videos!! Richard Simmons circa 80's perks them up in horrible weather...

We have been doing "Johnny Appleseed" and "Apple Farming for Kids" most days this month (I start back up where we left off each day) since Fushine has an Apple theme for fall...

[Meeko]

We have a TV, but no cable or service. I use it purely for videos. I will let them watch a video the last hour of the day after we clean up and are waiting for parents to arrive for pick up. It cuts down on the chaos at the end of the day. My assistant sits with them in the TV room. I answer the door and then call for each child going home. Everywhere is neat, tidy and quiet. The kids tend to be quieter as they leave and not so hyped up.

[melskids]

i answered SOME.

we can go weeks at a time without watching TV.

mostly, i use it for the SA only, during nap time in the summer or days off from school. any one under SA has never really watched tv here.

if i can keep them busy though, we go without it. i have a good creative group right now, so we hardly ever watched it this past summer.

[KEG123]

There is no tv in our house except in Dbf's "mancave." My son watches 1-2 shows per week on average. (age 3) daycare kids never see a tv in my house.