For Providers Providing Care In Their Homes, How Much TV Do You Allow During The Day?

[Soccermom]

I normally allow the children to watch some little preschool programs between 7h30 and 8h15 while the SA are getting ready for the bus and everyone is still in sleep mode. My program starts at 8h30 and we play, do activities, preschool work, etc..
I then allow the non nappers to watch about 45 min. of TV during quiet time while the babies are falling asleep. The older SA are also allowed to watch a 30 min. program at 4h30 while waiting for parents to arrive after clean up.
We occasionally watch a movie together as a group for a special treat on a rainy day as well.
I had a mom "talk" to me because she does not allow any television in their home and was concerned when her DD told her I allow TV here. I did not really know how to respond to this mom...she almost made me feel like a crappy mom because I allow my kids to watch a little TV.

I think my program is very educational with loads of physical activity and that the small amount of TV the children watch is not going to affect their development. I only allow age appropriate shows and I find TV can be comforting to children as most have them on full time at home.

Do you have a no TV policy or do you allow some TV in your home daycare?

[LK5kids]

I know lots of providers on this forum have a no tv policy. I am very tv aware...when my kids were preschool age we didn't even have a tv!

I do allow tv viewing for my child care kids. The tv is on 1/2 hour - 7:30-8:00 and while I prepare lunch-11:30-12:00. I really don't want toys back out before lunch and for us it's just a little down time after a busy morning.

The only child who watches @ 7:30 is my one older child. She will be 5 in a few days.

Also, I can't "require" any child to sit and watch.

[MCC]

For the most part, we only watch TV on Wednesdays, as it's "Watch a show Wednesday". We watch preschool prep videos, and they love them.

I do let the parents know during interviews that if I can tell the kids all need some down time, I will put on a show. All mine are under 3, sometimes they need to just sit and chill for 20 minutes, but it only happens about once a week.

[MyAngels]

If you're comfortable with the amount of TV you allow I wouldn't change it. If she was anti TV she should have discussed that with you prior to enrollment. I can't understand these parents that choose a provider but don't cover these subjects and then bring it up later, and make their provider feel inadequate in the process.

[Play Care]

On a daily basis we do not watch television. I am not as anti-television as some, but I find once it's used as a "crutch" it's easy to fall into a habit with it.

That said I have a pajama day on the last day of care before Christmas vacation and we have one holiday themed video. On rare occasions when I only have older preschoolers I may use an educational video to supplement a theme we are working on. In truth I hate "noise" and feel the television just adds more noise to the day.

All that said, I don't think your television viewing sounds like too much or inappropriate viewing. I would let mom know that this is the program and if she's uncomfortable you certainly can understand if she choses to go elsewhere.

[WImom]

We only watch while I make lunch - so about 20-30 min.

[originalkat]

We have Netflix preschool show on from 11-11:30 while I make lunch each day. Occasionally I put on a show in the late afternoon if the kids are pooped from playing outside.

[cheerfuldom]

We dont have a TV in the playroom but I do handle things like you do. When we are upstairs getting ready for school, the TV is on (PBS). Again, on sometimes when I prep lunch and again at the end of the day occasionally for pickups. I would tell me what times you have the TV on and let her know that you feel she should have mentioned this at the parent interview as you were unaware that this was a problem for her. Let her know that you understand if she needs to look for other childcare due to the difference in TV rules between daycare and home (aka, you are not changing anything. either she can deal with it or move on).

dont let them make you feel bad! you have a huge age range of kids and school agers are notoriously hard to manage plus juggling littles ones. This mom could have approached you in a better way other than basically saying "we do this at home and thats what we expect here"

[Meeko]

We don't have cable and can't pick up any stations over the air. We rely on Netflix and videos.

I use TV a little bit during the day to help with transition. I sometimes put something on after we have cleaned up and are waiting for lunch and I may also use it at the end of the day after we have cleaned up. I don't like a free for all when parents are arriving, or toys all over the place that I then have to put away.

I tell parents at interview how I use the TV. They do not have to enroll if they don't like ANY TV at all.

It's YOUR house and YOUR program. The mom can do whatever she likes at HER house....but she cannot dictate your schedule to you. Don't change a thing. She knew at sign-up, she's just trying to be your "boss". She's not.

[blandino]

I tell parents that I limit TV, but do not exclude it.

During the summer, we watch a move a couple times a week after we come in from playing outside.

During the school year, Mondays are movie days and the rest of the week they watch an educational movie (preschool prep, leapfrog, magic while I make lunch.

All TV viewing is planned as part of our schedule as opposed to being on as background while the kids play. I treat it as an activity.

[Familycare71]

I have on my schedule I give out when tv is a possibility but generally I have it on in the am while I'm getting SA out the door, before lunch and sometimes at the end of the day.
That said I have kids who CRY when it gets turned off so I'm pretty sure they get tons at home!!

[SilverSabre25]

I used to have none at ALL. Then my DD quit napping and I started to let her watch a movie during naptime so that I could have downtime. Then a dcb quit napping and joined the movie thing. Then DS came along and TV crept in more especially during the dreaded first tri when I was sick and miserable for awhile.

Now the creep has included it being on for awhile in the AM after kids get here (though I'm slowly dialing that back), and they occasionally get up while DS and DD are in the middle of a show during naptime. But that's it.

On bad days I have no problem putting on a movie or a show, or I will toss on a show when I'm having a particularly difficult time of it for some reason. It serves as a bit of a reset for everyone sometimes.

I did have one family that refused to even interview with me after they found out that we even HAVE a TV...there would have been no pleasing that one. I don't want to work for families that are that militant about ANYthing--I'm too laid back for that.

Honestly my own kids watch WAY too much, but at least it's not commercial filled drivel. We only watch Netflix and most of what they watch is fine and innocuous. Occasionally movies...but I'm saving those for nasty winter weather when we can't go outside.

[Moppetland]

I let the DKs watch PBS programming upon arrival, up to breakfast time.

Then on Fridays, which I call our "Friday Matinee", I show an appropriate movie, which are mostly Disney and Pixar movies right before lunch time.

My parents are aware of this because it's in my PHB and they think the Friday movie thing is cute. Let's be realistic. There are very few parents that I know that does not allow their children to watch TV at all at their homes. When I say a very few, this is like maybe one or two parents. Children who are old enough and have language always tell me what they saw on TV at home, and most of the time, it isn't what I would show the kids. But to each his own. My parents even told me that they let the TV babysit while they catch up with housework, dinner or so forth.

But we are so busy during the day anyway, and TV is not an option for them. They know the routine and the times of when the TV is on. So, I don't feel no kind of way about allowing a little TV in the early morning and letting the kids have a little fun for Friday Matinee. I still provide quality care.

[countrymom]

well my tv is on all day. Do they sit and watch it---nope. I have it on right now on pbs and dcg is playing barbies in another room. I think its a noise factor with kids because my own kids will have it on and not watch it. Is tv bad, nope if its appropriate. We don't watch spongebob or thomas the train (he's so depressing) or anything else that I find dumb. You know what kills me, are parents who don't want thier kids watching tv at daycare but yet the minute they go home they are glued to the tv (I've had kids tell me all sorts of shows they watch, things that I would never allow my own children to watch at a young age)

[JenNJ]

I do the occasional movie, but nothing on a regular basis. In the winter we may do a 30 minute show a day just because the days are so long when its too cold to go outside.